The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-16 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL GALLERY.

The committee of the House of Commons appointed
to inquire into the management of the National Gallery,
report that the imperfections and irregularities in the
working of the present system originate, for the most part,
in certain fundamental defects and anomalies in the system
itself; in the want, more especially, of any clear definition
of the powers or responsibilities of the managing body of the
Institution, and in the absence of specific regulations for
their guidance in the performance of their duties. In
dealing with the subject of " picture cleaning," which has
lately attracted some public attention, the committee detail
the processes adopted in the gallery, and state, from the
evidence before them, it appears that discrepucies. varie-
ties of opinion, and general uncertainty, even among pro-
fessional
men, prevail upon this subject. The committee ex-
amined
many artists, amateurs, and picture dealers on the
condition of the pictures cleaned under instructions,
in the National Gallery, and their evidence on the point
exhibited great contrariety ofjudgment, and irreconcileable
differences of taste ; but the preponderance of testimony is
to the effect that the appearance of the pictures has for
the present been rendered less agreeable by the operation
of cleaning. The committee recommend that, in future, no
picture cleaner shall be employed who does not give
a full explanation of his mode of cleaning, and that this shall
not be done without • written report from the Directors of
the gallery to the trustees. The committee state that
aßer the National Gallery became public property, the
principal charge of it devolved on the Treasury, and to this '
department of the government, consequently, has attached
the primary resnosaibility for the conduct of the establish-
meat. The sommittes consider it but an act of justice
to the trustees to add their opinion that the defects
in the present management are chargeable on the
system rather than on the individual managers.
The committee observe that-they are sensible of the obliga-
tion under which the public lies to the matees for their
disinterested services. The system itself, when first in-
stituted, appeared to have been not only comparatively free
from the more serious objections to which it has since be-
come liable, but to have been calculated in many respects
to promote the objects its founders had in view. In regard
to:the future management of the Gallery, the committee
have come to the following resolutions :-1. That a system
of management by a Board of Trustees should be con-
tinued. 2. That no person should in future, in virtue of
any office, become a trustee. 3. That the trustees be ap-
pointed by the Treuury. 4. That the number of trustees
be diminished as vacancies occur. 6. That the office of
keeper of the Gallery be abolished. 6. That a salaried
director be appointed by the Treasury for a definite time,
at the expiration of which he may be re-appointed.
7. That every recommendation for the purchase of •
picture should originate with the directors, and be made
in writing to the trustees. 8. That a fixed sum should be
annually proposed to parliament for the purchase of pictures,
and placed at the disposal of the trustees. 9. That the site of
the present National Gallery is not well adapted for the con-
struction of a new gallery. 10. With respect to the estate
at Kensington Gore, purchased by the Royal Commission
of 18.51, and by them offered to the nation, the committee
recommend the acceptance of the offer of the Commissioners.
11. The committee are of opinion that the question of com-
bining the various artistic and archeological collections in
the British Museum with the National Gallery be referred
to • royal commission, and that no time should be lost in
obtaining a decision on this subject, in order that the New
National Gallery should be commenced with all convenient
speed.
The committee eat upwards of 35 days, and the above is
the quintessence of a report of what is mainly of public,
apart from professional, interest, extending over some 20
folio pages.