DUNEDIN ART GALLERY

Evening Star, Issue 19857, 4 May 1928, Page 5

DUNEDIN ART GALLERY

FURTHER VALUABLE GIFTS TRAVELLERS PRAISE ITS LAY-OUT A meeting of the council of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society was held on Wednesday afternoon. Mr J. Loudon (president) welcomed homo Sir Lindo Ferguson and Sir D. E. Theomin. . Sir Lindo, in replying, spoko in warm terms of the lino asset the city now has in its Art Gallery building and collection. He said that it was \eiy interesting to come back and examine tho collection again after seeing tho collections in most of the largo contics at Home and on tho Continent. Tho collection impressed him as being distinctly an outstanding one. Among all the galleries that he had visited no did not seo any in which tho lighting and arrangement of tho rooms were better than at Logan Park. Mr Theomin said that alter visiting many galleries he was satisfied that relatively tho Dunedin Art Gallery compared with anything he had seen This applied particularly to the layout or the building and tho yay in which the pi..tires had been hung, so that the full value of each could bo brougnt out to the best advantage. The President reported that arrangements had been made with the Fail} Settlers’ Association for thonsoof tho hall for tho annual exhibition in JsV vember. Mr ITackett, tho sub-tenant of the hall, had generously waived his claim to enable the Early Settlers Association to meet tho society. A letter was received from Mr Norman G. Clark, of Melbmirno, intimating that he was presenting to tho gallery a Minton turquoise blue vase bv Mussill. , , ... Another gift reported is Irom Captain E. B. Woollett, of tho Loyal West Kent Regiment, of a very choice tea sot and tray of Royal Prussian ware, 18501 Tho donor, in his letter, stated that ho was cheerfully carrying into effect a suggestion made to him by Mi Theomfci when tho latter was on a visit to Cliftonville (Margate), and be had pleasure in asking the trustees of the Dunedin Society to accept tho gift from the firm of Charles Wollett ami Son and another. The tea set and tray were purchased by tho Woollett firm from the collection of the late Dr Rowe, a well-known art collector, of Margate. With regard to further purchases under the Smeaton bequest, the opinion was expressed by members of the council that a wise policy -would he to accumulate funds until tho exhibition to be held in Sydney in 1931-32, when it was hoped to acquire a number of good works

A long list of donated pictures and old china was submitted by the secretary, Mr R. H. Neilson, and ho was instructed to write thanking the donors. Mr A. Latham, of Gore, a working artist member of the society, wrote expressing the opinion that owing to tho amlagamation of the Public Art Gallery Society and the Otago Art Society the interests of tho latter body were likely to ho overshadowed. —The President explained that the council of tho united body at present comprised sixteen members, of which only one member was an artist member. Several of tho members present said they thought the artist members should have greater representation on the council, ajrtl after discussion it was resolved that tho president and secretary submit a minute to the next meeting giving their ideas of the best method to be adopted to meet the position. Intimation was received yesterday by the Dunedin. Public Art Gallery Society that Mr A. F. Roberts, of Galasshie'ls, Scotland, has been made an honorary Royal Scottish academician, an honour that is much coveted. Mr Roberts has been a staunch supporter of the Dunedin Art Gallery for many years, and the society has decided that a letter of congratulation be sent to Mr Roberts.