CURIOUS LAWSUIT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1920, Page 3

CURIOUS LAWSUIT.

ROMANCE op a picture. vr' J ( |' e au th«ntieity of a picture in the Ut onal Gallery, whieU 111 , • S Saie 1832 fo '' £IOO, was caned m question at a lawsuit in the r , n " ® e " c ' l Division on January 21. It is the celebrated painting "The'liduration oi Cupid.." by Antonio Allegri da torreggio, oi which, it is claimed that taxational Gallery pulsion is mere- >' a rather poor cop v." Mrs. -Marion .leiizies, of ilcienslca, Lancaster road, •■t. Albans, claimed from Jesse William Landou, of Watford, £1,500 principal, alleged to be due upon live bonds Riven by the defendant in 1912, under which it was stated that he would sell,the picturo and pay the pkintitf certain sums out of tlie purchase money. The defendant having failed to sell the Coi'reggio, the plaintiff claimed for the sum. It was averred by the defendant that he had spent Considerable ..sums in making research into the authenticity of this fil painting, and in writng arid illustrating a book, signed proofs of which lie intended to Bend to millionaires all over the world who were art collectors, Despite contrary opinions, Mr. Langdon and other art connoisseurs still affirm that this picture is a genuine Correggio. Mr. Justice Bailhache, in giving judgment, described the case as ( 'a curious action arising fxnm a bond. - ' It was a sort of romancp about an alleged original Correggio, but he hart nothing to do with whether or not it was the original. All that he had to do was to decide whether Mrs. Menzies had a right to sue upon certain bonds. Mr. Landon wanted money in ovdei* to bring this picture to the notice of art collectors. He evidently went to a vast amount of expense ia the matter, and'wanted money to help him to pay expenses, ijrs. Menzies advanced £1,500 upon five separate bonds for £3OO each. The defendant was to pay her £;i00 on each if the picture was sold in the first .year, and if not lie was to pay ,-CoOO on the sale of the picture. There was an absolute undertaking to pay the plaintiff' ,OMI at the expiration of two years. At commoji law the bonds were enforceable, and Mr. Landon miiit pay. There would be judgment, for the plaintiff* for £ 1,5011 and costs.