§ MR. T. G. FARDELL (Paddington, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether it would be possible to afford amateurs reasonable facilities, similiar to those enjoyed by numerous professional photographers in London and the provinces, as well as members of foreign firms, for the photographic reproduction of the pictures in the National Gallery?
§ MR. HANBURYPermission is granted to professional photographers because it is in the interest of the public that the national collection should be brought by means of photography before the public. No such end would be served by the admission of amateur photographers, who would cause additional inconvenience in the Gallery, already, as it is in many parts, greatly overcrowded with students. It may be pointed out that there is no analogy between the cases of amateur painters (who are by rule admissible) and amateur photographers. The former are admitted on the ostensible ground that they improve themselves in the knowledge and practice of art by study from the works 1244 of the great masters. This cannot be pleaded in the case of the latter, who may be said to gain nothing by photographing a picture which they could not acquire by practising from any picture not in the Gallery. If it be pleaded that they wish to possess a copy of the picture, they can do so at so cheap a rate in the market that the advantage they would gain is not worth the inconvenience which their admission would cause. ["Hear, hear!"]