LONDON GOSSIP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23529, 18 June 1938, Page 21

LONDON GOSSIP

COUNT GRANDI’S RECEPTION TWO THOUSAND GUESTS LORD MOYNE’S DISCOVERY (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, May 21. Two thousand guests attended the reception given by Count and Countess Grand! at the Italian Embassy this week. It was one of these big diplomatic functions which seem to be dying out in London nowadays, an indication, perhaps, that an ambassador’s work has become more in the nature of Big Business, with less time for entertaining. The Italian Embassy is palatial, and Count Grandi and his wife entertain lavishly. The space was certainly needed to accommodate all the guests, whose arrival caused something of a traffic block outside, and a long queue inside, where members of the diplomatic corps, of the Government, of both Houses of Parliament, and also of the Foreign Office, had to battle politely to keep their places. A large number of women wore veils for the occasion, but the men appeared to conform to no set sartorial standard. Guests were impressed by the number of tapestries and old masters, not to mention seventeenth century mirrors. The Grandis escape from their palatial surroundings at least once a week, for the Count has a liking for the English countryside, and his country house is not far from a golf course REMBRANDT “ FOUND ”

Lord Moyne made an interesting discovery this week. He found, with the assistance of Mr H. Isherwood Kay, Keeper of the National Gallery that a picture bought by his father 60 years ago is a Rembrandt, and not the work of a lesser Dutch painter, as has been supposed. The subject of the painting is ‘ The Thirty Pieces of Silver.” It was noticed by Mr Kay, who inquired why it should be labelled Ferdinand 801. and suggested that the initials — R.H.L.—(the mark of Rembrandt), might bb found in a comer. The initials were found, and cleaning, X-ray, and scientific tests have proved the picture to be one of Rembrandt’s. Bernard Shaw is in the news again; indeed, he seems to be rarely out of it these days. He is said to be so' impressed with Mr Gabriel’s picture of “ Pygmalion ” that he has given permission for two more of his plays to be filmed, “The Devil’s Disciple ” and “ Caesar and Cleopatra,” Wendy Hiller, who played the flower girl in “ Pygmalion,” was chosen by Mr Shaw, and it is said that she has given a fine performance.

. Leslie Howard, associated with Gabriel Pascal, in Pascal Productions at Pinewood, Iver, Bucks, played the professor, and co-directed the film with Pascal. Before the two new Shaw films are started, the' company will make a modern picture, with Leslie Howard as the star, and then “Nelson,” with_ Howarc} as Nelson, and, it is almostcertain, Diana Wynyard as Lady Hamilton. Exteriors ‘ of both “ Nelson ” and “ Caesar and Cleopatra ” will be taken in Italy. Wilfred Lawson, who Pascal believes to be an eve*, greater actor than Emil Jannings, will play the part of Pitt. For “ Caesar and Cleopatra ” Pascal says he will “rebuild the Sphinx.” Pascal-Howard productions started in a quiet way. It now looks as if they are going to compete with the best British and Hollywood companies for prominence and the importance of their films. STAMP DEALERS MEET ‘

Stamps haVe been a topic of conversation this week. Representatives of 13 nations met for their three-day aunual session. Collectors or the public were not admitted, and there was no “ swopping.” Everything was on a cash basis, prices were wholesale, and the amount of business done averaged £70,000 to £BO,OOO. There were 100 stands for the delegates, who are the leading stamp merchants of thf. world.

Sixty-nine of the 100 stands were taken by British firms; the odd 31 were divided among merchants from Austria. Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, Latvia. Switzerland, and the United States. French was the universal language, although London has been the stamp centre of the world since 1928, when the French Government upset things by trying to tax and licence the affair Father Neptune may still exercise his right to shave and duck passengers crossing the line for the first time, but he will not be the only or e to issue certificates from now on. His domain is challenged by the Imperial Airways! In future, commanders of airboats will ask passengers whether they have crossed before when approaching the equator halfway over Lake Victorja on the borders of Uganda. Kenya, and Tanganyika, and on the Liiigga archipelago, south of Singapore. Those who have not will be presented with a certificate stating: “This is to certify that —• has flown over the equator in the Empire flying boat G— —, thus becoming one of the progressive band of travellers who cross the line by air." The certificate will be elaborately ornamented in the middle of a fourpage scroll and signed by the pilot. NO COMMENTS Three weeks ago, Mr Augustus John resigned from the Royal Academy after a picture by Mr Wyndham Lewis was rejected by the Hanging Committee. This week Mr John is holding a private exhibition, and among those who went to the private view was Sir William Llewellyn, president of the Royal Academy. What the president’s views may be of the former R.A. s work will remain a secret! It would not be etiquette for Sir William to comment. Nevertheless, the art critics have their say, c.nd one of them has written: “ The immediate feeling on entei'ing the exhibition of Augustus John’s latest work is one of exhilaration Here is painting with an air, a grand manner that proclaims an attitude of mind served by complete obedience of craftsmanship. It gives the portraits their nobility of poise, the landscapes their radiant vigour Because the artist has broken new ground there the canvases brought back from a voyage to Jamaica in the soring of last year first seize the attention They present a series of native feminine types painted with a directness and sympathy that equal the gypsy-oictures of an earlier phase " The story Is told of Mr Augustus John that he recently lost his widebrimmed hat, to which he was much attached. It evidently got mixed up with a diplomat’s much primmer little hat, which, one narrator said, “ Perched on John’s wild head like a pince-nez on a heavy-weight boxer’s nose! ”