BRITISH ART COLLECTION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 77, 24 December 1907, Page 7

BRITISH ART COLLECTION.

Tho JSnglish mail to lirfiuVtlVis brings particulars of the report which has been made by Sir Isidore Spielmaim, who was Director of Art'for tliSiNow Zealand interna'cional Exhibition. Ho says that tho- growing reluctance of priva.to-ow.uors- of-works qf art to lend their pictures was increased .in this case by thq great distance they had -to bo sent, the considerable risks, and tbc fact that tho owners were deprived 6f their property for over a year. Sir Isidore Spielmaiin resolved, thorofore','. to dupendinaiiily on tho artists themselves, and tho resulfc,\vas a collection admitted to ho the'best of tho foreign sections. No fewer than C 67 artists woro represented by exhibits,,.of 233 wcro paintings in oifaii'd 209 in\vat6rcolours; whilo 170 workers contributed to the arts and crafts department. Sir Isidore Spielmaim has some interesting) ~opmmoiits on tho commercial aspect;of the matter. Hβ is of the opinion that British artists, as a rale, lix tho prices of their works at International exhibitions at figures which do not encourage purchases. Toreigrt artists pf the iirst rank.iix the valud"6f.t-Kbir 'Tories';Voro

moderately, and consequently "they' command a moro ready sale. Afcjthq Brussels Exhibition but few pictures 'Tens'sold,\ ■at'-'Paris hardly 1 -any, at St. Louis'lsngjan.d-.sdltl'£7ooo worth, while at New Zealand; e^prices wore loss high, there were ' sotd '£17,107 worth. This is by far-, tho -.largest amount ever taken for modern works .of'art at, any International ■ Til is --financial result of our participatioij,;iii 'tiip. exliibition has given much satisfaction ;t0.,.a11: concerned. Scottish artists seem to have reaped , thoir full share of tho sales.'-' , ': ■<.'-'■■ •■ >■-< . .