Video: Procession to York Gallery for endangered Old Master

Pieter Brueghel the Younger's 1602 work The Procession to Calvary has been moved from its home at Nostell Priory, near Wakefield, as part of a campaign to raise 2.7m.

As reported by the Yorkshire Post, the family who have owned the painting for 200 years want to sell, meaning it could be bought by a private investor.

But the National Trust wants to keep the work accessible to the public so has taken it on a nationwide tour to show it off to thousands of people and encourage donations.

Throughout the first half of the campaign, the painting has been in London on display at the National Gallery. It will now be on display in the South Gallery at the York Art Gallery until Christmas – giving the people of Yorkshire the opportunity to come and view it and help support the campaign.

In September, the National Trust and the Art Fund jointly launched a 2.7m fundraising campaign to save the work for the nation by Christmas. So far it has raised 870,000.

Janet Barnes, Chief Executive of York Museums Trust, said: "We are delighted to be able to support this appeal and showcase this fantastic painting by Breughel to our visitors. It is a marvellous painting and the star attraction at Nostell Priory. We hope that by showing it here in York we can help raise awareness of the Art Fund's work as well as helping to secure this painting for Yorkshire so that it can be enjoyed for years to come."

Fiona Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust, said: "The response we've received to keep the Brueghel in Yorkshire at Nostell Priory, its home for the last two hundred years, has been phenomenal.

"One of the unique aspects of Nostell is that the majority of its historical collections are intact and still in the setting for which they were acquired. We are very grateful to the Art Fund and York Art Gallery for their support with the campaign to help us keep the Brueghel at Nostell forever."

Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund, said: "Raising money to save works of art sits at the heart of what the Art Fund is all about – and we very much urge all art lovers and those who have a fondness for Nostell to donate to this campaign and ensure that this remarkable painting remains where it belongs – for all to enjoy."

Yorkshire Post readers are being offered a special exclusive viewing of the 5m masterpiece Pieter Brueghel the Younger's The Procession to Calvary.

Only 100 tickets are available for the exciting event showcasing the 1602 painting at York Art Gallery on December 2.

Those attending with be treated to an intimate evening with expert curators on hand to explain the vibrant Biblical scene – and will also help in the fight to keep the painting in the region.

The unique event is part of a huge fundraising campaign to keep the treasure at Nostell Priory, near Wakefield where it has hung for more than 200 years.

The family which own the work want to sell, meaning it is at risk of being bought by a private collector. The National Trust, which owns Nostell Priory, does not want to see that happen and has joined forces with the Art Fund, the fundraising charity for national art, to secure 2.7m to buy the work which they see as a jewel in the crown of Yorkshire art.

Tickets for the exclusive evening, which runs from 6.30pm to 8.20pm on December 2, can be purchased here. All proceeds go to the fundraising total, which now stands at 760,000.