Hopes have been raised that an iconic piece of Cumbrian artwork, hailed by Damien Hirst and other leading artists as one of 'Britain’s secret treasures', may return in another form.

Artist Adam Lowe has created extraordinary replicas of great works from around the world including one of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

His non-profit Factum Foundation has an international reputation for virtual and physical facsimiles of works of art and has just acquired the Cylinders Estate in Elterwater.

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The Spanish organisation wishes to recreate and preserve the legacy of German refugee artist Kurt Schwitters.

The Merz Barn was the final major artwork of the Hanover-born artist who lived in exile from 1937.

He set up a studio at Elterwater in 1946, determined to salvage what was left of his life after fleeing to Britain from Nazi persecution.

Kurt Schwitters by Lissitzky (Image: Factum Foundation) He created works in the Lake District barn from dispersed and fragmented material.

It was based on the idea of collage in which found items are incorporated into an artwork.

A three-dimensional quality was added to the piece after rough layer of decorator's plaster and paint was applied over these found objects.

He died in January 1948 leaving the work unfinished.

The Factum Foundation now proposes the reunification of Schwitters’ final installation by creating a facsimile of the missing wall section.

Part of the Merz Barn’s wall was relocated for preservation to Hatton Gallery in Newcastle in 1966 by the artist Richard Hamilton working with Fred Brooks and others.

The front of Schwitters barn (Image: Factum Foundation) The transfer of the Cylinders Estate to Factum Foundation represents a significant step towards preserving and promoting Schwitters’ legacy.

Working with other local charities and universities, Factum Foundation plans to transform the site into a dynamic cultural hub to support the meaningful learning and interaction with Schwitters’ Merz art.

In addition to the barn, the estate also includes a cluster of buildings that will be restored as a centre for artists and scholars passionate about Schwitters and his legacy.

Factum Foundation aims to establish an annual residency programme for refugee and displaced artists, providing the kind of sanctuary that Schwitters found on the estate in the years before his death in 1948.

A spokesperson for Factum Foundation said: "Through careful conservation and thoughtful programming, the Merz Barn is poised to become a vibrant centre of artistic activity and cultural exchange, honouring Schwitters’ innovative spirit and enduring influence on contemporary art.

"Working with other local charities, including Grizedale Arts, Factum Foundation aims to transform the site into a place of tranquillity, refuge, reflection and learning in celebration of a great artist whose cultural influence is growing and is more relevant than ever."