Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-10
MELLON ART PLAN
REVEALED BY PEER
Lord Duveen Tells Hearing
Financier Drew Own
Sketch of Gallery.

Lord Duveen, jovial Baron of Mil
bank and one of the worlds leading
art connoisseurs. has in his possession
a rough sketch by Andrew w. Mellon
of the great national art gallery
which the former Treasury Secretary
Is trying to convince the Govern
ment he intends to erect in Wash
ington.
The witty British authority on Old
World art masterpieces. testifying
yesterday at the Mellon income tax
hearing in the Internal Revenue
Building. declared the Pittsburgh
millionaire drew lin his own hand
his idea of how the gallery should
appear
Then, according to Lord Duveen,
Mellon discussed with him the ques-
ton of a proper location for the
building. which, Mellon claims. would
house his rare collection of paint
ings by such masters as Raphael,
Rembrandt, Botticelli and Titan.
The baron described the collection
as the finest in the universe"
Lord Duveen said Mellon first dis
cussed with him his proposal for q
great art center in Washington about
five years ago.
Jackson's Objection Overruled.
The art dealers testimony went In
the record over objection of Robert
H. jackson. general counsel of the
Internal Revenue Bureau. who Is
seeking to convince the Board of Tax
Appeals that Mellon owes the Treas
ury more than 100000 in back
taxes. Mellon has countered with q
claim for refund of $4,000 from
the Government.
Jackson told the board Mellon had
admitted he had no definite plans for
an art gallery or for gift of his paint
ings to the Nation. The collection
was turned over to the Mellon Char
liable and Educational Trust, trans
action which the Government insists
was done for purposes Of income tax
evasion.
The Government counsel also strove
vainly to block testimony as to the
values of the Mellon collection. Lord
Duveen brought out that Mellon paid
approximately $4,000,0 900 for only six
of his huge assortment of pictures. In
this group is Raphaels famed Alba
Madonna" for which Mellon paid
81 ,166, 900 in 1880. The former cabi-
net officer paid 1896 $50 for Raphael's
"Cowper Madonna" which Lord Du-
veen said was equally as fine but not
so large and important as the Alba, u
and $838,350 for Botticellis "Adora-
ton of the Magi."
Baron Grows Indignant.
In cross-examination, the revenue
attorney endeavored to show the value
of paintings suffered by the depres-
sion. supporting his argument with
Lord Duveen's income tax returns.
which showed drop in business from
$4,000. 900 in 1880 to $752,000 in 1881.
Addressing Jackson as my good
fellow" the Baron reproached the at
torney for CHASING fine art with ordi-
nary commodities like pig iron OF
sheet copper" which fall and rise In
price according to economic condi-
tions
Whether such matches" paint
ings as those owned by Mellon can be
sold or not, Lord Duveen said, their
value enhances with time.
The Government questioned the
British peer about q $4,000 fine and
penalty of $l,1S0.000 assessed
against him In 1911 by a New York
court when he and members of his
firm pleaded guilty to conspiracy in
q customs case. Lord Duveen argued
that he was not fined for "smuggl-
ing" as jackson commended. but as
the result of "a dispute over valua-
tons"
The hearing will be resumed Mon
day.