JUDGES AND PICTURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 December 1936, Page 11

JUDGES AND PICTURE

AWARD TO ARTIST CONFIRMED. LONDON, October 30. Judges in the Court of Appeal were in facetious mood yesterday during an appeal by Mrs Van dor Elst, who sought to have set aside an award of £2lO to Mrs W. 11. Paterson. Mrs Paterson, an artist under the name of Lina Monici, painted a picture portraying Mrs Van der Elst appealing to a judge. The background showed condemned murderers on the gallows. She claimed £262 for the picture from Mrs Van der Elst, and in the King’s Bench Division was awarded £2lO. The picture was taken into Court yesterday. “I gather,” said Lord Justice Greer, “that Mrs Van der Elst thought the Judge looked too benevolent?” Lord Justice Slesser: I think it is probably a composite portrait of all the Judges! Lord Justice Scott (who fought many famous actions as a K.C. in the King’s Bench Division),: I think it is obviously a Judge of the Chancery Division. (Laughter.) •> • Lord Justice Slesser: I understand it is said that the picture is unfinished; I have seen sohie finished pictures

which seemed to be in a much earlier state of manufacture than this! Lord Justice Greer: I see that one complaint is that the Judge has too noble a forehead! Mr J. P. Eddy. K.C., for Mrs Van der Elst, said that, before the picture was accepted, she wanted certain things done to it. She had indicated what they were. ? . . . Lord Justice Slesser: It is terrible to think the creation of an artist should be controlled in that way. One shudders to think what might be done. Lord Justice Scott: Painting por-

traits of ugly clients might become a very risky thing. (Laughter.) Mr Eddy: It was to be a very special picture. * It was to be used in Mrs Van der Elst’s campaign against capital, punishment. - Without calling on counsel for Mrs Paterson, the Court dismissed the appeal, with costs. Lord Justice Greer, giving judgment, said it was a hopeless appeal. There bad been no cross appeal, otherwise be would have been inclined to increase the amount awarded to £ 26Z.