AN historic painting which has hung in Colchester Town Hall for more than a century is set for a new home - temporarily.

Colchester Council chiefs have agreed to loan the impressive depiction of Colchester-born scientist William Gilberd demonstrating static electricity to Queen Elizabeth I by Arthur Ackland Hunt to Firstsite for a year.

A specialist team of experts have been tasked with transferring the painting set in a thick gold frame across town on Monday away from its home in the council chamber where it has hung for 104 years.

Director of the Lewis Gardens gallery Sally Shaw said this would be the first in a series of distinctive works from across the region planned because of requests from visitors.

She said: “The work is a celebration of Colchester’s unique heritage built on world-changing imaginative thinking.

“It has been sitting at the heart of Colchester’s civic life at the town hall for many years helping inspire the shape of the borough’s future.

“It is also a fascinating combination of traditional artistic practice along with experimental innovation.

“We are delighted to host this beautiful and important painting at the heart of Firstsite.”

The striking painting, which measures more than 8ft wide by close to 6ft high, will be replaced by a double portrait of General Sir Thomas Fairfax and his wife Anne de Vere.

Fairfax was present at the Siege of Colchester in 1648 and would almost certainly have visited the town’s then Moot Hall.

Colchester Council culture boss Tim Young (Lab) said: “Firstsite requested the painting and neither me nor our officers could see a problem.

“It is a fascinating painting with lots of detail in it and I am really happy to loan it.

“I think more people will see it in Firstsite than in the council chamber.”