ART IN THE DOMINIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17843, 26 July 1921, Page 5

ART IN THE DOMINIONS.

THE PURCHASE OF PICTURES. ENGLISH GENEROSITY URGED A. and N Z. LONDON, July 24. Mr. Frank Rutter, art critic of the Sunday Tmies, dealing with the recent decision of the National Gallery to exercise its right to purchase at a figure equivalent to that offered by the Felton bequest, Millais' "Carpenter's Shop," writes: " Common honesty compels us to recognise that Australia has greater need of Millais' ' Carpenter's Shop' than has England. It is time we abandoned our selfish attitude and admit that masterpieces of art should be distributed. Millais is splendidly represented in English public collections, while Australia is poorly supplied with the best examples of British painting. " The Motherland must net act as a dog in the manger. The Dominions spend considerable sums in the purchase of works of art in England ,„ but usually get very poor value. They usually appoint an English artist or art expert to act for them, but he, being an art crank, buys a picture sclely for its technical merits, without reference to the subject. When the picture has crossed the seas it creates deep disappointment, as the overseas public is not likely to be persuaded that they have got something very wonderful when they cannot understand what it is all about "