The decision of the Dulwich Picture Gallery (Report, 13 January) to hang a fake painting may open the way for large galleries running blockbuster shows to do this more cheaply and at no risk to the originals. The very substantial cost of transporting and insuring pictures is a barrier to their being more widely seen, as is the certainty that they will be lost if the aircraft carrying them crashes; add to this the reluctance of galleries to lend their most precious pictures in an age where western icons may be increasingly at risk. People who have not yet seen one of these copies at close quarters will, I suggest, be amazed at their quality. Perhaps the gallery will publish not only the number of people who guessed correctly, but also the number who got it wrong.
Dr SJ Harris
Wrexham
