ART lovers are being urged to help a North-East museum raise £14,250 to restore a 400-year-old classic painting.

The Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle, County Durham, wants people to donate money via The Big Appeal.

The scheme works whereby the total amount of donations made to the appeal are match funded by the Garfield Weston Foundation.

Staff at the museum are to use the funding to conserve The Last Communion of Saint Raymond Nonnatus by Francisco Pacheco.

The painting dates from 1611 when Francisco Pacheco was commissioned to create work to decorate a large cloister of the Mercedarian convent of Seville.

The painting shows St Peter supported by angels as he kneels by his bed to receive the last communion from Christ.

The scene is illuminated by candles held by a group of Mercedarian monks and the work was donated to the museum in 1964.

Richard Welsby, head of finance at the museum, said: "We are urging people to support us on this as it’s important to the museum.

"It will add to the collection and the museum is aiming to raise £14,250 to do the work.

"We have already got some money through donations and if we don’t get the full amount we will aim to raise more funds to carry out a restoration."

The Bowes Museum has one of the largest collection of paintings by Spanish artists which is to be found outside of London.

The Last Communion has extensive areas of paint loss and abraded paint which require filling and retouching.

The museum’s senior conservator, Jon Old, has previously travelled to Seville, Spain, to examine two of Pacheco’s paintings.

The works were from the same series as The Last Communion so as to ensure that the museum’s repair work matches the originals.

The Big Appeal runs from 10am today (dec 5) until Wednesday (dec 7) and the Garfield Weston Foundation has a total cash pot of £250,000 to donate nationally.

Donations can be made on-line by visiting www.theBigGive.org.uk where The Bowes Museum should be typed into the keyword area.

Then go to the projects area and make a donation by credit or debit card to pledge an amount towards the museum’s appeal fund.

Details on the appeal can be obtained by calling the museum on 01833-690606 or by visiting its website at thebowesmuseum.org.uk