Sir Joseph Duveen, when interviewed by the J.T.A. at the Duveen Brothers’ Gallery, 720 Fifth Avenue, this afternoon, confirmed the donation, stating:
“It is a project I have had long in mind. When I returned to England last June there was much controversy over the hanging of the Wertheimer portraits in the National Gallery. I made up my mind the time had come to act.
When asked whether he intended to acquire any Sargents now in America he replied: “It is too early to say. I can’t speak of that now.”
It will be recalled that the Sargent portrait “The Synagogue” in the Boston Library was recently spattered with ink by someone unknown Previous to that there had been a good deal of objection to the portrait by the Jews of Boston, who claimed Libelous and a misrepresentation of the subject.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.