AN INFLUENTIAL Spanish artist could be featured in York's gallery if councillors agree a £2,500 price tag.

City of York Council is considering a bid for Luis Paret Y Alcazar's painting A Picnic At A Country Inn.

The artist, who specialised in capturing everyday scenes in the 18th century, was barely known in Britain until 1983 when the National Gallery acquired one of his paintings.

But he is considered second only to his contemporary Goya for importance to painters working in the late 1700s in Spain.

Richard Green, the curator of York City Art Gallery, said: "A Picnic At A Country Inn is an excellent example of the everyday-life scenes for which Paret was best-known.

"Attractive in colouring and sparkling with energy, it typically chronicles life of the painter's own time, while gently mocking it."

The painting shows a travelling party, made up of an aristocratic couple and their entourage, which has stopped in a village.

Mr Green said: "In the foreground, the elegantly dressed couple are picknicking outside an inn, while a barefoot innkeeper serves them wine.

"In the middle distance are their servants, grooms, running footmen and a man of higher status, wearing 17th century costume, mounted on a stallion."

York City Art Gallery already has three Spanish paintings on display.

"The acquisition of a fourth painting, and a second 18th century one at that, would enormously strengthen this representation of Spanish art," said Mr Green.

The council has not disclosed the price of the painting, but it is expected that £2,500 will come from its resources, with the remainder made up from grants.

Alan Jones, the council's Executive member for leisure, will meet officers on Tuesday to discuss the purchase.

Updated: 11:25 Wednesday, September 05, 2001