ROMANCE OF £25000 PICTURE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 258, 24 October 1908, Page 3

ROMANCE OF £25000 PICTURE

DISCOVERY IX A CASTLE. The story of the discovery of the large and imposing family group bv Frills Hals, the Dutch master, which lias just la-en purchased by the trustees of tiie National (iallery for L2- - )Jluii. is a mm;'iiiie one.

Lord Talbot tie Malahide was tlie owner nf ilie picture, which milil a tew weeks ago was unknown practically to everyone. Mr. Jluttery. the oflieial picture cleaner ami restorer to the National Caliery, was. in the ordinary course of his profession, summoned to Malalnie i astle, -nine twelve miles from Dublin, to clean several pictures.

Too (.inva- which lias made mi much | stir ill tlie art wnvM was one of the] pit Lures in the collection, anil although ■it was in a very dirty condition, it-, e\-l veituonal'.y high merits tlul not escape! the eye of .Mr, Buttery. That gentleman. was, of course, ill aj position to make his own arrangements lor the purchase of the picture if he had •o wished. I'uLliiiif all opportunity of perineal gain on one s ide, however, he reported the whereabouts of the picture to Sir Charles llolroyd, the Director oi the National Uillery. Mr. Buttery then arranged with Lord Talbot de Malahide that the painting should be brought to iiomloii, where it was without delay inspected by Sir Charles, who instantly realised wlmt a magnificent example of Hals' art liatl suddenly been brought to light. As the picture lias never been exhibitad its existence had not been brought to the knowledge of the experts, nor is it mentioned an any known document. Sir Charles llolroyd brought the discovery to the notice of the trustees of the gallery, who voted for its purchase. f l'he annual parliamentary grant, which varies from £5,000 to £IO,OOO, was, of course, not large enough to provide for the acquisition vi the work, and Sir Charles called in Mr. Lloyd-George, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was so impressed with the picture that l'e undertook to provide half the sum asked. -4s the picture is an heirloom the assent of the Court of Chancety hail to be obtained before the sale could be effected. 11l the meantime the news hail reached Dr. Frindlander, of Berlin, who instantly pressed Mr. Buttery to obtain for him the first refusal if the National Uallcry should ultimately lie unable to I complete the purchase. It is an inI disputable fact that the well-known critic would have persuaded the Berlin ' Gallery to pay even more than JCs!3,o')o.