OLD MASTER IN COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 222, 19 September 1929, Page 31

OLD MASTER IN COURT.

CLAIM FOB "RESTORATION." BOUGHT FOR £3; SOLD FOR £1500. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ; . CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. , An old master, entitled "Feast of Belshazzar/' painted by Palma Vecchio early in the sixteenth century, was much discussed in the Supreme Court to-day, when a claim was made by William Sydney Smith, artist, for £157 10/ for restoring the picture. . j. William Henry Stitches, defendant ui the action, said he purchased the old canvas at a sale in London many years ago for £3. He worked on it at inter? vals for 20 years untU he discovered a monogram on it, which showed the picture to be of great value. He eventually sold .the picture to Dr. J. C. Pairman, of Christchurch, for 1500gs. It was alleged by Smith, and on his behalf, that he had done a great deal of work in restoring and retouching parts of the painting. For defendant it was alleged that the canvas was handed to Smith for the repair of a small rent in a corner of the canvas and that much of the work of restoration, especially the retouching, was unskilfully done alid had actually depreciated the value of the painting. Dr. Pairman said all Smith's work, even the repair of the rent, would have to be undone, and that it was therefore of no value., Defendant and other witnesses said Smith had agreed to make no charge for the work. Defendant also stated that Smith had asked for 150gs, only when he had heard of the sale at 1500gs. Decision was reserved.