Monarch of the Glen painting saved for the nation and will return to the National Gallery

The Monarch of the Glen is returning to the National Gallery for the first time since Edwin Landseer’s painting made its debut in 1851.

The work, right, which was saved from being sold abroad by a £4 million fundraising campaign, was commissioned for Parliament and first shown at the Royal Academy before moving to the National. Borrowed from the National Galleries of Scotland, it will now be the centrepiece of a Landseer exhibition starting in the autumn.

The show will include paintings and sketches of the Scottish Highlands showing how he developed his most famous work.

Visitors will be able to compare the Monarch with modern versions, such as a copy of a 1966 painting Peter Blake did for Paul McCartney’s retreat in the Mull of Kintyre. The original now hangs in the former Beatle’s London office. Following its 1851 debut, Landseer’s painting was sold to a private collector and passed through several owners before it was bought by whisky firm John Dewar & Sons.

Its last owner, drinks giant Diageo, caused a stir when it announced plans to sell the painting in 2016. However, a last-minute deal was struck to save it for the nation last year. A public campaign raised £260,000 and donations came in from as far away as the US and Hong Kong. Although the painting was estimated to be worth £10 million, it was secured for only £4 million.

Landseer also designed the lions at the foot of Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square and gave Queen Victoria and Prince Albert etching lessons.

From September the National Gallery will provide a temporary home for Impressionist works from the Courtauld Gallery which is closing for redevelopment. An exhibition will include works by Manet and Cézanne from Samuel Courtauld’s private collection.