TREASURES OF ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19778, 27 October 1927, Page 12

TREASURES OF ART.

FINE GIFT TO AUCKLAND. PAINTINGS AND STATUARY. MR. MOSS DAVIS' GENEROSITY. Art and literary treasures, valued at several thousands of pounds, have been presented to the citizens of Auckland by Mr. Moss Davis, according to advice received by the Mayor, Mr. G Baildon, yesterday. The gifts are oi board the Corinthic, which arrived at Wellington this week. Writing from London, Mr Davis has expressed the hope that the collection will give pleasure to citizens, both of the present and future generations. The statuary includes a bust of the Emperor Napoleon, wearing a crown of laurels, and mounted on a spread eagle with ball; also a gnotte pedestal to match. The work, which is by Thor waldsen, was the property of the Empress Eugenie There is also a statue of Venus in white marble by Pajou, signed and dated 1790. Two valuable oil paintings are also included. One, by B. E Murillo. depicts St. Joseph with the Infant Saviour, with angels in the clouds It is from the collection of Sir W. H. Feilden The other oil painting, entitled " Mellittion," is by Lord Leighton, and was ex hibited at the Royal Academy in iBB2. There is also a photographic portrait group of the Imperial War Council. 1918. autographed by the members.

Miniature of Rare Value. A picture of " The Crucifixion," an extremely important miniature, executed on vellum, by Apollonius de Bonfratelhs de Uapranica, papal miniatore to Pius IV and Pius V (1550-1570), is a gift of rare value. Its size is 40 centimetres by 30 centimetres The miniature shows numerous figures in Light tones the mourning group filling the left foreground Behind them are the centurion, onlookers, and, further, soldiers form a group Jeru salem is shown as a city of white towers and domes. There are also six small miniatures by Antonio da Morza, comprising figures of the Almighty, the Redeemer, and four priests or bishops saying mass. Lovers of Dickens will find a storehouse of literary treasure in an album, coutaming 15 unpublished autographed letters by the author to various corres pondents and by othei writers, including Lord Lytton, about Dickens. This por tion of the collection includes a portrait of Dickens, signed by the artist, C Lewin. and a communication in the author's writ mg to the Morning Advertiser, announcing the birth of his son, Sydney Smith Haldi ward, who later joined the Royal Navy and was buried at sea. Photographs of cheques drawn by Dickens have also been forwarded. Dickens' Busy Life. An intimate insight into Dickens' busy life is given in his letters His pub lishers evidently made serious demands on his time. " I never accept an en gagement for about this day in the month," he informed a correspondent on January 28, 1848, " being always liable, if my proofs are late, to have to revise them at the printers." This is evidently an allusion to Dombey and Son, which was published in monthly parts. "I am so unable to encroach upon my present limited leisure for rest and relaxation by attending public meetings." he wrote in declining another invitation, "that 1 have but one engagement between this (January 28) and Christmas " " There seems nothing new in litera ture worth reading." declared Lord Lytton in an autographed letter "Dickens'

Chimes ' seems to me sad stuff " There us also a letter by Lord Tennyson, de scrsbing " a rough introduction to Corn wall." Of unusuaJ interest is a lettei written by Lord Nelson to Captain George Hope It is dated October 15, 1805, sis days before Nelson was mortally wounded at Trafalgar He wrote: " You will with the Agamemnon take a station west from Cadiz from seven to ten leagues, by which means, if the enemy should move, I hope to have instant information, as two or three ships will be kept as at present between the fleet and your two ships, and it seems thought by Captain Black wood that a ship or two may attempt to drive the frigates off, and if that should be the case you will be at hand to assist." A collection of Maori implements, in eluding jade and whalebone meres, chisels, axes, adzes, feather boxes, a fine patoo patoo, and a Marquesan club complete the collection.