GIFTS TO BRITISH ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20076, 13 October 1928, Page 13

GIFTS TO BRITISH ART.

EXTENSION OF GALLERIES.

SIR JOSEPH DUVEEN'S OFFER.

AID TO BRITISH MUSEUM. (Received October 12, 6.25 p.m.) British Wireless. RUGBY, Oct. 11. Sir Joseph Duvecn, who has already made magnificent gifts to England's art treasures, and who now wishes to ensure their adequate housing, has, subject to certain provisions, made tho following offers. He will provide, first, a room for foreign sculpture at the Tate Gallery; secondly, an extension to the National Portrait Gallery, to relievo the present inartistic overcrowding; thirdly, he will give funds to enable the trustees of the British Museum to provide a dignified setting for tho Elgin Marbles and the Nereid statues. Sir Joseph has already promised a new gallery for Italian art at the National Gallerv.

Sir Joseph Duvecn is a son of the lato Sir J. J. Duveen, who founded the firm of art dealers of which his son is now tho head. Sir Joseph has made many public gifts since, in 1910, he gave a picture to the Hull gallery. Ho gives an annual fund to the Tate Gallery to encourage water colour painting by British artists. Ho has given one wing already to tho Tato Gallery, as was announced on September 19. In February, 1927, he paid £500,000 for the Benson collection of old Italian masters, and gave one painting, by Correggio, to the National Gallery. , , The Elgin Marbles are so named t because the seventh Earl of Elgin, a diplomat and an art collector, who in 1802 was British Envoy at Constantinople, purchased the celebrated sculptures from the Greek Government, which had neglected them for years. He rescued them, and put thorn in safety in England. They were purchased by the nation for £36,000 in 1816. Thoy cost Lord Elgin over £50,000.