ART GALLERY GIFTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20137, 24 December 1928, Page 11

ART GALLERY GIFTS.

NEW COLLECTION ON VIEW.

MR. MOSS DAVIS' GENEROSITY.

PICTURES AND STATUARY. Now that most of the. paintings and sculptures lately presented to the citizens of Auckland by Mr. Moss Davis have been placed on view in the city art gallery, the public will bo able to realise the full extent of the donor's munificence. Many years have passed since Mr. Davis left Auckland to reside in London, but he still has a warm affection for tho city and its people. This feeling lie has expressed in a tangible form bv giving to Auckland a considerable collection of works of art and historical relics. The gifts have a double value, in that such things are rare in a young country and help to develop an aesthetic as well as an historic sense. It has often been said that Europe should not grudge the exportation of old masters to public galleries in America, because in new communities any link with the art and history of past ages is of incalculable value. The same is true of New Zealand. Tho new benefaction is a reminder that the Auckland gallery is already much indebted to Mr. Davis' generosity. Seven or eight years ago, when the late Dr. Leys visited him in London, Mr. Davis presented the gallery with a landscape in oils, " The Water Mill," a characteristic work by E. A. Waterlow, showing one of the most pleasant aspects of the English countryside. In 1926 110 surprised the authorities by sending several large pictures, including " Tho Spirit of the Summit," by Lord Leighton, which attracts tho attention of every visitor to the gallery. In the consignment were also a fine eighteenth-century portrait of a girl by Sir William Beechey, a large unfinished cartoon by Sir Edward BurneJones, a rciigijus painting attributed to Murillo, and a bust of Napoleon by Thorwaldsen. Bronze Statuette of Burns. Statuary forms a large part of the new collection. What will please the average visitor most is an excellent modern bronze statuette of y rtobert Burns, about 2ft. 6in. high, by Herbert Hampton. It is a spirited piece of work, and apparently a good likeness of the poet. The statuette ha" been given a place of honour in the cenfro of the group of bronzes formed a year or so ago. A marble statue in the classical manner, representing a woman adjusting tho folds of her chiton, or outer robe, is attributed to Alfred Stevens. It has been placed 011 the staircase landing, which already accommodates statuary forming part of the Boyd bequest.

Three marble busts by \V. '1 heed, (1804-91) have been accommodated in the square room which was formerly the city council chamber. One is a copy of the head of the Apollo Belvidere, another lepresents Minerva wearing a tall helmet, and the third, of heroic size, is that of a woman with a Greek circlet about her hair. All are typical works of the classical revival led by Canova, ilaxman Thorwaldsen and others in the earlier part of the last century.

Another marble bust represents Lord Nelson. It has been placed on the large landing in the library as the centre of a group ot" Nelson relics. These include three engravings after R. West, A. \\. Devis and J.' W. M. Turner respectively, the first two representing tho death of Nelson and the third, 11. M. S. Victory at Trafalgar. All are framed in oak from the Victory. There is also a painting of the famous ship similarly framed. A small bronze equestrian statuette of the Duke of Wellington, made about 40 years ago, and apparently a miniature of a statue in London, will be placed in the library. Lady Hamilton's Sea). Space has been found in the library vestibule for two engravings by A. Blanchard of typical paintings by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. The frames are believed to have been designed by the painter, and certainly harmonise excelleritlv with the subjects. The historical relics are of real interest and value. They include a letter written by Lord Nelson'on board the Victory on March 28, 1805, and a signature from a letter subscribed, " On board the Agamemnon, May 19th. 1/95. The latter is written with the right hand, which Nelson lost at Teneriffe in 1797. The contrast between the two handwritings is very marked. Even more interesting is a seal, about three-quarters of an inch in diameter, and inscribed with the letters, " N. & B. (Nelson and Bronte), upon a medallion surmounted by a crown, with crossed anchors behind. The seal and its large handle are cut from a single piece of rock crystal. According to information received by Mr. Moss Davis, Nelson wrote to Lady' Hamilton in 1804, mentioning he had lost his seal, which was of silver. She accordingly had a new one made of crystal. nnd gave it to him on his return to England. There are also two holograph letters by the Duke of Wellington, dated respectively 1834 and 1823, and five signatures of Napoleon, some as First Consul nnd some as Emperor. The documents will find a plare with others in the section of the library which houses the Hrev and Shaw collections, and which already contains manuscripts of great raritv and historical value. Other items 'ticlude a complete set of Edward VII. gold and silver coinage, from a silver penny to a .£5 piece, finely a set of (reorge V. silver coinage, from 3d to ss. These, with r* volume of plates illustrating Cook's vovages, of which the library already has two copies, will be deposited in the Auckland Museum. A pencil drawing by Alan Slapleton of Captain Cook's birthplace at Leigh-on-Sea and a photographic copy of his marriage certificate, will be hung near the portrait of Cook in the Old Colonists' Museum. Inadequate Buildings.

One point Ihe arrival of Mr. Davis' gifts makes very clear. Roth the Art Gallery and the Central Library are badly in need of morn room. The city's art collection now comprises not only oil and watercolour paintings, many of which are perforce held in storage, but also statuary, china, enamels, metalwork and many objects of applied art. Space is urgently needed for these, and also for what the gallery badly lacks—a permanent collection of etchings and other prints.

The loan exhibition held a year or so ago rhowed how great is the public's likinsr for this branch of art. A really good collection of recent and present-day work could be built up at comparatively lowcost. and would bo widely appreciated.