 Possibly because of its size , The Sirens and Ulysses failed to sell at the Summer Exhibition . In October 1837 Etty met again with Daniel Grant who , without having seen the painting , offered £ 250 ( about £ 20 @,@ 000 in today 's terms ) for Sirens and for Samson and Delilah , also exhibited by Etty that year . Etty , poor at business and always reluctant to keep unsold paintings in his studio , sold both paintings to Grant for well below their true worth . Etty had used a strong glue as a paint stabiliser which flaked when dry , and as soon as it was complete Sirens began to deteriorate . It was shown at the 1857 Art Treasures Exhibition but then considered in too poor a condition for further public display , and placed in long @-@ term storage in the archives of the Royal Manchester Institution and its successor , the Manchester Art Gallery . In 2006 restoration began on it , and in May 2010 Sirens was returned to public display and is now one of the key works in the Manchester Art Gallery . 
