The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-09
WOULD STEM ART FLOW
British Consider Action to
Stop Influx of Paintings
to America.

London-(C correspondence of the AS
ISOLATED Press)-Thcre is IL peculiar
appeal to the art world of America in
the proposal now before the house Of
national gallery in order to provide
funds for the purchase Of still more
noted paintings and thus stem the
flow to the United States. America is
the only country buying works Of art
just now. Recent sales to noted col
lectors in the United states of some of
the great pictures in England have
alarmed the local art world.
But the proposal which authorizes
the trustees to sell works of art which
have been bequeathed or given for the
benefit of the nation is opposed by a
large body Of distinguished painters
and sculptors on the ground that it
involves serious breach of faith.
Another objection is that it would
break up the works of J. NJ. w. Tur-
ner. who is ranked by many as the
geatest artist this country has pro-
duced and the greatest landscape
painter
In formal protest to the prime
| minister. a score of noted painters and
I sculptors declare that the proposed
powers have never yet been given to n
similar board of trustees by any state
or legislature. They say that the i'm
| mediate result would be to discour-
age prospective donors and testators
| and that no future purchases could
| compensate the nation for the de-
struction Of the Turner collection.
Supporters of the bin say that the
Turner works are redundant, are not
| appreciated and could easily be sold
and the funds devoted to obtaining
more wonderful masterpieces. Led by
| Lord D'Abernon,thc author of the bill
they assert that of $4,000 pictures and
drawings owned by the National gal
lery. 10000 are by Turner, and 5000
by artists OF all other schools. In other
words they say that there are toe
many "Turners.' They want to get
rid Of some Of them so that they can
prevent other masterpieces from cross
| ing the Atlantic.
| Many artists and students of Tur-
ner have joined in the opposition tc
the bill. Lord D'Abernon and the
trustees OF the gallery have been at.
tackled In parliament and through the
press. the trustees being accused OF
| selecting a favorable opportunity stt
smuggle a bill through giving them
| selves powers to betray their trust
and buy few more pictures which
as unnecessary luXuries.
! But it appears that what the OBJ.
| iectors fear most is that the privilege
| thus given to the trustees will prove
the entering wedge to n system thai
will threaten the unique collection OF
Dutch pictures. ut was only tho Other
day" wrote 4 noted artist to the Telc.
| graph. that a certain noble peel
parted with n celebrated Italian pic.
turc for America. and is it not to be
presumed that the provcrbial sum O
| 100000 pounds has been obtained
Surprising then that Lord DAbernon'.
bill had become law, it is evident thai
Turner's would not have supplied tho
required demands. and in order &c
make the purchase the trustees woulC
have been obliged to dip into thu
Dutch collection
| A strong appeal is made N senti
mental grounds. The pictures were
obtained by requests and it is con.
sidercd unfair to deceased donors tC
have tiher gifts traded with. or tn,
National gallery changed from 4
permanent resting place into an oc
casional auction mart"