David Hockney called on Britain’s most celebrated artists yesterday to donate works to the Tate, as it emerged that fewer than half had fulfilled a promise to do so.

Speaking while he unveiled a spectacular painting that he is giving to the Tate, Hockney said that it was the duty of artists to give something back to an institution whose support had ensured that they did not struggle in their early careers.

Bigger Trees near Warter, which is to be shown at Tate Britain, is an enormous depiction of a grove of sycamore and beech trees in East Yorkshire, painted outdoors and capturing the way light dances in the branches.

At 15ft by 40ft (4.5m by 12m), with 50 separate canvases, it is his largest work. If it had come on to the open market, collectors would have been excited into parting with millions.

In 2004 the Tate announced that 23 artists, all household names, had agreed to donate at least one work.

It said yesterday that only nine of them - including Damien Hirst and Antony Gormley – had kept their promise so far. Some of the nation’s most successful artists – notably Lucian Freud, Richard Hamilton and Gilbert & George – have yet to deliver. Hamilton said yesterday: “Nick [Sir Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate] has talked about it. He hasn’t pursued it. He will come back when the time is right.” Gilbert & George could not be contacted yesterday.

Hockney said he had not forgotten that the Tate saw his potential as long ago as 1963 – a year after he graduated from the Royal College of Art – and bought a painting by him.

The artist, 70, said: “The Tate asked me two years ago about giving things. I thought, ‘If I’m going to give something to the Tate I want to give them something really good. It’s going to be here for a while. I don’t want to give things I’m not too proud of’.”

Hockney, who is planning a couple of further donations, said: “I thought this was a good painting because it’s of England. It seems like a good thing to do. I feel loyal to the Tate. More artists should donate. They should think about it. You can’t quite trust collectors who say they’ll give to the Tate and often don’t.”

With its meagre funds – an annual acquisition budget of only £1.5 million – the Tate could never have afforded to buy such a work. Hockney acknowledged as much by saying that prices for contemporary art had “gone a bit mad”.

Two years ago Sotheby’s sold his The Splash for £2.92 million. Thirty years earlier it had changed hands for just £25,000.

The Tate played down any frustration with artists who had yet to donate, saying that it was continuing its discussions with them.

Sir Nicholas dismissed the suggestion that the gallery was disappointed, pointing out that artists would give when the right work was available: “To do this over five or ten years is no problem.”

He paid tribute to Hockney’s generosity, saying: “It is an astonishing gift. Notwithstanding its size, this painting could have been sold to many buyers around the world. Simply to give with no tax benefit to himself is a remarkable gesture.”

Bigger Trees will be shown at Tate Britain next year. Hockney has also presented Tate with two digital photographic copies in the same size, suggesting that they could be hung on adjacent walls to suggest a cloister.

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