November 17, 2010; Source: ARTINFO | France has a tradition of providing state support for the arts but when the Louvre recently set its sights on acquiring Lucas Cranach the Elder’s “The Three Graces,” it found itself €1 million shy of the €4 million needed. The $3 million the museum had in hand was a combination of its own acquisition funds and support from the Mazars company. So, in an unprecedented move for a French museum, the Louvre is looking to public fundraising to raise what it needs, and the effort is indeed very public since it is conducting its campaign online. You can visit its beautiful website here. It’s well worth the trip. Note the strange hat on the nude in the middle. What’s up with that?—Ruth McCambridge