§ MR. JESSE COLLINGS (Birmingham, Bordesley)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state about how many water-colour drawings by Turner are at present unexhibited in the National Gallery; and whether the Trustees are willing to prepare for exhibition in Provincial Museums and Art Galleries larger and more adequate Collections than are at present sent into the country?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTOver 600 drawings by Turner, in water-colours or pencil, are on daily view at the National Gallery. No water-colour drawings remain unexhibited, but only some rough sketch notes, chiefly in pencil, on leaves of small pocket-books. In 1891 the whole of the then unexhibited portion of Turner's drawings was carefully sifted, and everything at all fitted for exhibition selected. Out of these it was found possible to form a Loan Collection, which is at present in the Ruskin Museum, at Sheffield. There are now four circulating Collections, each of which contains 50 or more water-colour drawings or sketches.