Readers offered close-up view of masterpiece Yorkshire could lose

Pieter Brueghel the Younger's 1602 painting The Procession to Calvary will be on display to a select number of art fans as part of a campaign to keep the piece in the region.

The stunning work has been hanging in Nostell Priory, near Wakefield, for more than 200 years but its status as a jewel in the region's crown has come under threat.

The family who own the painting have announced they want to sell, meaning a private investor could bid highest and put the work in a personal gallery.

The National Trust, which owns the stately home and has been putting on guided tours since 1954, is determined not to let that happen.

The heritage charity and the Art Fund, the national fundraising charity for works of art, want to keep the Flemish painter's best piece open to the public. A huge fundraising campaign has been launched to buy the work and maintain its presence in Yorkshire.

At York Art Gallery on December 2 Yorkshire Post readers will get their chance to experience the painting, which was moved to the National Gallery in London on October 6, in intimate detail and hear from specialist curators at the National Trust.

The special fundraising evening will help in the battle to keep the painting in Yorkshire.

On November 18 until the end of the year the work will be hung at York Art Gallery for everyone to have the chance to see it for free.

Last year alone 40,000 laid eyes on the vibrant biblical scene of Jesus dragging his cross to crucifixion and it is one of the focal pieces in a collection of artworks at Nostell Priory.

Fiona Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust, said: "It is exceptional to find a painting by Pieter Brueghel the Younger in a country house and especially one of such quality."

The Procession to Calvary is remarkable for its ingenious portrayal of the Easter story. Brueghel painted Jesus in biblical garb, but gave the thrall of people surrounding him, as well as the townscape in the background, a modern twist.

Alison Harpur, the National Trust's assistant curator of pictures and sculptures, said: "You could look at it for hours and always find something new. It's so creative and so inventive.

"The interesting thing is he's situated it in a contemporary Flemish town with contemporary people. There are churches in the town and there's a cross in the landscape, but Jesus hasn't been crucified yet. It's a really big mixture of time differences."

Brueghel painted multiple versions to order for noblemen, as was typical during the Renaissance, but only five are signed and dated.

The painting at Nostell is the second in the series and is considered to be the best.

Another in the series sold in 2006 for 5.1m and was taken out of the country.

The Art Fund and National Trust have been encouraging the public to join the battle for funding. A total of 2.7m is needed to secure the work, which experts believe would fetch more than 5m at auction.

Your invitation to a viewing

Just 100 tickets for the special viewing of The Procession to Calvary have been released and all are exclusive to Yorkshire Post readers.

The event takes place at York Art Gallery on December 2 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and affords the chance to see a remarkable work up close.

National Trust curators will guide those in attendance around the intricate work.

Alison Harpur, the National Trust's assistant curator of pictures and sculptures, has said the painting makes the Easter scene more vivid for the viewer and conveys a political message.

Tickets can be bought via http://yorkshirepost.eventbrite.com at 15, with all proceeds going to the fundraising campaign. People will be treated to a glass of wine as well.

A total of 2.7m is needed to secure the work for the region. Those looking to donate can do so via www.artfund.org/procession.