HC Deb 22 March 1962 vol 656 cc548-50
21. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that, if the trustees of the National Gallery bid up to an undisclosed maximum figure, he will make a special grant for the Leonardo da Vinci cartoon, The Virgin and Child with St. John the Baptist and St. Anne, to be sold by the Royal Academy of Arts by auction in June.

52. Mr. Dugdale

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a grant to the National Gallery for the purpose of the purchase of the Leonardo cartoon, subject to the condition that it must be on public exhibition for at least nine months of each year.

Mr. Brooke

The Royal Academy of Arts informed the Government of its intention to sell this cartoon and offered it to them for purchase on behalf of one of the national collections. The Government warmly appreciated this approach, but saw no prospect of making available from the Exchequer the very large sum required. The Government welcome the indications that an appeal may now be launched with the object of acquiring the cartoon for the nation by public subscription.

Mr. Robinson

If this picture—which we must somehow secure for the National Gallery—does have to go to auction, would it not be better if we made an attempt to secure it in open competition rather than through the export ban procedure? Would the right hon. Gentleman's right hon. and learned Friend at least agree to underwrite the balance of the cost over and above what might be subscribed by the public?

Mr. Brooke

If the hon. Member is asking whether, should an appeal be launched, the Government will make a contribution to that appeal, I can only say that the Government would not exclude the possibility of doing that.

Mr. Dugdale

Can this picture, which I understand is now somewhere in the vaults of the Royal Academy, be seen by anyone, even including Members of Parliament?

Mr. Brooke

That is a matter for the Royal Academy, which owns the picture.

Sir J. Duncan

If this picture is to be auctioned in June, will my right hon. Friend make representations to the Royal Academy to put off the auction in order to give the public a chance to collect the money and buy it?

Mr. Brooke

I can certainly tell my hon. Friend that the Government have been in touch with the Royal Academy. I hope he will forgive me if I do not say more than that at the moment.

Sir G. Nicholson

Would not a wiser approach be so to relieve the Royal Academy of its financial position as to make it unnecessary to sell this picture, on the condition that the pictures it owns will never leave this country?

Mr. Brooke

If my hon. Friend is suggesting that the Government should make a grant to the general expenses of the Academy, that question does not arise, because the Royal Academy has said emphatically that it is its intention not to seek Government aid.

22. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent request he has had from the Royal Academy of Arts for financial assistance towards either the maintenance of Burlington House or support of the Royal Academy Schools.

Mr. Brooke

None, Sir.

Mr. Robinson

Precisely, but would not such a request have been reasonable and very difficult for the Government to refuse? Would the right hon. Gentleman not perhaps regard any Treasury expenditure on acquiring this picture for the nation as in lieu of a maintenance grant to the Royal Academy with the added advantage that we would get a unique work of art for the National Gallery?

Mr. Brooke

I cannot speak for the Royal Academicians. It is for them to decide whether they wish to apply for direct Government assistance, but up to now they have firmly indicated that they do not.