Art bequeathed to the nation – in pictures

A late 18th century Rococo sofa commissioned for the then ultra-fashionable Palm Room of Spencer House by the 1st Earl Spencer. It will go on display at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire from 18 February Photograph: Kedleston Hall

A High Renaissance navity scene, Adoration of the Shepherds by the Ferrara artist known as Il Garofalo who became popular with rich British collectors in the 18th century. Once owned by a Fitzwilliam it fittingly heads to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge Photograph: Fitzwilliam Museum

The oldest gift is the Capel Garmon Firedog dating from the first century AD that would have belonged to a chieftain. Discovered in a Welsh peat bog in 1852 it is one of the most important discoveries from the Iron Age in Europe. It has been on long term loan to the National Museum of Wales in cardiff, where it will remain Photograph: National Museum of Wales

A late piece (1973) by Barbara Hepworth called Meditation, made in St Ives but heading now to the other end of the country to join the already strong modern art collection at Aberdeen Art Gallery Photograph: Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums

JMW Turner, Rome From Monte Mario – a topographical view across Rome made on the artist's first visit to the city in 1820. It heads to the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh and will go on display next month as part of the gallery's annual Turner Watercolour Exhibition from 1 January until 31 January, annually timed to coincide with a month when the light is weakest Photograph: National Galleries of Scotland

Archive of Lord and Lady Mountbatten, a vast collection of photographs, diaries and letters with items of particular interest from Mountbatten's time as the last Viceroy of India. It includes a poignant handwritten note from Gandhi giving his tacit support for Indian partition. The archive has been on long-term loan to Southampton University, where it will remain Photograph: Southampton University

Books, papers and scientific instruments of Nevil Maskelyne, the fifth Astronomer Royal (1765 – 1811) who came up with incredibly important star charts which helped naval navigators know where they were. The plan is that the collection goes to Greenwich Observatory. Photograph: Greenwich Observatory

Peter Paul Rubens, The Triumph Of Venus. This stunning drawing was a design for an ornate ivory salt cellar carved by Georg Petel and still owned by the Swedish Royal Family. The drawing goes on display at the National Gallery while an application process is opened for a permanent home Photograph: The National Gallery

Walter Sickert – The Rehearsal. From a collection of 30 paintings, drawings and etchings by Walter Sickert depicting a range of scenes including Dieppe, Venice and music hall. It will go to the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford Photograph: Ashmolean Museum