WELCOME ADDITION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19842, 17 May 1927, Page 6

WELCOME ADDITION

PICTURE FOR SARJEANT GALLERY “SUNNY MARKET DAY AT CONCARNEAU.’’ ’ANOTHER FINE WORK AVAIL. ABLE. It is learned that the purchase of the picture, “Sunny Market Day at Concarneau,” by the well-known New Zea-land-born artist, Sydney Thompson, is now assured, and that it will be hung in the Sarjeant Art Gallery at an early date. Some subscriptions towards the aim in view has already been received by Mr. Louis Cohen, who had interested himself in the matter, when an anonymous donor expressed a wish to provide the balance and forwarded through the “Chronicle” a cheque for £6.1 6s 6d for that purpose. The picture will be a decided acquisition to the collection already in the gallery, and art lovers in Wanganui will no doubt be pleased to hear of its having been secured so soon. ANOTHER APPEAL. A VAN DER VELDEN PICTURE. Mr. Louis Cohen writes to the “Chronicle” as follows with respect to Sydney Thompson’s picture and also with reference to another by .Van der k Vclden:— Sir, —I am happy to be able to say that I have in hand £65, the purchase price of Sydney Thompson’s “Sunny Market Day at Concarneau.” The possession of this picture should now he a permanent delight to the public. The subscription list is as follows: Mr. Percy Tingey £3 3 0 Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M. 10 G Anonymous (per “Chronicle”) 61 6 6 £65 0 0 I am very sorry that the fine citizenship displayed by the anonymous giver cannot be credited to him in his own name. I am not aware who he is, but I feel that the lead he has given in public munificence is one that should not be anonymous. I am sure the Trustees of the Gallery and all citizens are grateful to him and to the othei donors. I now venture to make another appeal. Sydney Thompson was the pupil of Vari der Velden. Van der Velden’s picture, “Otira Gorge,” in the Dunedin Art Gallery, is perhaps the finest landscape painting in New Zealand. It and the “Mount Rolleston” in the Christchurch gallery are regarded as priceless. He died some years ago, and it is very rare to find any of his pictures in the market. Mr. McCormack has three in the exhibition, the only ones available, so far as I know for any gallery. His picture, “A Convalescent,” can be obtained for our gallery at 100 guineas. Its ordinary sale price is £l2O. This picture makes an immediate appeal because of its fine painting and the beautiful sentiment imported into it by the artist. It suggests the feeling of the great Joseph Israel, his master and friend. I appeal to those who have already promised to assist for the purchase of Sydney Thompson’s now to contribute j to the purchase of this picture of Van der Velden’s. To have acquired this y and the Sydney Thompson at one stroke will enhance the beauties of our gallery. They all become more precious as the years go by. Such a lead as has been given by the generous anonymous donor will be followed, even in a less considerable way, by many well-wish-ers of the progress and prosperity of our beautiful gallery. Subscriptions will be received at the office of this paper, the Town Clerk, the custodian of the gallery or by myself, and will be publicly acknowledged. LOUIS COHEN. May 16.