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 (owned by the King), 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.
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