ART TREASURES

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1930, Page 2

ART TREASURES

SECURED FOR BRITAIN. < N ATI ON A L COLLECTIONS. LONDON, June 5. An illustrated report has been issued setting-forth a list of works of ait which the National- Art Collections Fund lias secured, or assisted m securing, for the nation during 1929, and giving many facts regarding the foundation and work of the society. There has been a larger increase in membership since the 1928 meeting than in any previous year, no fewer than 3366 names having been added to the roll, bringing the total to 11,439. The King and Queen are keenly interested in tiie society. A year agr the members were privileged to inspect the pictures and statues in Buckingham Palace, and for three days days thronged the Palace and gardens. Under the auspices of the society, the National Loan Collection Trust lias been constituted under a body of trustees, with the object of iforniing a collection of pictures available for temporary loan to provincial galleries, the nucleus being a collection of old masters presented by the late Mr William Harvey, of Leeds, Among the outstanding works of art. selected during the year was the Wilton diptych: this was purchased from the Earl of Pembroke by the National Gallery for £90,090. There was n special grant from the Treasury of £45,000. £2O 000 from Mr Samuel Courtnuld, £IO,OOO from Lord Rothermere, £IO,OOO from Air C. F. Stoop, and £SOOO from the National Art Collections Fund. The Titian picture, “The Cornnro Familv.” ivrs purchased from the Duke of Northumberland by the National Gallery for £122,000 with the aid of a number of special grants from private sources, and £5000" from tiie fund. The fund was also concerned in saving the Luttrel Psalter, and the report comments: “If it has been saved for the British nation at the eleventh hour, it should never be forgotten that it is to an American that we owe its preservation.” Mr Pierpont Morgan advanced the purchase money for a year, free of interest; Another great English manuscript, the Bedford Psalter, was also secured by Mr Pierpont Morgan, on the same conditions, and the National Art Collections Fund ask for contributions to secure its purchase for the National Gallery. A “Portrait of a Connoisseur, ” by Bernardo Strozzi, has been presented to the National Gallery by Mr F. D. Lycett Green through the fund.