Studio: international art (69.1916)

The Lay Figure

THE LAY FIGURE: ON HOLD- "Of course not," exclaimed the Collector.

ING WHAT WE HAVE. " That would be ridiculous. The National Gallery
is a museum of pictorial art and it should include

"I think all sensible people must admit examples of all the artists who have helped to

that there is sound common-sense in the proposal make art history. It should illustrate all the

that some of the superfluous things in the National periods of artistic development and it should sum

Gallery should be sold," said the Collector. " It up the world's achievement in painting."

certainly seems to me that a judicious weeding out " It is a museum ; I grant you that," said the

of the collection there is eminently necessary." Critic ; " but it is also, I would like you to re-

" Before I express any opinion on that subject member, a place in which the best art of the world

I would like to know what you mean by super- should be preserved. If one artist happens to be

fluous," returned the Art Critic; "and also the the greatest in the world it seems to me logical to

reason why you think weeding out is desirable." retain these thousands of his works simply because

"Well, I should say that when you have pictures you cannot replace them by anything better."

enough by a particular master to represent him " No, there I disagree with you," replied the

adequately anything by him over and above that Collector. " It is not a question of replacing them

number would be superfluous," declared the Col- by better things but of maintaining the continuity

lector; "and I am anxious for the weeding out of the collection. We must make some sacrifices

because by that means funds could be obtained to keep that end in view."

for the purchase of some very important additions." " I think you propose to make sacrifices which

" That is all very well," cried the Critic ; " but are greater than you realise," commented the Critic,
how are you going to fix the number of works by "You are going to sacrifice principles as well as
which any master can be adequately represented ? pictures if you allow the authorities to sell their best
A couple of things might suffice to give you a good things simply to raise the wind. You will endanger
:dea of the capacities of one master, a couple of the whole future of the collection."
thousand would not be enough to enable you to " How can that be when you are securing the
estimate fully the genius of another. Who is to funds you want to make the collection more corn-
establish the right proportion ?" plete?" asked the Plain Man. " It seems to me

"Why, surely that is the business of the autho- that you are making the future more secure."

rities who direct the gallery," broke in the Plain " It seems to me that you are doing nothing of

Man. "They ought to know what things are the kind," answered the Critic. " The National

indispensable and what are superfluous." Gallery must chiefly depend in the future, as it has

"The authorities who direct the gallery are not in the past, upon the generosity of private donors

a fixed quantity," suggested the Critic. " One set for additions to its collection, and these donors are

of them might declare a particular work to be indis- anxious to give to the gallery the best that is at

pensable and their successors might pronounce it to their disposal. Do you think they will still feel

be an obvious superfluity. What is to happen then?" this anxiety when they realise that even the best

" Oh don't anticipate troubles before they arise," is likely to be put on the market at the caprice

objected the Plain Man. " The gallery authorities of a board of directors which is always hard up ?

are men of intelligence and I think you can trust Don't you see that they will be the first to resent

their judgment. They are showing admirable what will seem to them a breach of trust ?"

sense just now by seeking powers to get rid of "I cannot see that there will be any breach of

some of the things they have by an artist who is trust," declared the Plain Man.

grossly over-represented." "Oh, can you not?" exclaimed the Critic.

" Yes, especially as by reducing this over-r.epre- " When a man offers to the gallery, either by gift

sentation they can raise money for other purchases," or bequest, something he treasures he assumes that

agreed the Collector. " There are serious gaps in it will become permanently the property of the

the collection which ought to be filled." nation. If you accept his gift and then put it up

" And you want to fill gaps by making gaps," for sale you grossly betray his trust."

laughed the Critic. " That is a curious policy." " Then is the collection to remain as it is,

"When you have thousands of works by one incomplete and unfinished?" asked the Collector,
man you can surely sell some of them without "It will be better, I believe, to hold on to what
making gaps," argued the Plain Man. "You do not we have than to open the door to dangerous ex-
want the National Gallery to be a one-man show." periments," said the Critic. The Lay Figure.
212

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