ANOTHER GIFT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19888, 27 March 1930, Page 11

ANOTHER GIFT.

MR R. E. M'DOUGALL'S GENEROSITY. PICTURE FOR NEW ART GALLERY. Mr R. E. McDougall has added to Ms magnificent gift of an Art Gallery to the citizens of Christchurch, by presenting a noted painting to the City to be hung in the new Art Gallery. The picture is from the collection mt the Empress Eugenie, and was aokt j ' some time ago at Christie's, London. It was acquired by Mr McDougall from . Mr J. W. Gibb, of Christehuroh. It Is the work of Henrietta Browne, and is entitled: "The Bible-reader, 1 * and was painted in 1857. It was brougitt to New Zealand and exhibited at the Doedin Exhibition. ' The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) In announcing the gift yesterday, said that . on behalf of the City, he had eif—d the thanks of the citizens to Mr MeDougalL The gift would be reported to the City Council at its meeting aa ' Monday evening. "Mr McDougall's generosity is very . extraordinary," said Mr Archer, when i commenting on the gift. "It is to fee hoped that other well-to-do eitiseas wiQ i emulate him and follow Mi example by purchasing pictures for the anr Art Gallery." " The picture is at present hung ia the Art Gallery and will be on view to tin public as from to-night, i "The Bible-reader" itself a poetic*' larly satisfying, and convey* an alw» sphere of indoor stillness characteristic , of many of the works of that period. . Though the background ia bsmanrts—ly blended of sombre tones, the itteot : converges in the faces aad haaddnso 1 of the two women and tlm open fogao of the Bible, whieh one of tba is lead - ing to the other. The rnieposilifliH at the picture is restful, and tlm «Mi Is pervaded with a kind of still aftenkMH i light. One thing that attracts atteo- [ tion is the manner in which, mmlrti a L sively, the figures and the tahlp take l on a stereoscopic effect, the ■ deadening flatness whieh often pro»ee < so disappointing. Although tho artist has naturally not gone ao te aa the ' moderns who would sabjeet eewgtk&Wg to pattern, it is certainly tens thai the ' general effect ia obtained by a Imol treatment of tones masses as t added human interest front tta etwy : told, rather than frea a cosMOsftntisa i of detail. The picture will he a nHJih addition to the art Ue—uwa of At t City. i i. [ VALUABLE PAINTING. I In the permanent eollectiee at tho ; Art Gallery there is a pietaro whish, ; according to information jost m<■ aiied from London, may be worth ay aids of * £BOO. The picture, a lawlwaao I by J. van Goyea, waa yiwsrtai to OS ; Canterbury Ait Society auaqr Jtmm [ ago by Captain Garcia, eoo of ffcfe founders and the first seaiotsrjr of tho Society, and written on the heeife j||r . sumably by Captain Golds, an -IMfe words: "A fine example of tin auahnsP t The news as to the valae of tfe* fife . ture was contained in a lattor sMoMift ' ■ r by Mr McGregor Wright, a sesaher Iff s the Council of tho Art Society, « r Christchurch artist who ia at mooßl j* London, and who foz warded a eejy-«t a "The Connoisseur" for Jaanaiy aaasmj* . ing the sale at Chxhrtitfs of » turea by van Goyea, one • ST** lift a inches at £273, one 18% x3K ssciMt s at £367 10s, and ono 171 z A mtifm * at £Bl9. The petara «gr flaw r wHstb thotocal Art gslWy In tho letter recawd If Mr Ms* » Gregor Wright the writer aaafc 1 picture we have la tai« mentioned as being add a* ChiwWjjb " and I think must bo worth <a WW* r able sum. Aa a boy I ahngtSbrtfte picture aad ami Hko it, «*o*lf Jfciiit* t bit grey. It ia the paetnro wawjini j of that period (l?th ecstasy), andit . anything happened to St w* ilme'-wi f . funds to replace it. If fho*MaffriiHnr that the picture waa worth 1 would take many mare h»kea*|t»;Sf' f The picture ia a typical eßaangilJfivH:;:;^ - the old Dutch scho<d|, and is i*«;]a taM^ s It is a pastoral •*«», with one ert»» figures, peaking to a PnK xsMriar last evening, Br.GLll.lb Jmim «gfe» pressed the opinion very difficult to gangs ita ntos : coiOd be J picture of its kind, tab m I ■wwilai