The
British Government is said to have compiled a secret list of twelve
paintings, now in private British collections, which authorities
consider too precious to let England lose at any price. If such a list
exists it could hardly fail to include Titian's Diana, and Actaeon,
Reynolds' Master Crewe, Romney's Gower Children, Raeburn's The
MacNab, Gainsborough's-portrait of Anne, Duchess of Cumberland , Lawrence's Lord Lyndoch, two of Lord Ellesmere's Raphaels,
or Rembrandt's Rabbi in a Chair. One picture which might well
have, been included but evidently was not is Sir Thomas Lawrence's
Master Lambton. It was announced last week that Master Lambton would be sold to an
unnamed Manhattan dealer or collector. The present owner, the Earl of
Durham, last August refused $750,000 for the same picture. It was
learned that the price now would be $1,000,000. A reason for the deal
was surmised: The third Earl of Durham died 16 months ago. His twin,
the fourth Earl of Durham, died a year ago. Inheritance taxes
subtracted $4,500,000 from the value of the Durham estate, now
estimated at $5,500,000. Master Lambton is “The Red Boy,” a quaint and pensive child in red
velvet seated on a rock overlooking a? landscape of transparent gloom.
Master Lambton was the eldest son of the first Earl of Durham; he died
in 1831 at the age of 14. His father paid Sir Thomas Lawrence a little
more than $3,000 for his portrait. The Duke of Richmond & Gordon
announced last week that he was planning the sale of books and paintings
from his collections at Goodwood House and Gordon Castle. In Germany the Duke of Brunswick, son-in-law of onetime Kaiser
Wilhelm II, announced that he had sold for $2,500,000 certain medieval
gems and knick-knacks known as the “Guelph Treasure,” to Goldschmidt
Galleries, Inc., of Manhattan.
