The Public Utility of Museums. By Lord Sudeley. (Constable. Privately
ciroulatod.)—This is a reprint of Lord Sudeley's article in the Nineteenth, Century for July with which we were entirely in sympathy. The Spectator has long advocated the appoint- ment of guide-lecturers in museums and ar galleries, and L-rd Sudeley's efforts towards that end have won tho gratitude of a largo public. None who has heard Mr. Hubert Wellington lecture at the National Gallery can doubt that the indifference of the general public to works of art—in such contrast with the interest in, and even knowledge of, pictures displayed on the Continent—is largely due to lack of such opportunities in the past. Lord Sudeley points out that the British Museum was founded by Act of Parliament for the " Learned and Curious "- this should be the guiding principle of every museum and art gallery in the country. The first purpose of a museum is research, but there is a large and intelligent public with pro- prietary rights which is entitled to consideration. Nothing is more dispiriting than to wander listlessly, guide-book in hand, from gallery to gallery. This, it is worthy of note, was appre- ciated by Disraeli, and when he was Prime Minister he endeav- oured, without success, to obtain lecturers for " that vast and yet limited repository," the British Museum. It is to be hoped that the system now started will spread rapidly. Lord Sudeley deals with another side of museum improvement which the guide lecturer stimulates—the sale of picture postcards of exhibits, and, in art galleries, of reproductions of pictures. If the sales counter were well organized this side-line might conceivably make the lectures self-supporting. Last year the British Museum sold half a million postcards ; with greater facilities they hope to sell in the near future double that number. At the National Gallery the sales counter is also well supported. If this could be said of every museum and art gallery in the country, the gradual elevation of public taste would be a matter of course. Lord Sudeley finally suggests that a " clever and zealous publication officer," who would advertise its facilities, should be employed by every institution of this nature.
Previous page
