THE READS COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9157, 25 March 1893, Page 5

THE READS COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS.

The collection of pictures belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Reade, of Kohimarama, offered on loan to tho City Council for the Arc Gallery, fully sustains on inspection all that his Worship tho Mayor (Mr. W. Crowthor) said on Thursday night, at the meeting of the Council. The Mayor disserves the highest credit for his action in the matter, in endeavouring to secure, even temporarily, this fine private collection for public exhibition.

A Herald reporter went out) the other day to Mr. Reado's residence, accompanying the Mayor, who was driving out to Kohimarama to see Mr. Reado on business connectod with the loan collection. Mr. and Mrs. Reado kindly permitted tho reporter to inspect the collection. Mr. and Mrs. Reade, who formerly lived in Guernsey, one of tho Channel Islands, and who came out to the colony some oighb years ago, have built a large two-storeyed house, commanding a beautiful view of Rangitoto Channel and tho harbour, and with rooms specially large, so as to display the pictures bettor. The collection consists of nearly 30 oil paintings, by old and modern artists, of landscapes, seascapes, historical paintings, and specimens of animal painting. Some of the canvases are very large, and tho paintings are framod in massive gilt frames. The following particulars will be of interest :—

| " The Flight of Sbephano Calloprini," by ! Pickersgill, is an historical painting. During the latter part of the 10th century a cruel enmity existed in Venice between the Morosini and Calloprini, whichjended in the defeat and flight of the male part of the latter family from that city. There are four seascapos by Edwin Hayes, of which " Entrance bo Shields Harbour : A Strong Breeze," and "Oyster Mouth Bay, near Swansea," are remarkably fine specimens of marine painting. " Tho Virgin and Infant Christ," with St. John, St. Catherine, and St. Jerome, is by Parmigiana, or properly Francesco Mazzuoli. He was born at Parma in 1503. In 1527, when Rome was sacked by the Emperor Charles V., this artist was so intent on his work as to be insensiblo of tho confusion till the enemy entered his apartments, when they were so struck with the beauty of his paintings and the composed conduct of the artist that they retired without offering him the slightest injury. "The Holy Family ; Virgin and Christ, and Elizabeth, and John," is a replica by Joshua Horner, of a Murillo, the canvas being seven feet by six feet. The English Government offered £30,000 for the original to the French Government. "The Entombment of Christ," by the eatno artist, is after Titian. Ib is eight feet by six feet. The original is in the Louvre, and valued at £70,000. Another of his is "Almsgiving," from a pioture in the Vatican. By tho Waters of Babylon," is a magnificent painting by Aligo, There are two other works by tho same artist, illustrating lake scenery, also " Town and Caetle of Heidelberg," "The Flight Into Egypt," and the companion picture, " The Repose " The Aeony in Gethsemane." "Pyramus and Thisbe," illustrating the well-known mythological legend, is a fine painting, bub the name of the artisb is not known. A landscape by A. Pether, "A Moonlight Scene." This artist was born inChicheater in 1756. He excelled in moonlight pieces. There are two seascapes by Kabe (1844), a French artisb. A fine landscape is by A. Pynaker (1621). He was born ab the tillage of Pynaker, between Schiedam and Delft. Two paintings of groups of dogs are by Armfield, the elder. The first is of dogs in repose, and the other is "The Uninvited." They are admirable illustrations of animal painting. There is a group of flowers by Worsey (1866). A study of primulas, white and pink. "The Bride of Abydos, Selim and Zulieka," is a fine piece of work by H. Andrews (1836). Two domestic scenes, "Card Playing" and "A Wine Party," aro the subjects of two beautiful works'by Plasser. They are painted on copper, and the detail so admirably executed that the work may be examined by a magnifier. There is a painting by Redgrave, 11. A., the subject being " The Deserter." There aro also some fine engravings not comprised in the loan. "The Queen's Coronation (1838), engraved by S. Cousins, A. lI.A. " The Waterloo Banquet at Astley House," by Greatbach, from a painting by William Salter, now in the Academy at Florence. "The Royal Family," by Cousins, from a painting by Winterhalter. "The Christening of tho Princess Royal," engraved by Kyall, from a painting by Leslie, R.A. By the way the nurse seen in the engraving as holding tho baby's cloak, died only a few months ago at an advanced age.