ART TREASURES FOR SALE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 120, 14 February 1941, Page 7

ART TREASURES FOR SALE

Hitler’s Hunt For Foreign Exchange

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received February 13, 7 p.m. i

RUGBY, February .12.

Hitler seems to have relinquished his role of Reich art patron in chief and to have gone into the art dealing, or double dealing business. lie is arraii;.Gg to sell in the L'nited States 1-1 old masters —some of the gems among the smaller pictures of the Kaiser Frederick Museum, Berlin. It appears, states the Ministry of Economic Warfare, that these pictures are already on their way, via Siberia and the Pacific Ocean. They consist of three Rembrandts, three Van Eycks, and works of Botticelli, lA)uquet,Veroer of Delft, Velasquez, Raphael, Giorgione, Lippi and Domen. Very few pictures by Fouquet and Giorgione are in existence, while the sale of the three Van Eycks will leave only one important picture by either of Hie Van Eycks in Berlin. It. may be that Hiller intends to replenish the German collections of the schools concerned from the galleries of Holland, Belgium, and France. The picture by Lippi is of "The Nativity,” and i.- accepted as having been painted as an altar piece in the Medici Chapel in Florence. The Italians are lel'l with a copy. The transaction has doubtless been occasioned by Hiller’s quest for foreign exchange, of which Germany stands sorely in need. Since December, 1031), the British blockade has stopped German exports, including Italian bronzes of the first importance, which were essential to increase her dollar and other balances overseas. But, apart from the fact Hint the present mnrkel value of Hiller's 1-1 pictures bears no relation to I lie catalogue value estimated at £2.000,000, il may be found Ihat Americans will not be so ready to purchase in view of Hie fact that the release of dollars will make available a large sum of money for use in Nazi propaganda, espionage and sabotage in America. In his hum for foreign 'X< Image Hiller is prepared to purl with Germany's Italian treasures regardless of the sentiments of the Axis partner, and it may be within tlje bounds of possibility Iha I .Mussolini would not be heartbroken at. interception by the British of paintings which are the essence of Italian genius.

Tire retirement from the House of Commons is announced of Sir Reginald I lorman-Smith, Conservative member for I’eterstield, and a former Minister of Agriculture.