LORD BLEDISLOE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21413, 4 March 1935, Page 10

LORD BLEDISLOE

♦ PORTRAIT FOR NATIONAL GALLERY DECISION OF TKISTFLS (rRESS ASHOUATIOX TKI.EGttAM.) WELLINGTON. March 2. An interesting ceremony took place at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum, when the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) offered to the trustees of the national gallery collection a portrait painting of Lord Rutherford of Nelson. His Excellency said he had arranged with Mr- Oswald Birlcy to paint a replica of the portrait painted tor the Royal Institution. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G W Forbes) said the board was most happy to accept the portrait for the Dominion, and he assured his Excellency that the people most deeply appreciated his thoughtful and generous action. From manv quarters there had come the suggestion that his Excellency's connexion with the Dominion and the affectionate regard which he had instilled into the hearts of the people might be perpetuated by a portrait in the national gallery. The trustees would be most grateful if he could see his way to consent to sit for a portrait by some eminent artist when he returned to England. The portrait, when finished, could be purchased and would form part of the national art collecfi°n - ,• , i u His Excellency replied he would I'ecl it a great honour to have his portrait included in the National Art Gallery.