PICTURES FOR THE NATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2687, 5 February 1916, Page 6

PICTURES FOR THE NATION

FIFTEEN OLD -MASTERS FROM AMBASSADOR'S: GALLERY. . The destination of fifteen old masters was decided recently in the Chancery Division by Mr. Justice Astbury. They formed part of tho collection, housed in his Italian residence, Casa Capello, Venice, of the late Sir Henry Austen Layard, formerly British Ambassador at Constantinople. The question beforo the Court was whether or not, under the wording of his will, tho testator meant these fifteen portraits to go •to his nephew, Major Arthur Austen Macgregor Layard, R.E., or was the claim of the National Gallery—already holding two—good in regard to all the fifteen Tinder a general bequest, or should they pass to nephews and nieces who are residuary legatees of the will. The testator was described by Sir Robert Finlay, K.C. (for the trustees of the National Gallerj'), as a great connoisseur in paintings. He devoted himself to collecting very valuable works by great artists. In his houso at Venice lie had a suite of rooms in which his paintings were arranged. The two worlts now in London—Netscher pictures belonging to the 18th century—were not as > valuable as tho rest. . Mr.' Justice Astbury held that the testator did not intend to give these old masters to his nephew but that they formed part of the gift made to the nation. . Tho fifteen pictures in question therefore go to the National Gallery. They are as follow: — Painters. • Subject. V[orello da Brescia, One of the Averoldi Family. Doinonico Moroni, Oneof theSalvagno Family. Moroni, One of the Lupi Gentilo Bellini, Family. The. Sultan MaliomTicipnino Lippi, or ■ mcd 11. Haffacllino del ' Garbo, Lorenzo de Medici. Van Dvck, Madame Marie Ann Schotten. Garofalo, Himself and Wife. Vivarini or Antonel-' lo da Messina, A Young Man. Rosalba, Portrait in pastel. Pietro i Longhi, Portrait of Eosalba. Moroni, 1 Portrait of a Man. Titian or Giorgione, Man in Black Cap. Gentile Bellini, Tho Doge Marce'llo. The two works at present in tho custody of the National Gallery are "Lady and Child" and "Portrait of a Gentleman," both by Netscher.