FELTON BEQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1929, Page 2

FELTON BEQUEST

£284,525 SPENT ON ART.

MELBOURNE’S GREAT GALLERY.

SYDNEY, August 22.

Victoria has the most magnificent bequest for art that the British Empire has ever known—the Felton Bequest. From time to time the cables record the, purchase of some great work of art for the Melbourne. Gallery, with the result that the Victorian capital is blessed with one of the most valuable collections of works of art in any British city,, and including some of the treasures of the world. The Felton Bequest is well kn®wn to admirers of art and artists t in all parts of the world. Alfred Felton, so long associated with the firm of wholesale druggists, Felton, Grimwgde, and Co., was born in England in 1831. He came to Melbourne when he was 20, and he prospered exceedingly. Ho never married, and in his later years he lived at the Esplanade Hotel,’ St. Hilda. He died on January Bth, 1904, in his 74th year. At the time of his death his estate was valued at £494,522. 'Some legacies and the probate duties deducted, a net surplus of £378,933 remained in the hands of the trustees. In his will, Mr Felton directed that one hair of this amount should be invested, and the income derived should bo set aside for charity. Tlfl& income from the other half was to be expended in the purchase of works of art, ancient and modern, for the Public Library, Museums, and National : Gallery of Victoria. r lhe annual income was left to be administered by the Gallery Trustees. So there are two Felton 'Bequests, one for charity and on© for art, but the term “Felton Bequest” usually means the one devoted to art. At the present market prices the assets of the estate are valued at about £600,000, an increase of more than £200,000 on the original value. The Felton; Bequest. Committee met for tlie. first timb in. May, ;' 1904. . The present income . from the bequest to thb Gallery is £28;OOQ. per annum, and'.tbe' Gallei-y' TruateeP. have about £so,ooo' i’n hand, unexpended, as there have. not been many large sums paid during tile few years. The statue “Aphrodite!’ is ; the most important'. ; recent' .purchase. .Th 6 amount expended on and in the acquisition of. works of from January let, 1923, to December 3jtst, 1926, waP £87,034. This makes a total amount 1 of £284,5(15 laid out by tile Gallery Trustees ■ from the inception of the trust. Mr W. Russell Grimwqde has written' an interesting, account of this great benefactor of art, about whose way of life very ’ little would otherwise be known. He was, says Mr Grimwade, a tallish, spare man, with a pointed, grey beard. He was placid and benign, and singularly methodical. His circle of intimates was small. In moments of exhilaration his excesses amounted to a cigar, which he always carefully wrapped in tissue paper before he lighted it. He never ate lunch, and his dinner was invariably a whiting and a chicken—36s whiting and 365 chicken a year! Such was the man who was one of the greatest benefactors of art.