Evening star., 1909-05-29
ENGRAVING ART WORKS
A Lament Inspired by the Duke OF
Norfolk's Holbein.
From the SATURDAY Revie~

From the Saturday Review.
Death duties in particular deal double
blow at the national are collections, Not
only do they press heavily upon the es-
tate. but. necessitatng as they do the
raising of large sums at comparatively
short notice. they tend to encourage the
sale Of what is most easily realized. The
sale of works of art is simple, cheap and
expeditions. and they find ready purchas-
ers at high prices. So it comes about
that the pictures. the sculptures the
bronzes. the gems. the miniatures that
have been the glory of English private
collections for centuries past are the
first objects to be sent to the hammer
and with new and empty continent 10
be filled And their way with monotonous
regularity into the public and private
collections Of New York Boston and
Philadelphia. Legislation could do some
thing to check this evil: not indeed so
much on the lines adopted in Italy of pro-
hibfting the export of works Of art as
was Intellectually attempted by the old
Editto Pacca, but Of the Italian govern
ments more modern method OF giving the
state the right of compulsory preemption
at fair value and of extending our ex-
listing principle OF the remission Of taxa
tion upon important works Of art retained
In this country, as Is apparently 10 he
done. This costs the treasury but little
Something. too could be done il the work
OF collating and cataloguing the private
collections throughout the country, which
Is being quietly and unostentationsly car
ried out by few art lovers were aided bv
owners giving to the heads of the govern
ment museums in confidence early in
formation of their intention to SELL 50
tnat, where necessary. steps could he
taken and funds collected In time.
A great effort has been made of late
years by the National Art Collection fund
to stem the tide OF: emigration of works
or art and. TO secure that the national
museums should acquire at least a portion
or the great masterpieces that remain.
! In this England was but following The
lead OF the hourishing French. German
and Dutch societies already in being In
France the Societe des Amis du Louvre
numbers nearly 5000 members and is In
receipt OF a substantial income. The Ma
| tlonal Art Collections fund has a member
snip of but one-quarter this number and
lls resources are proportionately small.
While the members of the English society
enjoy but one privilege. that of con-
tributing to a great object, our French
rivals receive material benefits in connec-
tfon with 1t, not In return for their sub
scrlptions. The French government rec
ognizes that the larger membership OF the
societe the greater will be its powers Of
adding to the already rich collections in
Paris and the provinces Accordingly i;
does much to attract members by confer
ring upon them such privileges tamong
many others) as the right of entry to the
Louvre when closed to the general pub
lie, and invitations to the public opening
OF new rooms at the Louvre. Luxem-
bourg. Cluny and Versailles. privileges
| slight In themselves. perhaps. but just
giving that recognition and encourage
ment that mean very much to any volun-
tary association.
In this country no such encoura cement
has as yet been given and the success
that has been achieved In discovering
purchasing and presenting to the ma
tional collections of England Scotland
ana ireland some sixty-five works of art
In fve years. including the Kokeby We
lasquez has been the result of private
enterprise and public spirit alone.