Among various Estimates o...
Among, various Estimates ot Miscelianeous Service, just laid before Parliament, we find one entitled, "An Esti- " mate of the Sum whicrk will be required to defray the charge of purchasing, together with the expenses inci dental to the preservation anrd public exhibition of the late -Mr. ANGERSTEIIi'S Pietures-60,OOO1." Of this sum the public will see that S7,000L. is the naked price of the pictures, and the rest is to be appliedl to the otlher purposes mentioned in the preceding extract. The fufure management of the Picture Gallery and its contenits, is sketched in a Treasury minute, addressed by Lord Li- VERPOOI. to th e Board; in which his Lordship states, that there ought to be a keeper, with a salaryof 2001. per annum, an assistant keeper with 1501.,Ivith some subor(linate agents. The lovers of the arts, and probably the nation at largea, will have no objection to this plan: but looking to the duities imposed on the first keeper, and .lhe aoquire- ments which he otught to possess, we think he is but moderately remunerated. " He is to have the clharge of the collection, to attend particularly to the prcservation of the pictures; but he is also to be competent to value, and, if called upon, t6 nego- tiate the purchase of any picturcs that nmay in future be added to the collection." 3Now it is evident, that the man whio shall have these latter duties to perform, must be a connoisseur of the most infallible judgment-one who has spenteis life in the studv of pictures-who is ac- quainte(I by travcl and reading vith their history, and by observation and taste with their faults and excellencies: and that 2001. per annum is not an adequate remuneration for the employment of suchI talents, is, we think, quite clear. rhe C.stodi of the great collections of Italy are persons of the rank of nohlesse; and being eminently distinguished by their skill in the fine arts, they are adequately renmu- neratcd. It mast also be observed farther, that much more .alent is necessary for the formation, of a National Gallery, than for the management of a gallery already fort-ned. If 2001. a year were sufficient for the person to whom the latter duty should be confided, twice that sum would be in- adequate pay to oue who should have to direct the former; and who, in ad(ldition to the duty of preserving the pictures already possesscd, shoul(d have the infinitely more difficult task of selecting others for purchase, and managing the ne- gotiation. The collection, it seems, is to remain for the present in its old abode in Pall-mall, Lord LIvEPt0ooL having made an arrangement to that effect, " during the remainder of the term for wlhich it is held by Mr. AN- GCRsTin,, and at the same rent."