§ Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will ascertain the date when any high official of the National Gallery received a formal or informal offer to the nation of the Panshanger Raphael for a sum of £70,000; if the trustees, or any one of them, of the National Gallery were made aware of the offer; and if any steps, and what, were taken to retain this picture in Great 780W Britain before it was sold for a greater sum to the owner of a gallery near Philadelphia?
§ Mr. MONTAGUAn informal offer of the Panshanger Raphael for £70,000 was made to the National Gallery Board through Lord Curzon on 12th September last, and communicated by him to the Director of the Gallery on the following day. The option of purchase extended for six weeks. As many of the trustees as possible were immediately consulted, and it was decided in all the circumstances not to attempt to purchase the picture. This decision, with which all the trustees in formally consulted concurred, was formally and unanimously approved by all the members attending a meeting of the National Gallery Board held on 13th November last.
§ Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the trustees of the National Gallery have had an opportunity to consider the question of the more recent restorations, cleanings, and varnishing of many valuable pictures in the National Collection; and whether they are satisfied with what has been done?
§ Mr. MONTAGUYes, Sir, a detailed report of all repairs and restorations of pictures in the National Gallery is laid before the trustees in the director's report, and no adverse criticism has hitherto been made by any member of the board during the present directorate.
§ Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked the Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been drawn to the restorations and cleaning of many famous pictures in the National Gallery during the last two years; and if he will ascertain the date when one of Gainsborough's landscapes was last tampered with, the name of the official who ordered the latest work upon it to be carried out, and the name of the person or persons who did it?
§ Mr. MONTAGUYes, Sir, a list of all repairs and restorations during the last two years has been submitted to His Majesty's Treasury. No. 310, "Landscape, Sunset," by Gainsborough—the only Gainsborough treated within the last two years—was relined, cleaned, and varnished in June, 1913. This work was done by order of the director, the only officer authorised to give such an order, and was executed entirely to the director's satisfaction. I see some inconvenience in 781W giving the name of the person who actually did the work.