Studio: international art (65.1915)

Studio-Talk

PLAN OF HOUSE AT TOTTERIDGE.

H. V. ASHLEY AND WINTON NEWMAN, ARCHITECTS.

was better known, however, through his houses and
gardens of various sizes, in which work he dis-
played much good taste and resource. One of his
last works, on which he was engaged at the time of
his death, was in connection with “ Canons,” the
famous mansion at Edgware built on the site of
the still more famous “ palace ” erected in the
eighteenth century by the Duke of Chandos. Mr.
Mallows was a gifted draughtsman and, with his
pencil drawings especially, expressed his distin-
guished architectural ideas.

STUDIO-TALK,

(From Our Own Correspondents.)

LONDON.—The Committee of Trustees of
the National Gallery appointed in Novem-
ber 1911 to inquire into the retention
—^ of important pictures in this country,
and other matters connected with the national
art collections, issued its report at the end of
April. In the course of the inquiry evidence was
given before the committee, which consisted of
Earl Curzon of Kedleston (Chairman), Lord
D’Abernon and Mr. R. H. Benson (Trustees), and
Sir Charles Holroyd, Director of the National
Gallery, showing the serious extent to which the
transfer of works of art from the United Kingdom
has gone during recent years, and the urgent need

of measures for arresting
the exodus. In an ap-
pendix to the Report, it is
shown that nearly four hun-
dred acknowledged master-
pieces have thus left the
country, the list including
no fewer than fifty-two
Rembrandts, twenty-seven
Van Dycks, many Rubenses
and Gainsboroughs, and
over a dozen Turners.

Lord Curzon’s Committee
are unable to recommend
the legislative restriction or
prohibition of the export of
works of art on the lines of
the Italian law, and dis-
countenanced the suggested
imposition of an export
duty on works of art leaving
the country. Instead they
recommend that the annual
grant to the Trustees shall be increased from
^5000 to ,£25,000, with “ liberty to apply,” as the
lawyers say, for extraordinary grants as circum-
stances may require. Failing such financial
assistance they recommend for consideration the
expediency of imposing a tax upon the gross
proceeds of sales of works of art by public auction
in excess of a fixed amount for the individual sale,
such tax to be paid by the auctioneer and its
incidence to be so regulated that the burden shall
not be shifted on to the seller; and further that
death duties derived from works of art shall be
“ earmarked ” as a purchasing fund for the national
museums and galleries, and the fees and other
receipts coming to the Trustees should also be set
aside for purchases. They advocate the formation
of a society of “ Friends of Art” on lines proposed
by Lord Curzon, but do not think it desirable that
an official or public register of works of art in this
country should be drawn up, or that owners should
be compelled by law to grant rights of pre-emption
or option to the nation.

Important recommendations are made by the
Committee in regard to the administration of the
Chantrey Bequest, which they advise shall be
vested by statute in the Trustees of the Tate
Gallery, and with a view to legislation to that effect
they recommend that the Treasury and the present
administrators of the Bequest (the Council of the

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