A PROMINENT art critic has called on whisky giants Diageo to gift the iconic Monarch of the Glen painting to the nation.

Julian Spalding, the former director of Glasgow Museums, says the artwork by Sir Edwin Landseer should be considered as an “angel’s share” in recognition of the amount of money they make out of Scotland.

He spoke out after a deal was agreed last week to pay Diageo £4 million of public money to ensure the stag painting can continue to be displayed in public.

“The Monarch of the Glen is one of the icons of Scotland,” said Spalding. “It should be somewhere people can see it – preferably in a public collection.

“It’s certainly worth £4m – if not a lot more. But it’s a pity the drinks giants can’t give it to the people.

“They’ve made enough money out of Scotland and this sum is a drop in the ocean to them. Why don’t they think of it as the angel’s share?”

The painting has been displayed for the last 17 years in Edinburgh while on loan to the National Museum of Scotland. Fears were raised it would go to an overseas buyer when Diageo decided to sell it.