§ SIR JOHN LESLIEasked the First Commissioner of Works, considering that disappointment has been felt in consequence of the closing of the National Gallery during the months of May and June, Whether he can explain the following extracts from a letter in "The Times" by the Director of the 857 National Gallery, to excuse the delay in reopening the National Collection of Pictures to the public:—
The compulsory absence of the supreme officer on urgent business in the interests of the National Gallery;The problem, difficult to understand, of hanging pictures, of which, when it is solved, practically, it will be time enough to inform the public of the result;Certain slight obstacles, which when removed enable him to hope that the National Gallery may yet be opened before the general break up of the season?
LORD HENRY LENNOXSir, as soon as I saw the Question of my hon. Friend on the Orders of the House I communicated with Mr. Burton, the Director of the National Gallery, who has furnished me with categorical Answers to the Question of my hon. Friend. I propose now to read those answers to the House—
1. The Director's letter was not written to excuse delay in the re-opening of the National Gallery, as no avoidable delay was occurring, but to explain some statements in an article of The Times of the 3rd of June, as was distinctly stated in the letter; 2. It is one of the duties of the Director of the National Gallery to go abroad to inspect pictures which he has reason to believe would be eligible for the Gallery, and are for sale, and it was on such an unavoidable mission he was called away towards the end of May last; 3. It may be easily conceived that the problem of arranging on given spaces upwards of 700 pictures of the highest excellence, and by masters of distinction, in such a manner as to do justice to all, to properly fill the spaces, and to produce a satisfactory architectonic effect, is one that requires thought, experiment, and time, and cannot be executed lightly; 4. The obstacle to the successful and immediate prosecution of the work of placing the pictures was the glare of sunshine from parts of the glass roofs. This impediment has been brought under the notice of the Board of Works, and is now being removed, and no delay whatever has occurred in the hanging.
§ SIR JOHN LESLIEthere upon gave Notice, that as soon as the Business of the House would permit he would move a Resolution—
That, in the opinion of this House, it is not desirable that the National Collection of Pictures should be closed during the months of May, June, and July.