Charles Saatchi: the 'one-man Medici'

The godfather of the 'Young British Artists' has bequeathed 200 pieces of art, worth some £25m, to the state.

Tracey Emin's bed is just one of 200 pieces of art, worth some £25m, that Charles Saatchi is handing over to the nation. They come with the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea (which he doesn't actually own), "to secure the institution's future as a showcase for emerging young artists", says The Independent. It's a fitting memorial to the Svengali collector who "virtually found the Young British Artists (YBAs) movement".

The most astonishing thing about the gift, apart from its generosity, is that Saatchi announced it at all, says The Sunday Telegraph. Britain's "silent benefactor" is notoriously publicity-shy.

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