FIGHT FOR A MADONNA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 November 1924, Page 14

FIGHT FOR A MADONNA.

U.S.A. AND ITALY IN COMPETITION. Soitie years ago a noted Florentine art-dealer acquired a picture by Jacopo da PhntdrmO, a famous artist in hit day and a follower of Michael Angelo. A careful examination of the panel revealed traces of gilding through the cracks in the surface pigments, and led the owner to the conclusion that Pontormo miust have painted his composition over an earlier and. possibly much more interesting work. After some. hesitation, he resolved to sacrifice Pontormo on the altar of investigation (states the Observer’s Borne correspondent); and was rewarded % the discovery of a genuine altar-piece by Duccio la Buoninsegna, the- founder of the Sienese 'school (1260-1313). Having, been covered up for so long, the early work was in excellent preservation, with colours and gilding of extreme freshness and beauty. The subjec.., a Madonna and Child, carrounded by angels, hears some resemblance in style to- the famous Cimabue Madonna, iii the Buscellai chapel of the Church of Santa Maria Novella at Florence.

The picture left Florence and passed, for a sum of 700,000 lire (about £7000), into the hands of Signor Serzocchi, of Milan. Shortly afterwards it became the property of a Venetian art dealer, Signor Balboni, who took it to Vienna, hoping to effect a successful sale there. For some reason the negotiations fell through, and the altar-piece was brought hack to Venice at the beginning of the year. The Government now began to interest itself in the matter, hut, economy being the order of the day. the Budget of the Minister of Fine Arts was not shell as to permit him to'purchase this valuable work of art for the nation, ,and he appealed to Cfimmendatore Gualino, a wealthy business man and a keen connoisseur, begging him to do what he could to keep the treasure in Italy. Commendatqire Gualirio decided to purchase the picture himself, and signed a contract to that effect with Signor Balboni, the price . being .fixed'at two million hre (£20,000). What followed I will give in his own words:

, * I was warned that notwithstanding the contract made with me, the picture had been sold a second-time to Americans, who were buying it on behalf of a Boston aft gallery. Naturally the deal was based on dollars, and hud obtained their purpose by ah bffer of four iriillion lire. I promptly addressed myself to the authorities and obtained ah order for the sequestration of Picture, pending inquiries. We were Only just in time. The precious panel had. already been sent- to an Genoa.,, to be shipped to the United States, and we rescued it Jitefally from the wharf. A few hours more and Italy would have been deprived for ever of otto of the most superb masterpieces of early Sienese art.

Mi ie v iria^^er s^an ds for the present, ft mi ™ ?I\ tere sting to -see whether the Old World or the New becomes the final resting place of Duccio’s Ma-