Nude work to be shown

Press, 30 November 1982, Page 6

Nude work to be shown

Christchurch art lovers may have to wait to see the real “Psyche" painting, but they could soon view another nude by the same artist. Solomari J: Soloman. In the aftermath of the “Psyche " hoax, the Robert McDougall Art Gallery has asked the Dunedin Public Art Gallery for the loan of a work entitled “Eros." The gallery's director. Mr John Coley, told the Christchurch City Council's cultural committee yesterday that a display of that painting might help satisfy the curiosity aroused about late Victoria'n figurative painting. The painting would be hung in the centre court

from early December, along with nude'works in the gallery’s collection. the original "Psyche" was stolen from the gallery 40 years ago. Cr M. J. Glubb said that the gallery and staff might have suffered as a result of the hoax. There would have been “a bit of giggling" from other galleries over the story, he said. However. Cr Geoff Stone said that work done by the director in making certain the copy was identified and classified would make it more difficult for anyone to be fooled. “He was a wit. but he was a bit of a rascal as well."

said Cr Helen Garrett of the hoaxer, a University of Canterbury lecturer. Library grant An $BOO grant should be made to the Woolston suburban library to pay for materials, such as paint, to redecorate the building's exterior, the committee said. Policy and finance committee approval for that overspending will be sought. Library committee members .told councillors that a Justice Department work project could get the job done, but up to $lOOO was needed to pay for materials.