The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-16
making, handy woman, child nursing bird study and art.
 Allied Arts Meets With Miss Black

Allied Arts Meets With Miss Black
 A meeting of the Allied Arts society of Birmingham with Miss Charlotte Black, in her lovely and artistic, set ting out at her flower shop last week, caused reawakened interest in art here. A number of plans for the fu- ture development of art were suggested, among which is a downtown place where loan exhibit may be placed. When Birmingham finally builds her new li- brary it is taken for granted that there will be such a place set aside for regu- lar exhibits but until then it is hoped to use one of the new downtown stores now being contemplated. This city has so long needed a building where pictures may be exhibited that those interested in the cultural side of the rapidly grow ing town will learn that such a place is contemplated with much interest. Ap- propos of this an excerpt from story regarding portrait of Nell Gwyn, re gently brought to New York is of in- terest. It says
 A portrait authenticated as that of Nell Gwyn, the noted beauty and one of the favorites of Charles II, painted by Sir Peter Lely, has been sold by Grosvenor Clarkson to Mary Coleman, Inc. of 142 West Fifty-seventh street, it became known yesterday. Miss Cole man verified the report of the sale, and the portrait is now on exhibition at her studio.
 Authentic pictures of the Drury Lane actress are rare, and it was not known until yesterday that Mir. Clarkson pos sessed enc by Lely. court painter to Charles l and Charles II.
 The painting is 25 to 30 inches and shows Nell Gwynn as Venus resting on silk draperies. A Cupid at her right is believed to represent one of her sons. She was occasionally painted with both boys.
 Dr. G. Frank Muller. art expert for LlOyds of London, the Duveens and the Anderson galleries, has certified the painting a genuine Lely in the following letter tu Miss Coleman:
 G. Frank Muller,
 24S East Fifty-seventh Street,
 New York.
 Oct. 27, 1924. Mary Coleman, Incorporated, 142 West
 Fifty-seventh Street, New York
 City:
 Dear Miss Coleman: have carefully examined painting representing Nell Gwynn as Venus with Cupid at the left, on canvas, size 25 by 30 inches, as follows:
 It is a fine work by Sir Peter Lely. English school, 1G1S-16S0, who was chief court painted to Charles II, and is in splendid state of preservation. Very truly yours, G. FRANK MULLER.
 MT. Clarkson has written the follow ing description of the painting:
 This is not only a superbly executed piece of work but is definite and TO- mantle fragment of English history. The little orange girl and actress of old Drury who figured so prominently in the life of Charles II, was one of the most charming and possibly the most unselfish of royal mistresses. Even the cynical Charles came in time to real ize her sincere attachment to him, and almost his last words were said to have been: "Let not poor Nelly starve."
 Born either in 1850 or 1851, Nell lived to be but 37. She bore two sons to Charles, one of whom is undoubted- ly posed as the Cupid in the present picture. In this connection it is inter- esting to compare another painting of Nell by Lely in which she is shown with both of her children.
 It is well known that Lely often painted Nell, in her present airy attire as well as more conventionally. For example, No. 306 of King James IFS pictures was Mime. Gwynns picture, naked with a Cupid, done by Lely, and concealed by a sliding piece"