A

BILL

[AS AMENDED IN COMMITTEE]

ΤΟ

Extend the Powers of the Trustees and Directors of the National Gallery, and to authorize the Sale of Works of Art belonging to the Public.

W

HEREAS Pictures and other Works of Art acquired for Preamble. the National Gallery by Purchases out of Monies granted

by Parliament, and by Bequests and Donations, have been placed under the Care and Ordering of Trustees and a Director 5 (appointed by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury for that Purpose): And whereas it is expedient that Power should be given to dispose of such of the Pictures and other Works of Art under the Care and Ordering of the said Trustees and Director as they may adjudge to be unfit or not required for a National Collection, and that 10 Pictures and other Works of Art given to or for the Benefit of the Nation should, where no other Provision is made by the Donors, vest in and be under the Care and Ordering of the said Trustees and Director: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual 15 and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, as follows:

Pictures, &c.

preserved in

I. The Trustees and Director of the National Gallery, or any unfit to be Three or more of them, of whom the Director shall be one, present the National at any Meeting specially assembled for that Purpose, may from Time Gallery may to Time, with the Consent of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's

be sold.

Proceeds of
Sale.

Pictures

Nation to

vest in the

Treasury, order that any of the Pictures and Works of Art for 5 the Time being under the Care of the said Trustees and Director, which they may adjudge to be unfit for or not required as Part of the National Collection, be sold: Provided always, that any such Sale shall take place by Public Auction, and that an Account of the Monies arising therefrom shall be laid before Parliament in the annual 10 Report of the Trustees and Directors; and provided also, that such Power of Sale shall not extend to such Pictures or other Works of Art as shall have been bequeathed or given to or for the Benefit of the Nation.

II. The Receipt of the Person authorized by the said Trustees and 15 Director to sell such Pictures and Works of Art shall be a sufficient Discharge for the Money arising from such Sale, and such Money shall be paid over by the Person receiving the same into the Exchequer, and shall become Part of the Consolidated Fund of Great Britain and Ireland.

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III. All Pictures and Works of Art which may be from Time to Time given to the given or bequeathed to the Public or to the Nation, or given or bequeathed by Words showing an Intention that the Gift or Bequest should enure to or for the Benefit of the Public or the Nation, shall (unless the Donor or Testator shall have made other Provision for 25 the Care thereof) vest in and be under the Care and Ordering of the said Trustees and Director of the National Gallery.

Trustees and
Director.