GIFTS FROM GLASGOW

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 92, 15 October 1940, Page 7

GIFTS FROM GLASGOW

VALUABLE PICTURES

PRESENTATION TO ART

GALLERY

Two pictures presented to New Zealand by the Lord Provost of Glasgow on behalf of the citizens of the Scottish city, and a portrait of the late Earl Jellicoe, which was purchased out of a grant made by the New Zealand Government, were formally handed over to the board of trustees of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum &^ the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) at a ceremony held in the Art Gallery building, Buckle Street, yesterday afternoon. The deputy chairman of the board, Mr T. C. A. Hislop, presided. There was a representative gathering, which iacluded Sir Harry Batterbee, High: Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Mrs. .Fraser, Mrs. Hislop, Lady Shirt- j cliff c, members of the board, and numerous other lovers of art.

One of the gifts from Glasgow is a j chalk drawing in black and white by > [Sir Muirhead Bone showing the liner' Queen Elizabeth on the stocks on the j - Clyde, and the other is an oil painting, ] "Clyde Nocturne," by James Kay. Thej portrait of Earl Jellicoeis by Reginald • G. Eves, and came to New Zealand as part of the Centennial art exhibition.

Mr. Fraser said that at a luncheon given by the Glasgow Society of Arts last December, at which he and the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr. W. J. Jordan, were present, the Lord Provost had made eulogistic references to New Zealand. The centenary of the first meeting called in connection with the immigration of Free : Church members to Otago was then shortly to be celebrated, and because of the many ties existing with New Zealand, especially the increasing, trade between the Dominion and the West of Britain ports, the New Zealand representatives were invited to select any piece of art they liked from the society's exhibition. They felt that they could not so far impose on the. hospitality and kindness of the people of Glasgow as to select the Muirhead Bone picture, and they decided on the work by Kay. They were advised to leave matters to the Glasgow people, and their best hopes were realised when it was learned '.hat the drawing of the Queen Elizabeth was also to be handed over. Both the artists concerned had acted.in the most generous spirit in the transaction. Mr. Fraser suggested that Mr. Hislop, as Mayor of the capital city of the Dominion, might send a message of appreciation, in addition to the Govern-. ment!s message, telling of the formal presentation of the pictures, to the civic head of Glasgow. The portrait of Earl Jellicoe had been bought out of the £900 grant made towards the expenses of the Centennial art exhibition and which had not been drawn upon, so the Government had decided that the grant might be used to purchase works of art. Mr. Fraser referred to Earl Jellicoe's distinguished record during the Great War and subsequently Governor-General of New Zealand.

In acknowledging the presentations, Mr. Hislop made eulogistic reference to Mr. Fraser's very real interest : . in the^ welfare; .and . development, of the 4 NatiqfHii- Mtffc&Mry, ahd" also** spoke' highl^lpf: "the. work of the three artists-represented in the latest gifts. He paid tribute to Earl Jellicoe as one who would continue to be an example to New Zealanders. ;