IT HAS been variously described as a 1970s duvet pattern and the most significant art acquisition in Southampton since 1975.
Last night, more than 100 art lovers, councillors, dignitaries and other interested parties gathered to decide for themselves.
Red Movement (2005), the controversial piece of modern art bought by the city for £250,000, was unveiled in its full glory at Southampton Art Gallery.
Proudly adorning the walls of the main hall, the 1.35m by 3.54m canvas had many nodding sagely, while others gazed in wonder.
City art chiefs have hailed the purchase of the wavy-lined painting by eminent 1960s abstract artist Bridget Riley as a coup for the city.
She told her audience: "I'm thrilled and very proud to be included in the Southampton collection, which is known around the country as the best collection of English paintings outside London. It's a great day for me."
Afterwards speaking to the Daily Echo, the 75-year-old shrugged off criticism and described her work.
"The painting doesn't represent anything," she explained.
"But, as the colours move through different relationships, they articulate different visual situations, which could be compared to a narrative or a play, or some situation in which a series of events take place.
"I've made it to the best of my abilities. Once it goes out of the studio it has to find its own place in the world."
Questions had been raised about whether so much should have been spent on the work, when only a fraction of Southampton's 3,000 paintings, worth about £130m, are ever seen in public.
But city council leader Adrian Vinson said rotating the works was "a strength not a weakness", and praised the addition.
"Bridget Riley is an artist of outstanding quality," he said.
"Whether or not it's your personal bag, there is no doubt of her international standing." He said councillors had backed the judgement of art experts to bring the painting to the city, and said he was grateful it had been released at a discounted price.
It is thought to be worth at least £350,000.
Cash to pay for the painting came from bequests and grants - notably £130,000 from the former curator of the Tate Gallery and modern art adviser to the Southampton gallery, Dr David Brown, who also left the city a legacy of 220 works of modern British art when he died in 2002.
The Art Fund, an independent art charity, paid £80,000, with the rest of the cash coming from the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Council culture spokesman Steve Solllitt said Mr Brown would have given the painting the "thumbs-up".
"It's a very different painting but shows how vibrant this art gallery is," he said.
"It's grabbed the public's attention," he added.
Bad weather forced the director of the Tate Gallery Sir Nicholas Serota and Art Fund director David Barrie to cancel their attendance.
Southampton Art Gallery curator Tim Craven relayed some words from Sir Nicholas.
"The acquisition of Red Movement by Southampton is a magnificent achievement," he said.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article