VALUABLE PICTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20171, 4 February 1929, Page 10

VALUABLE PICTURES.

NEW ZEALAND LADY OWNER

TWO SOLD FOR 5300 GUINEAS.

HIGH PRICES AT CHRISTIE'S.

MANY YEARS IN AUCKLAND.

A romance, intimately associated with the Auckland province,' attaches to a collection of valuable oil paintings and water colours by old European masters, two of which have realised 5300 guineas at Christie's. This collection is tho property of Mrs C. H. Lushington, and until a year, ago reposed in her home at Mahurangi Heads. Mrs. Lushington now resides in Rangitoto Avenue, Romucra, and although the most valuable portion of her collection has been sent to Christie's, she still retains some choice and rar6 pieces of art.

A Times cablegram from London, dated February 1, states:—"A surprise at a sale of pictures at Christie's was a stroke of good luck for Mrs. Lushington, formerly of Mahurangi Heads, New Zealand, 10 of whose pictures were disposed of at high prices. "Tho Ferry, a fine painting depicting a ferry boat crossing a stream, 40in. by 64in., and signed "Van Ruisdael, 1644," realised 3000 guineas. This picture had failed to reached the reserve of 850 guineas when it was sent from Now Zealand for sale in 1923. As a result it was sent back to tho Dominion. A painting of a seated group of people, 26in. by 22in., by tho French 18th century artist, Do Troy, sold for 2300 guineas." Brought to Dominion in 1882. Before they came into the hands of Mrs. Lushington, tho pictures were tho property of her husband, Mr. Charles Hugh Lushington, who died at Mahurangi Heads about 20 years ago. He left them to his wife unconditionally. The collection was brought to Now Zealand by Mr. Lushington in 1882, and for four or five years they were hung in the old Lushington home at- East Tamaki. They weie then removed to the Mahurangi Heads homestead, where they remained for more than 40 years.

There is little knowledge of how and when the collection came into the hands of the late Mr. Lushington's family. The house of Lushington is one of the oldest in Kent, and tho family tree can bo traced back to 1550. Members of the family soon came into prominence as Empire-builders Sir Henry Lushington held an important post in tho East Indian civil service early in the 19th century and was later consul-general at Naples. Early in the 19th century, also, the Hon. Stephen Rumbold Lushington was Governor of Madras. A member of the house is now engaged in the forestry service in India, and recently visited Auckland with the Empire forestry delegation.

Although members of the family were very fond of art, none appears to have been an artist. The first complete catalogue of the collection was made by a representative of Christie s at Rodmersham Lodge, Kent, tho family scat, in 1833. Tho collection then belonged to .Mr. William John Lushington, father-in-law of Mrs. Lushington, the present owner of the collection. When he died the collection passed to Mrs. Lushington's husband. Pictures Escape Burning. Thus it was that the collection came to be housed at East Tamaki. Although both Mr. and Mrs. Lushington realised tho value of the pictures they did not have them insured. They were hung in a wooden house and one day were almost destroyed by fire. Tho stable near the homestead caught fire, but very fortunately the house was merely scorched. Mr. and Mrs. Lushington then moved to a concrete house at Mahurangi Heads, where the paintings were safe from tho ravages of fire. A year ago Mrs. Lushington decided to live in Auckland, and not wishing to expose tho collection to the dangers of fire in another wooden dwelling, sho decided to sond the greater part of it to Christie's for sale. The first intimation she had that any were sold was the cable message from London stating that 10 paintings had changed hands. Over 30 paintings, including a Rembrandt study of the head of an aged rabbi, were forwarded to England, so that, apart from the two pictures mentioned in tho cablo message— Van Ruisdael's "The Ferry," which realised 3000 guineas, and a seated group by Do Troy, which brought 2300 guineas —Mrs. Lushington has no idea which of the other pictures changed bands. Pictures by Rembrandt.

Although the cable message states that Mrs. Lushington "had a stroko of luck," she does not agree with this. Sho stated slio knew the pictures were valuable, and had been told by two prominent artists that the Van Ruisdael was worth approximately £IO,OOO. "I am very much concorned about the Rembrandt," she stated. "Somo time ago I sent to Christie's for salo a study by Rembrandt of a lady peeling an apple. It was not in good condition and realised £l9O. The study of tlio Rabbi, which is now at Christie's, is beautiful piece of work and should fetch a high price." Tlio Van Ruisdael is a beautiful study of a small ferry crossing a lako or a river. In the background is a church, while to the left are some willows, reminiscent in softness of the art of the great Frenchman, Corot. The picture of tlio seated group, stated in the cable messago to be og,e of do Troy's, was thought by Mrs. Lushington to bo an oil by Wattoau. It is possiblo some mistake was made in the cablo message. Other Valuable Paintings.

Other pictures in the collection which aro at Christie's for- salo,' and which arc expected to fetch high prices, included "Judith and Holofernes," by Guido Reni, the famous disciple of Denis Calvart; an oil of Samuel anointing David by Giovanni Baptista Tiepolo, one of tho most eminent painters of tho Venetian school; and «■ landscape by Decker. Among the valuable paintings Mrs. Lushington still retains is ono depicting a calm on the coast of Holland by William Anderson, one of tho most successful painters of marine subjects England has produced. This picture is one of his most beautiful specimens. There are also two exquisite-water, colours by Henry Jutsum. dated 1850. Although Mrs. Lushington is aged 83, sho takes a livoly interest in the pictures, and knows practically all there is to be known about thorn." Sho was born in Svdiicy, and to New Zealand , with her father, tlie late Mr. John Styak, when 18 months old. She is genuinely fond of art and when a child took lessons, but did not pursue the subject. She stated her mother's peoplo dabbled in art with moderate success.