THE boss of a Burns museum would consider launching a fundraising campaign to buy a recently rediscovered painting of the Bard if it is authenticated by experts.

The Herald last month revealed the discovery of the Shaw Burns, thought to have been painted by Alexander Nasmyth around 1800.

The painting was picked up by its current owner at a provincial auction in England, and he now wants to sell it for £2 million.

The portrait appears to be the third or fourth version of a work painted in the late 18th century by Nasmyth after meeting Burns.

Other versions hang in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, the Kelvin­grove Art Gallery in Glasgow, and the National Portrait Gallery in London.

The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, is hoping a public gallery will want to own the painting, which has been authenticated by one of the leading scholars of 18th-century Scottish painting, Dr David Mackie of Cambridge University.

However, Nat Edwards, director of the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, said that although he was intrigued by the discovery, he would like the history of the painting to be tested by other academics before he considers embarking on a fundraising drive to buy it.

Mr Edwards said he would have to be completely convinced it was a Nasmyth original before trying to raise money for the work, which could be attractive to the museum as it does not have a Nasmyth original.

He said: "It is a very interesting discovery, and it looks very much like a painting painted only a few years after the poet's death.

"There has been a compelling case that it is a painting by Nasmyth but I think I would have to see that case tested by other experts before we begin to think about anything else."

Dr Mackie was originally alerted to the painting because the owner thought it might be by Sir Henry Raeburn, whose work is his area of expertise.

"I have known about this for about two years, and although it is not a Raeburn, I believe it is a Nasmyth. I make that judgment purely based on its style," he said.

The painting has been investigated by writer Jerry Brannigan, who will publish a book on Burns in Edinburgh next year.

The painting was in Glasgow yesterday, being seen by one of the leading scholars of Burns at the University of Glasgow, Dr Gerry Carruthers.

Mr Brannigan believes it was once the property of Sir James Shaw, the Lord Mayor of London from 1805, who rose from humble beginnings in Kilmarnock.

After Burns's death in 1796, Sir James became a key benefactor to the Burns family, raising funds for them, finding jobs for Burns's relatives in the East India Company and enlisting the help of Sir Walter Scott in providing financial aid to Jean Armour, the poet's widow.

When Sir James died in 1843, he bequeathed his paintings to the London Corporation, but his bequest was not carried out.

Mr Brannigan's research suggests his collection was sold to raise money to pay off debts incurred in the 1830s.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: "The national collections already have very fine Burns works.

"Indeed, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery has this original portrait within its collection."