VILLA ROSEBERY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 61, 8 February 1933, Page 5

VILLA ROSEBERY.

A GIFT TO ITALY. The Villa Rosebery, Posillipo, was handed over to the Italian Government in December. In the spring Lord Rosebery offered the property, together with the collection of pictures j and furniture, as a free gift to the Italian Government, and the offer'was , accepted by Signor Mussolini on behalf of that 'Government. To record his father’s association with the property, Lord Rosebery has generously presented a picture from the collection at Posillipo to His Majesty’s Government. It is the joint work of the artists Tisclibein and Hackert and represents a hunting scene at the Court of Ferdinand IV. of Naples. The picture has been hung in the Embassy at Rome. In accepting the gift, Signor Mussolini has written to Lord Rosebery:— “In accepting your munificent gift in the name of the Government, 1 wish to express the sincere, gratitude of the Italian Government and my personal very hearty thanks. It is needless to assure you that the gift of Villa Rosebery will have in Italy the most cordial appreciation not only because of the historical and artistic value of the property itself, but as a memorial of the noble statesman whose name it shall always hear. Your gift is moreover a precious evidence, my dear Lord Rosebery, of the deep and friendly sentiments which you feel towards my country.”