A VALUABLE PICTURE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13875, 12 April 1907, Page 6

A VALUABLE PICTURE.

SUPPOSED TO BE A REMBRANDT. (Pee Uhited Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 11. AVhat is understood to be a genuine Rembrandt has been discovered in Christoliurc.il. A picture, which is thought to be a genuine work of the great Dutch painter of tJio seventeenth century, is in tho .possession of Mr 11. A. Jl'Nab, of this city. It is a portrait, of a lady, and bears tho signature " Rembrandt," and the date "1631." Tho picture measures about 2ft hy 3ft, is in a good state of preservation. Mr M'Nijb states that the picture was bought by bis. mother at a sale of the furniture and effects of a gentleman who resided in Fitzherliert terrace, Wellington/ This was 36 years ago, when the present owner of (lie picture was an infant. Ilis father, the laie Mr James M'Mab, founder and proprietor of the wellknown M'Xab's Gardens at the Hutt, was annoyed when he learnt, (lie price his butler half lad given for a dusty and neglected old painting, but. when its former owner offered him £20 on his bargain he decided to keep it. The picture remained for many years at the late Mr M'Nab's residence in tho famous gardens, and on his death it passed into the possession of hi.? son, who brought it to Christchurch with him some years ago. The family always recognised that the painting might- bo of considerable value, but having no pressing reason for investigation they loft it lianging quietly on Iheir walls, first at the Hutt and afterwards in Christchurch. Recently Mr M'N.ib invited Mr A. A. Longden, superintendent- of the British art exhibit, at the International Exhibition, to inspect the picture. Mr Longden, after a careful examination, stated that tho picture was of considerable value. I'or the .purpose of insurance, he valued it at. from £250 to £500, Iml added it. might on investigation prove to be worth a much larger sum. Tho picture has been removed by Mr M'Nab to a place of safe keeping, hut. he has not yet decided what to do with it. It has been seen by a number of local artists, and the Canterbury Art Society lias offered to hang it in its exhibition in May and June. There can be. no doubt that if the picture is a genuine and original Rembrandt it is worth thousands of pounds.