REPUTED OLD MASTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20897, 12 June 1931, Page 8

REPUTED OLD MASTERS.

PROBLEM OF AUTHENTICITY, DIRECTOR'S EXPLANATION. / , Some information about the reported ' old masters in the Grey collection in the City Art Gallery was given yesterday by the chief librarian and director, /Mr. John Barr, apropos of the suggestion made by Dr. E. B. Gunson, president of the Auckland Society of '/Arts,-in an address to the Rotary Club on Monday, that expert advice should be sought to authenticate the pictures. < Mr. Barr said Sir George Grey was believed to have compiled a, full list of the old paintings which he had collected, with notes on their history as received by him. Documents of this nature vera said to have been seen at the Mansion House, Kawau, when Sir George was in residence there, but none had been found in the library which ho bequeathed to the Auckland Public Library, or were (known to exist elsewhere. The deficiency was made up, in a sense, by 'the fact that in the late 'eighties and early 'nineties, before ho left for England, Sir George had an ofiice in the library building and helped to edit the early catalogues of his collection. The essential information contained in these had been transferred to later catalogues, but had been amended from time to time in the light of newer knowledge. In this way somo pictures which had been positively stated in the first catalogues to be by certain masters were now set down as "attributed" to them. It had not been deemed advisable to alter the labels upon the frames, since they might later provide some evidence regarding the history of tho pictures. However, tho catalogue entries were as reliable as possible under present conditions. Every opportunity had been taken to consult visiting experts upon the pictures, notably Mr. Frank Rinder, adviser to the wealthy Felton Bequest in Melbourne. Such authorities had not i/ been able to give very much help. The appraising of old paintings was a highly specialised task, and probably there were very few men anywhere who could give a really reliable opinion on a collection ranging over several countries and periods. The most satisfactory way would bo to_ send tho pictures to Europe, but this involved risk and considerable expense. An alternative was to obtain the services of somo one fitted to pass judgement on old works generally. Tt seemed unlikely that under present economic •conditions the City Council would be willing to spend money for such .1 purpose. , Mr. Barr added thaW whatever opinions might be held on the authorship of the pictures, they were being very well cared for. The whole collodion had been cleaned at intervals, and at least one picture had been greatly improved by tj tlio attention given to it.