AUCKLAND GALLERY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29556, 4 July 1961, Page 13

AUCKLAND GALLERY

Major Artists’ Works Bought A bronze mask by Epstein, [valued at £550, is among the latest acquisitions of the | Auckland Art Gallery The (mask is of Epstein’s wife. I The Auckland City Council parks and library comI mittee yesterday approved (the purchase, for £1145. of i the mask and five other additions to the gallery. I A new painting for the Netherlands group is an oil landscape with castle by the 17th cen’ury artist —Jan Asselyn. It cost £285. Of particular New Zealand interest are three oil paintings by the Christchurch artist Francis McCracken, who died in 1959 They were bought in Britain. In his report to the eom--1 mittee the director. Mr P A. Tomory. said McCracken ; was one of the more important expatriate New Zealand [ artists. Apart from the new purchase. the gallery had only two wa’ercolours representing bis work. An ml painting by the eon-

temporary Greek artist Janis Spyropoulos, winner of a UJf.ES.CO. prize, cost £lOO. The gallery also has acquired an oil sketch by the 17th Century Italian, Andrea Sacchi. It was a sketch for a ! large painting “The Vision of St. Romuald" done for the Va’ican. The sixth work is a wood- ; cut by Paul Gauguin, bought for £7O. Mr Tomory said the woodcut was an important addition to the print collection and the second Gauguin acquired by the galllery.