As part of a campaign to raise £4.95 million to save "The Blue Rigi" from going abroad, The Art Fund (in collaboration with The Tate) approached and subsequently commissioned Online Solutions to design and develop a unique website that would allow the general public to contribute to the fund by purchasing individual "Brushstrokes" of the painting.
The "Art Fund for Tate" website was integral to the fund-raising campaign and featured a virtual representation of the painting, divided into tens of thousands of tiny pieces (brushstrokes). The general public were then invited to explore the painting and select individual brushstrokes which they could then purchase. Those individuals who chose to contribute to the campaign were credited for their donation so visitors could see who had bought which brushstrokes.
The Blue Rigi, part of a group of watercolours depicting Lake Lucerne at various time of the day, is considered to be one of Turners finest paintings. To ensure that the watercolour remains in the UK, The Tate and The Art Fund (with financial assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the general public) intend to raise the necessary funds to purchase the painting from its current private owner so it can go on permanent display at Tate Britain.
Designing and developing a website that harnesses the power of the internet to help raise the necessary funds to save works of art has been an exciting opportunity for the Online Solutions team. We are happy that our part in this fund-raising campaign helped to achieve its ultimate goal of "saving the Blue Rigi from going abroad".