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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 32, 14 March 1914, Page 6 (Supplement)

What a clever commentator designated* '' the dangerous treasure-seeker from.across the Atlantic," is at the old game again. An American with a Continental name is negotiating for the purchase of the remainder of the valuable Wallace Collection, and is prepared to pay the huge sum of £BOO,OOO for his heart's desire. It is a sad state of affairs that at the one time there should have been so many titled Englishmen forced to realise on theiv art treasures and so much American gold ready to oblige them. , Historic landmarks and pictures, which should have been beyond all price, have, one by one been lost to England, and the drain continues. The Wallace .Collection in its entirety possessed European armoury unique of its kind in England. The masters of the French school of painting of the eighteenth century are represented as they are in no public or private gallery in Europe, except that of the Louvre, while masterpieces of Velasquez, Murillo, of Rembrandt; Fran's Hals, and Cuyp, of Reynolds, Gainsborough, Roinney, and Turner, were included. The collection also contained priceless bronzes, /rare examples of the Italian maiolica, of S6vres porcelain, and French furniture and garniture. The Society of Antiquaries, the National Trust, and the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings, arc English societies that, in their small way have done something to prevent such valuable works of art slipping across the, Atlantic, but their frail funds cannot be expected to compete with American gold when it is in the pocket of a bidding, millionaire. In France, a department of State, the Beaux-Arts, has in a short time, rescued historic edifices from these spoliators. It is a Government concern, whose primary function is the preservation of historic buildings and art treasures. A writer in the latest "Fortnightly Review," touching on the work of the Beaux-Arts, concludes his article as follows:—"A patriotic nobleman (English) the other day saved the old Tattershall fireplaces from joining the Atlantic procession of pictures-and works of art, but if one may take a leaf from the book of the French system of purchase, it is surely the State and not individuals that should preserve national relics from trans-Atlantic or domestic bidders." The connoisseurs will heartily approve that sentiment.