WHOSE GIFT?

Evening Star, Issue 22343, 20 May 1936, Page 16

WHOSE GIFT?

PAINTINGS FOR DUNEDIN ART GALLERY OR MUSEUM? To which body—the Museum or the Art Gallery—are the two pictures by the late John Charles Dollman, li- W.S., to be presented? The University Council yesterday afternoon received advice that the pictures were to be hung in the Museum, but a member produced concrete evidence that the same pictures were being consigned to the Art Gallery. 'A letter from the Department of Internal Affairs stated that Captain C. Guy Dollman, of the Natural History Museum, London, “is presenting to the Museum two pictures by his father —‘ Middleton Chalk Pit, Suffolk,’ and ‘ Leopards.’ “ There seems to be some mistake,’,’ interjected Dr F. O. Batchelor. “ The pictures are for the Art Gallery.” The Chancellor: i think there is some misapprehension. “ Yes,” said Dr Batchelor. “ The pictures are for the gallery. I have a letter here in my hand saying so.” ThefcChancellor: From whom? Dr Batchelor; Mr Marsh, of the Empire Art Loan Collections Society, who inspected the pictures. “ The misapprehension was that the Art Gallery and the Museum are combined,” said the Chancellor. “Dr Benham tells me that in his early clays the Art Gallery was housed in an irop building near the Museum. It seems that Captain Dollman’s wishes would be best met by the pictures going to the Art Gallery. Dr Benham states that there are no suitable means for properly housing the paintings in the Museum. Mr G. R. Ritchie remarked that if the Art Gallery would not accept the pictures they should be handed to the Museum.

The Chancellor and Dr Batchelor were appointed to confer with the Art Gallerv Society.