GENEROUS ACTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27541, 8 November 1950, Page 6

GENEROUS ACTION

Tate Gallery Trustees VALUABLE PICTURES LENT TO CHRISTCHURCH Resident Correspondent LONDON, Oct. 31. As the result of the efforts of Sir James Shelley and of Mr N. M. Hollander, a member of the Canterbury Centennial Executive, the Tate Gallery in London has lent five valuable pictures by famous English artists for display at the Canterbury Centenary. The pictures are: “The Dogana,” a study of Venice, by J. M. W. Turner (insured for £2000); a self portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds (insured for (£1000); “Mrs Williams,” a portrait by Hoppner;’and two landscapes by C<?tman and Bonington. In all, the pictures are insured for £6OOO. They are to be shdwn at Christchurch, together with a collection of contemporary British artists, made available by the British Council, and with other outstanding pictures gathered from all parts of New Zealand. Mr Hollander said that the generous action of the Tate Gallery trustees in lending these valuable pictures had exceeded his hopes. They would be enjoyed by tens of thousands of New Zealanders and would be of great use to young artists in their studies. “ I hope our success in arranging for the loan of this collection may be the forerunner of many more in the future,” he continued. “ I have been greatly impressed during my tours round the various galleries and collections in London by the number of fine pictures stored down in basements and cellars because of lack of room to display them. “In Hampton Court Palace, for instance, I saw stacked in tne basement, in serried columns, pictures which would be greatly appreciated in New Zealand, where we are so badly off for first-class work. The cost of insurance and shipping to New Zealand is not very high. “It would be wonderful if some -method could be devised for getting more of them out. there. If the right approach is made, I am sure the authorities in this country would be found co-operative.”