Arts.
'STRANGE PURCHASE FOR THE NATIONAL GALLERY.
WE have heard a report connected with the National Gallery in which we can scarcely put credence. It was rumoured some three years since that the Director of the National Gallery had offered 150,000 harms
(60001.) for the altar-piece in the church of Legnano ; and even that statement was scarcely credible, though the story has now assumed much larger proportions. The picture in question must be one by Bernardino Linn; a follower of Leonardo do Vinci, but not one who trod quite close upon the heels of his master. Luini is a tame painter, whom the public of this country, we suspect, would scarcely class among the second rate masters, or even the third rate. Of course, any such rating depends upon the classification which may be adopted ; but reckoning as the first the greatest men, like Raphs I, Leonardo, and Titian ; as the second Gior- gioni and Correggio ; third, l'armegiano and Guido, we might hesitate to put Luini even in the third class. Subsequently, it was reported that the Director and Travelling Agent of the -National Gallery had doubled their offer ; and at that time the local Government at Milan, although still holding out, showed evident signs of a disposition to yield, if the offer should be advanced still higher. Recently we have heard that Sir Charles Eastlake has actually purchased a Luini, from some place near Milan, for 800,000 francs (32,0001.) ; this newest report obviously points to the altar-piece of Legnano, and the transaction was mentioned in the
z GaL elta Umiak di Venezia Of December 19, 1859. Since Legnano is in Lombardy, there may be some question whether the transaction will be carried out by the new Government. The local authorities profess readiness to sell the picture, on the ground that money is wanted to repair the church ; but we have beard a report that the new - Government had offered to repair the church in order to prevent any kind of spoliation. Obviously, the loss of the picture is of more importance politically, than its acquisition could be to us artistically. How fa; these difficulties have prevented the completion of the purchase, is not stated.
On deliberate consideration, however, we arc inclined to think that there must be some mistake. Pictures by the greatest masters have been, and no doubt will again be, from time to time, available for sums far short of the 32,0001. said to have been offered in the present instance. Our small gallery could be infinitely more enriched by other acquisitions for that sum of money ; and, whatever Sir Charles Eastlake's sympathies may be with a studious though tame painter, he must, by his position, be too well informed not to know how even an auctioneer would rate the value of Luini's works. We fully expect, therefore, to have the re- port which we have mentioned contradicted on authority.
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