The National Gallery
Recent resignations of expert officials at the National Gallery, followed by that of Mr. Ormsby Gore, one of the trustees, have occasioned not a little concern. Sir Charles Holmes, the late Director, has now explained that the troubles are due to an unhappy regulation, made some thirty years ago when Lord Rosebery was Prime Minister, under which the trustees can overrule the Director even in matters of detail. It is to be inferred that the regula- tion was virtually ignored until, within the last few years, one or two trustees began to think that they knew more about buying and hanging pictures than the highly quali- fied artist and scholar who is appointed for that purpose. Their action has lost the National Gallery several able men, and, from the standpoint of the visitor or the Student, it has not improved the general appearance of the rooms. The changes in the hanging are incessant ; many good pictures are no longer shown ; and recent purchases have in no way strengthened this incomparable collection. It is much to be hoped that the trustees will reconsider their policy and that the Director will henceforth be allowed the freedom which his Victorian predecessors used to enjoy. * * *
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