A NATIONAL GALLERY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1355, 5 February 1912, Page 3

A NATIONAL GALLERY.

WHAT THE NEW ZEALAND ACADEMY IS DOING, MR. JOHN BAII.LIE BRINGING ART TREASURES. The following letter forwarded to the Prime Minister will be rend with interest by all lovers of art and those interested in the establishment in Wellington oi an Art Gallery worthy of the name:— "N.Z. Academy of Fine Arts, "Wellington, 16th January, 1912. "Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that at its last meeting the council of Ihe academy placed on record its high appreciation of the decision of tho Government to establish a ,Natioual Art Gallery in Wellington, and I am directed by resolution to assure you that every assistance this council can render in the carrying out of that important project is at Jhc disposal of the Government. "The academy, which for years past has had in view the institution of a free public gallery worthy of such a centre as Wellington, already possesses the nucleus of a very fine collection of pictures, and, at a later date, when the building of the new gallery is well in hand, it is our intention to'call a special general meeting of the members to consider a proposal that tho whole, of these be handed over to the National Gallery. "In tho session of 1910 Parliament voted tho art societies of the four centres each a. sum of ,£SOO for the purchase of I pictures for their public galleries. Tho academy, instead of sending Bomo for a picture or pictures to the value of .£SOO, has arranged to bring out for exhibition here a numlier of earcfullj'-selectod paintings, the work of leading British and Continental artisL=. From these we shall make our purchases with the money wo have in hand, supplemented, wo hope, by generous public and municipal contributions. "The selection in England of the paintings comprising this exhibition is in the hands of Mr. John Baillie, an old New I /iealander, and a one-time member of ' this academy, whose picture gallery in London is now widely known in the art world, tho whole collection being subject to review and final approval by Mr. Clausen, R.A., who has throughout shown a keen and very generous interest in our venture. "I am pleased fo 'say that Mr. Baillie lias just cabled that a magnificent collection has been secured, and that he himself is bringing them out to New Zealand by the s.s. Turakina, which is due to arrive here in March. "Should the -Government itself contemplate the purchase of works of art, with a view to the future furnishing of the National Art Gallery, may we respectfully suggest that the forthcoming exhibition will afford what can only bo regarded as an unique opportunity for a judicious selection, as every picture in the exhibition will bear tho'*stamp of approval of two gentlemen in whoso tosto and judgment we can safely rely, and, what is of equal importance, who have the interests of the Dominion very much at heart. "(Sgd.) H. M. GORE. "President" "Rt, Hon. J. G. Ward. "Prime Minister.of New ftpaland." The following is a copy of the Prime Minister s reply :— "Prime Minister's Office, "Wellington, February 3, 1912. H. M. Gore, Esq., "President N.Z. Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington. . . iT 1 ,liivp t!,p l' 0 " 0 " 1" to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of January 16, conveying tho terms of the resolution passed by the council of vour' academy, expressing appreciation of the decision of the Government to establish a National Gallery in Wellington. In reply I desire to thank von for forwarding the resolution which 'i* vcrv gratifying to me. I have noted the information contained in vour Htpr regardmg the forthcoming exhibition of pictures which are being brought from England by Mr. John Baillie. I ngrre jnth you that the exhibition would aflord a good opportunity fo make a =<o<\tion of Pictures for the proposed' N a . tional Gallery, ? „d when the time arrives be quest.on 0 ;,sp r etin, 7 the works of art in the exhibition, with that end in 01 rn» ijovcrnment. "I have etc... (S?,U j. R . ATARD."