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They are beautiful paintings indeed. But there are many beautiful paintings in the world - do we need to save these in particular? They have belonged to other countries throughout their history and may do so again - is that so tragic? It's not like France losing the Mona Lisa at all (as NGS director general John Leighton said).

Why does the Duke, who has other valuable assets, have to pass on the burden of saving these pictures to others? If the paintings are as important as many say they are, then, through the goodness of his heart, can he not donate them or continue to support the Bridgewater Collection?

Emin says we each need to donate one pound. Well, I'd rather donate that one pound to a worthier cause, but personally I am watching all the pounds, and indeed pennies, I have right now. I understand the cultural and intellectual power and value art can have, but, unlike Gormley, I don't have financial resources to be so certain in my conviction and this capitalist economy is making it hard for me to put art at the top of my list of priorities at the moment…

For half the sum of money they're asking for we could send everyone who vaguely cares about the destination of this work on an all expenses paid trip to the gallery it ends up in.

beautiful as they are its "the kings new clothes" syndrome for everything that the taxpayer has to fork out for - unrealistic pretence because state subsidy is a bottomless pit to those who would critises any dole scrounger while bloating their own estate- is the duke serious in wanting 100 million?? if our heritage is really important how come the privileged titled few who have benefited from their ancestors looting, royal patronage, land grabbing ways feel this is still appropriate in the 21 century.
if the cost of these is genuine then perhaps damien hurst( oh great one) could give the guy a few pickled cows in fair exchange?

Nothing. But it's not as if I'll get a choice.

Perhaps Tracy Emin could send me a fiver. (That's a quid for me, my wife and three children.)

If we can find so many billions to bail the world's bankers out of trouble, surely we can spare the cash to save these two iconic works of art. Our future generations will thank us more for securing two Titians than for over-indulging in free-market decadence and leaving the legacy of global climate change. Let's do something for future generations for a change.

Let's not criticise the Duke. If I owned something worth £300 million I wouldn't be offering it for sale at £100 million. The Duke himself has effectively donated £200 million to the fund to buy these paintings, which makes the recent 'massive' donation of £1 million look pretty paltry.

But, why not let the Duke sell them to the highest bidder? He gets all the money, and we could have a copy. I'm sure there are artists / forgers of sufficient skill to fool all but the most discerning of us.

But of course, such a suggestion will be met with derision. New Scientist magazine recently reported that identical placebo painkillers give different amounts of pain relief depending on how much the patient is told they cost. I believe people think these paintings are the best in the world because they are among the most expensive. Many art lovers love the price tag, not the art, but none will be willing to admit it.

Anthony Gormley thinks that money isn't worth anything and art is, but of course that is rubbish. There is always an opportunity cost. £100 million could lavishly refurbish every art classroom in Scotland, for example. And the folk who reckon they couldn't possibly contemplate a copy of a Titian can contemplate their navels instead.

One good thing that has come from this, is the increase in people who now realise the paintings are in Edinburgh.

With a threat of them going elsewhere watch the attendance figures rise.

Now if that nice Mr Brown would simply give the Scottish government a decent settlement rather than the current meagre hand out, which is considerably less than we contribute to his treasure trove, I'm sure we'd simply buy it ourselves.