NOTES
We reproduce on the cover a view of the main part of the Mezzanine Gallery. The exhibition on display was
Renault's series of etchings MISERERE ET GUERRE. Most of the large loan exhibitions are placed in this Gallery. Its general plan
and the use of screens provides a flexible milieu for all types of exhibitions. Below can be seen a portion of the sculpture court
reproduced in QUARTERLY NO. 5.
STAFF
In New Zealand there is no way for art gallery personnel to acquire a professional qualification. We are therefore most grateful to the
British Museums Association Education Committee in agreeing to our two student assistants, Mr Keith and Mr Fraser to sit for the
Association's diploma. A condition of this permission is that both assistants must spend a month at the National Gallery of Victoria,
Melbourne. We record our thanks to Mr Westbrook for making this course possible.
STERLING LICENCE
Strenuous efforts last year affected a change in Government policy to refuse sterling licences for works of art and
loan exhibitions, the Minister of Customs agreeing to a limit of £1000 for each museum and art gallery. A suggestion was
submitted by this Gallery at the last Council meeting of the Art Galleries and Museums Association of New Zealand to ask the Min-
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ister if he would agree to pool all licences so that institutions with funds
in excess of the £1000 limit could make use of any surplus in the total licence allocation. The Minister has agreed, provided
the licensees are agreeable. A directors conference on the matter will be held in April during the Biennial Conference.
The Biennial Conference of the Art Galleries and Museums Association of New Zealand will be held in the Gallery
from 21 to 23 April, 1959. A full programme of general discussions and sectional meetings has been arranged.
AUCKLAND FESTIVAL, 1959
The principal contribution of the Gallery will be an exhibition of European Old Masters, 1500-1850, from
Private and Public Collections in New Zealand. This is the first time such an exhibition has been arranged in the country and it has
only been possible by the generous loan of paintings from His Excellency The Governor-General, Viscount
Cobham, who will open the exhibition. Both public and private owners have been generous.
The exhibition will consist of about forty-five paintings. Among artists represented will be Van
Dyck, Gainsborough, Turner, Ghirlan-daio, Lanino, Agostino Carracci, Guido Reni, Salvator Rosa. The English section is obviously
the strongest, for instance there will be two
Gainsboroughs, two Reynolds, three Wilsons and three Turners. A fully illustrated catalogue is being prepared. |
