The New York herald., 1921-10-19
''Blue Boy" Coming to America.


Two notable paintings. GAISsBoR-
oUaH's blue Boy" and REYNoLDs's
Mrs. Siddons as the Tragic Muse"
purchased by the Duveens from the
collection of the Duke Of WEsrMIN-
sTER are coming to America, accord
ing TO a special cable Mesa ge from
the London bureau of THE New York
HERALD. These works OF two of the
NEST distinguished English painters
of the eighteenth century at the high
est point OF their artistic achieve
ment. both paintings widely known
from numerous reproductions and en-
cravings and both the object OF
many British national traditions,
will be more missed in England than
any Of the other works of art which
she has recently lost.
This portrait of Mrs. SDDoNs was
painted by Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS in
1888 when the actress was at the
zenith of her career and apparently
year or two earlier than the almost
equally well known portrait of her in
walking dress by GAINsBoEouGH. The
gallant Sir JOSHUA was so delighted
with the work that when he had An
ished it he said, II cannot lose this
opportunity of sending my name to
posterity on the hem Of your gar
ment." And he wrote his name-he
seldom signed his paintings-in large
characters upon the gold embroid-
cred border of the dress. In 1922 the
painting came into the possession of
the Grosvenor family and remained
one Of the chief pieces Of their
famous private gallery.
The Blue Boy" hung in the same
gallery until at the beginning Of the
world war it was removed for safe
keeping to the National Gallery.
This painting, which is very gener-
ally considered the best OF GAINS
BoRoUGH's works, is believed to be
the portrait Of a youthful scion Of the
house Of Bottall, wealthy iron foun-
ders OF London. Its name is said to
have come from the fact that it was
painted by GAINsBoRoUGH after
dispute with Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS
as to the value Of making blue the
predominant color in a portrait.
From the family Of the iron founder
the portrait passed into the posses
sion Of Prince GEORGE Of Wales. who
sold it to a famous beau Of the
period. JOHN NEsBrTT. 1t was ac-
quired by Earl GgosvENoR and added
to his collection early in the last
century.
The price paid for the two paint
ings is said to be 100000, or ut
normal rates $1,000, 900, the blue
Boy" according to report. bringing
E170, 700, and the portrait of Mrs.
SIpDoNs 100000. One OF the highest
prices previously recorded for a por-
trait by an English artist was the
$4,000 guineas paid early in 1919
for GEORGE RoMNEY's picture Of the
Beckford children in the Duke of
TIAMrLToN's collection. Over this sale
began the lively controversy, which
has continued ever since in Great
Britain, regarding the dispersion Of
the private art treasures Of England.
1t was really the first time that the
country found itself confronted with
the problem of preserving its richest
art possessions.
One of the reasons for this was
that the wealthy collector had con.
fined himself largely to the Conti-
nent. But the best of the private
collections there had been we'll culleG
over and what remained came to be
vigorously protected, especially in
Italy, France and the Netherlands,
against removal from the country
by stringent laws and high cx.
port taxes. There remained thus but
one source in Europe for the obtain.
ing OF these treasures and that was
Great Britain. After-war conditions
compelled the breaking up OF many
Of the -eat estates and also forced
upon tn, market some Of the most
jealousy guarded and most priced
paintings OF the country. Strong ap.
peals were made to British patriot
ism for the retention of these works
In England. A plan of purchase
through public subscription Of the
Romney portrait failed; in fact, the
whole effort to preserve to England
her famous paintings. either by the
imposition of heavy export tax or the
formation OF special purchasing
funds, failed because the matter was
complicated through the demands for
copyrights and concessions to mod.
ern painters and their families.
That the two famous paintings
from the Duke Of WEsrMrSsTERs gal
lery will come to America is a mat.
ter OF much satisfaction. This coun-
try is rapidly becoming the home of
the great masterpieces of the world.
A London comment on the sale is TO
the effect that after all there may be
relief In the fact that It is the
J generous wont Of American million
aires to leave their spoils of Euro.