Just because you win the auction, doesn’t mean you’re going home with the painting. This Turner, Pope’s Villa at Twickenham, was held up for three months while British authorities searched for a UK buyer, according to the Telegraph.

Lady Ashcombe, whose son Henry Dent-Brocklehurst, is a film producer, and a friend of Elizabeth Hurley, decided to sell the painting to maintain the castle.

The Government initially barred its export for three months, in an attempt to give a British art gallery, museum or individual the opportunity to raise a matching sum and keep the painting in the country.

However the ban expired at midnight on Monday without a domestic buyer for the work, which dates from 1808, having come forward. [ . . . ]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the three month export ban had been imposed because it was considered the loss of the painting would “reduce the heritage of this country.”

A spokesman added: “The deadline was midnight on Monday and no offers came in during the three-month period so it looks likely the work will now go abroad.”

Lady Ashcombe was believed to be out of the country and could not be contacted yesterday.

Earlier this year she said: “Of course it is a pity it is likely to leave Britain. We have needed to sell to maintain the castle. We have very large bills and only a smallish income from farm rents.”

£5.4m Turner Masterpiece Lost to the British Nation (Telegraph)