ART TREASURES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 20

ART TREASURES

SENT TO AMERICA TO LIQUIDATE DEBTS. "Part of the payment of our war debt to America is being made in works' of art and objects''of historic interest. I suggest that the- payment might be nmdo in something wo can better do without," writes Lieutenant-Com-nmiider Keriworthy, R.N., M.1"., in tho "Star." "There is a steady 'shipment' of paintings by the great English mastors. Sometimes whole buildings cross the Atlantic. Tho latest osamplo is the historic Broadhembury Grange' in Devonshire. It is to be demolished and re-erected in the United States. Tho Grange is not only one of tho finest remuining examples of Tudor architecture, but its carved panelling, as Sir Martin Con way has pointed out, is among the finest examples of its kind remaining. A couple of years ago the historic "Warwick Priory was bought by a dealer, demolished, the stones shipped over to America, and there re-erected. Nor are citizens of the United States tho only ones who pay us the compliments of acquiring,our native aro trca.sures. Wealthy Brazilians and Argen- ; tinos are dnterlng tho market. Ancient 1 books, including the first folio editions of -our greatest writers, pictures, genu r me plate armour—a great rarity these days—are leaving these shores. .Fortunately Stonehenge has been preserved; and a similar, attempt to buy Sulgravo Manor, tho birthplace of George Washington, and ship it to 'God's Own Country,' has been frustrated. If it would really cement Anglo-American friendship, I would bo prepared to present America with Sulgravo Manor or any. authentic homo of! one of tho original Pilgrim Fathers; but I object to part of the national patrimony'being bough over our heads and this country being deprived of it for ever, for commercial gain. Italy is a far poorer country, financially, than England; and yet wo must admit that she is far richer in works of art. Nevertheless, for many years now, Italy lias had a law in force prohibiting the export of. certain scheduled art treasures. I suggest that some such law is needed for this country. A law might be passed giving power to schedule . certain buildings, pictures, books,: and other rare- or artistic objects, and to prohibit their salo for shipment abroad. Certain

individuals might suffer; but we. must think of the interests of generations coming after us. We might compromise on the breaking-up of the art collections of very wealthy dead men by allowing a payment of part of the death duties in works of art (for tho national collections) at a fair, valuation. Nor is there any new principle in my proposal. ' AYe schedule- certain ancient monuments, historic castles, and ho on, and. prevent their destruction, and removal; so why not do the same thing for tho nioro portable, but equally irreplaceable, pictures of Joshua Reynolds and Turner, the remaining first folio editions of Shakespearo, and the better examples of Tudor and Gothic art?"