Duke offers a deal on his Titian

A British aristocrat is offering two public art galleries a $92-million bargain -- a Renaissance painting by the Italian artist Titian that has been on display in Britain for 200 years but now could be sold overseas.

“Diana and Actaeon,” one of Titian’s greatest works, is estimated to be worth $275 million on the open market.

Its owner, the duke of Sutherland, has offered it to major public galleries for a third of that price. The National Galleries of Scotland and London’s National Gallery launched a public appeal Thursday for funds to buy the painting. They hope to raise money from the government, arts bodies and private donors.

The galleries have until the end of the year to come up with the money, or the duke may offer it for private sale.