Much of the controversy surrounding Kennedy's tenure has centred on decline in the numbers of people attending the gallery in Canberra. Galleries that own his works are under such intense pressure to lend to many exhibitions that they often refuse. It is astounding, therefore, that the NGA has assembled not just a handful of Monets, but 39 of them. Not only that, the Canberra gallery also has borrowed 102 Japanese prints, many of which are considered national treasures in Japan. Securing works for any exhibition is like a jigsaw puzzle.
Negotiations can be stressful and tense.
There is a lot of luck involved and use of friendships and networks. One of the most generous lenders of Japanese prints turned out to be the little-known Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, a university museum in a tiny town about one hour's drive south of Cleveland, Ohio. According to Conybeare, it has a particularly fine collection of prints originally put together by Mary Ainsworth. That was in 1994. Dr David Bromfield.