Art
[THE MACPHERSON COLLECTION. THF. GUILDHALL ART GALLERY.]
IT is stated in a foreword to the catalogue of the paintings and prints from the Macpherson collection at the Guildhall Art Gallery, that though this collection has been secured for the nation by the generosity of Sir James Caird, the nation is not yet " fully conscious of the character of its inheritance." Now, by the courtesy of the Corporation of the City of London, a small part of this collection is on public view, and everyone who can do so should go and see it. It may not be generally known how large this collection is, but the fact that it contains over eleven thousand prints alone will give some idea. It covers all nautical subjects from sea battles to yacht racing, and takes you from Ships and Galleys of Albrecht Dfirer's time to clipper ships racing home with tea from China in 1866. Those who were responsible for the selection of the pictures now on view are to be congratulated that, with a hundred and four oil paintings and some two hundred and twenty prints, they have given a good insight to what this collection stands for. As stated in the foreword, the prints have been chosen " to awaken in those who have not yet felt it, a pride in the achievement of the sailors and ships that upheld the national honour in the olden days," selecting, where possible, from the best artists. Especial mention must be made of the " Views of Sea Ports," for this section contains many of the finest specimens of mezzotint and aquatint. View of Dover (1820), The Admiralty, 1775, and View of Gravesend with the River- Steamship Hawk, are as artistically delightful as they are historically interesting. It can also here be clearly seen how great a debt is owed to such Dutch sea painters of the seven- teenth century as the two Van de Veldes, several of whose works are now exhibited. To a nation such as ourselves who can never hope to escape from sea influence, the Macpherson collection is truly a national treasure.
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