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In February a most interesting collection of family and other portraits and engravings in colour illustrating the costumes worn at the Coronation of King, George IV, lent by His Excellency the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, were exhibited. The portraits included paintings by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Sir Nathaniel Dance, Thomas Hudson, Michael Dahl, Downman, and Cosway. The Trustees wish to express their thanks for the loan of these works and to record their appreciation of the kind and practical interest which His Excellency has shown in the Art Gallery since its opening. Other important exhibitions have taken place since the period under review, notably the Harvey Collection of old Dutch and Flemish Masters (arranged through the Empire Art Loan Collections Society) ; collection of etchings from the Twenty-one Gallery, London ; and exhibition of present-day printing (arranged through the Graphics Committee) ; and others are in prospect. Carnegie Corporation's Grant for the Purchase of Reproductions. The Trustees have received a grant of £1,000 from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to be used for the purchase of reproductions of pictures. It is intended to obtain a collection of facsimile reproductions of old and modern masterpieces representing all schools of art from the earliest times up to the present day. These will be used in connection with lectures for educational purposes, and their value in this way will be inestimable. As it is quite impossible for this Gallery to acquire a collection of original old masters, it is felt that the excellent reproductions which are now obtainable will be far more valuable to students than second-rate originals. General. Lectures. —During the year a number of interesting lectures were given gratuitously by members of the Management Committee and others. These have undoubtedly been of great value to visitors in helping them to understand and enjoy the pictures. School Students. —It has been the policy of the Trustees to encourage the schools to bring their students to the Art Gallery. Thousands of school pupils visited the loan exhibitions in parties, and were admitted free of charge. It is the aim of the Trustees to foster the cultivation and appreciation of art in the community, and to educate public taste and opinion. The greatly increased opportunities of seeing the works of great artists afforded to the public through the medium of loan exhibitions since the opening of the Gallery have undoubtedly stimulated interest in art. During the first month after the opening ceremony thousands of visitors viewed the exhibitions, and the attendance far exceeded expectations. With adequate funds and staff, the educational activities of the Gallery could be extended to an unlimited degree'. At present the Gallery is seriously handicapped by lack of funds, and the most urgent problem which faces the Trustees is to remedy this deficiency so that the Gallery can pursue an active educational policy. The National Collection. During the year some notable additions were made to the National Collection. The Gallery has at present little money available for the purchase of pictures, but, chiefly owing to the generosity of public-spirited citizens, a number of valuable works have been acquired. It is gratifying to note that some of these have been donations from overseas. The Gallery will, later on, benefit from the Sir Harold Beauchamp Endowment Fund (now approximately £11,000), the interest on which will be available for purchase of pictures when it accumulates to £15,000, and the " Ellen Eames Collection Fund," payable on the death of certain life-tenants, estimated to realize at least £20,000. Prior to the erection of the new Art Gallery, a number of pictures, &c., were presented for inclusion in the National Collection. These pictures were entrusted to the care of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, and were handed over by that body to the National Art Gallery. Included in the collection were :— Portrait of Sir Harold Beauchamp (oil painting), by the late W. A. Bowring. Presented by Lady Beauchamp. A number of pictures from the Baillie Collection brought to New Zealand in 1913. Purchased by public subscription and private gift. Collection of china, furniture, pictures, bronzes, &c., bequeathed by the late Dr. W. E. Collins. Collection of oils, water-colours, and drawings by the late Petrus Van der Yelden. Presented by Sir George A. Troup. The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts also handed over its permanent collection, valued at £13,619. This collection represented the works acquired by the Academy by way of gifts, purchases, and through public subscription- during the last fifty years, and included several pictures purchased by the Academy with funds granted by the Board of Governors of the T. G. Macarthy Trust. In addition, the following gifts have been accepted by the Board of Trustees :— 1. " Quatre Bras," by Veriker Hamilton. Presented by Mrs. Yeriker Hamilton (England). 2. Bronze figures, " Girl and Faun," by Dalou. Presented by H. McKay, Esq. 3. " After Rain " (oil painting), by Quinquella Martin. Presented by Sir Percy Sargood. 4. " Peace in her Loneliness, Lledyr Valley, Wales " (oil painting), by S. J. Lamorna Birch, R.A. „Presented by Sir George Shirtcliffe. 5. Portrait of the late Sir Robert Stout, by Archibald F. Nicoll (oil painting). Presented by members of Sir Robert Stout's family.

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