AN EARLY 18th century oil painting of Venice at carnival time will remain at Kiplin Hall, near Scorton, under the inheritance tax Acceptance in Lieu scheme.

The painting is one of four large scenes of Venice by Luca Carlevarijs commissioned from the artist between 1705 and 1715 by Christopher Crowe, of Ashington Hall, in Northumberland, during his time as British Consul in Livorno, near Florence.

In 1715, Crowe married Lady Charlotte Lee, daughter of the Earl of Lichfield and illegitimate grand-daughter of King Charles II.

She had been divorced from her previous husband, the 4th Baron Baltimore, who owned Kiplin Hall, and is rumoured to have had several illegitimate children.

Her scandalous past meant her new husband was unable to remain as consul, and the couple returned to England in 1716.

Charlotte died in 1721, and a year later Christopher bought Kiplin Hall and an estate of 800 acres from his stepson Charles Calvert, 5th Lord Baltimore.

The four large canvases by Carlevarijs hung in the drawing room at Kiplin until 1971, when the owner, Bridget Talbot, sold two.

Kiplin Hall trustees sold a third in 2005, thus incurring inheritance tax.

The Piazza San Marco During a Carnival and 11 other works on permanent display, all deemed to be national treasures, have been accepted by the Government in place of inheritance tax and allocated back.

They include a portrait of Christopher Crowe by Francesco Trevisani, a late 16th century oil on panel by Joachim Beuckelaer and a pair of 18th oil paintings showing views of The Entrance to the Grand Canal by a follower of Canaletto.

Other portraits include Elizabeth Carpenter and her son by Sir William Beechey, and three portraits of the Talbot sisters, daughters of the 18th Earl of Shrewsbury, by the renowned Victorian artist George Frederic Watts.

Dawn Webster, curator, said: "The two views of Venice by Carlevarijs left Kiplin in 1994. They were displayed in York Art Gallery for some years before moving to the National Museum and Art Gallery in Cardiff.

We are delighted to have the remaining original painting back at the hall.

"It is a wonderful depiction of an early 18th century Venetian carnival.

St Mark's Square is filled with people, many wearing carnival costume and masks, and the canvas glows with colour and light."

The 12 works on display under the acceptance in lieu scheme are part of the collection formed by the families who owned Kiplin Hall from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

The scheme is administered by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council on behalf of the Government.

The hall, on the B6271 Scorton to Northallerton road, is open from Sunday to Wednesday, 2pm-5pm, until September 30. For more information, tel 01748-818178.