ROYAL ART LOVER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21090, 16 July 1938, Page 10

ROYAL ART LOVER

QUEEN MARY’S INTEREST IN EXHIBITION Visiting the Exhibition of Danish Design, opened in London recently, Queen Mary was very amused by one piece of needlework. It was contributed by the Queen of Denmark, and reflected not only her own delightful sense of humour, but the democratic feelings of her country. On a large map of Denmark, worked in cross-stitch, Queen Alexandrine had made caricatures of her husband, King Christian and other monarchs of Denmark from the earliest time. The present King, for whom the map is designed, is seen wearing blue check trousers, dark coat, and is waving his bowler hat cheerfully at two peasants, while kings of the past flaunt gorgeous robes or uniforms. The joke is apt, for of course, King Christian is famous for his free and easy manners, and his dislike of ceremony. “Litte People” At the same Danish Exhibition Queen Mary discovered an Eskimo doll cut out of drift wood, which she at once bought for Princess Elizabeth’s collection of “little people” in national costumes. The doll from Greenland is clothed in many-coloured leather mosaic. Two other dolls are being prepared for the fortunate Princess and her sister, Princess Margaret. They are not such “little people” either, each being more than three feet in length. The French Government are giving these presents to our Royal children. It is said that M. Bonnet, the Foreign Minister, has commissioned five of the leading Parisian fashion houses each to make dresses for the dolls. Their wardrobe will consist of evening frocks, afternoon and sports clothes. London’s First Print Academy Consdicring that the Duke of Kent is the most serious younger patron of art in the Royal family, it is not surprising that he has intimated his intention of paying an early visit to London’s first Print Academy. The exhibition, which is causing widespread interest is a novel one, for it deals with nothing but prints of the world’s finest published works of art. No original picture is being shown, but this does not mean that there will be no valuable exhibits. Apart from a Durer etching priced at £420, there is one mezzotint of the daughters of Sir Thomas Frankland which is valued at £lOOO. One exhibitor has sent a collection worth £9OOO, and another a series of thirteen “Cries of London,” priced at £4OOO. But these are exceptions. Most of the prints can be bought for as little as 12, 6 upwards. Queen Mary has interested herself greatly in the Print Academy, and it is not unlikely that she will take the Princesses to see the 1000 prints on the walls of the Building Centre in Bond street. She likes to share her love of art with her grandchildren, and is teaching them a great deal about the past and present artists of the world and their work. Her own tastes lean to garden and flower studies, as those will know who are familiar with the “picture” Christmas cards Queen Mary has chosen for many years past. Princess Margaret, too. is fond of flower studies, and has lately taken to painting little pictures of wild flowers which especially appeal to her.