Sir, – The Alfred Beit Foundation faces a dilemma. Russborough, one of the greatest of Irish Georgian houses, displaying many treasures of European art in the kind of setting for which they were created, the whole sitting in wonderful parkland and landscape, with gardens now partly restored, and all open to the public, is in peril.
There are very few places in Ireland to match Russborough in its gentle grandeur but as things stand either some paintings are sold or this splendid house, its contents and environs will move into private hands or fade away.
It has been well known for many years that unless the foundation secured a substantial annual income it would be forced to dispose of the whole of Russborough. Capital projects have been funded by the Apollo Trust (UK) and government agencies but the running costs have been a persistent drain on the Alfred Beit Trust. The accounts, which are in the public domain, show that it had an operating deficit of €425,984 in 2012 and €564,213 in 2013. Robert O'Byrne, a respected former trustee, has written a convincing and eloquent account of the problem in Apollo magazine on May 15th.
The Government has been made aware repeatedly in recent years that Russborough is at risk but so far it has not been willing to help. In 1994 the Irish Georgian Society, facing a similar dilemma, persuaded the then government to take responsibility for Castletown House. But, as we all know, times have changed and we should all try to understand the problems faced by those in and out of government who have responsibility for our heritage. I have sympathy for the trustees and I wonder what their critics would do if they had the responsibility for securing the Beit legacy in the present circumstances.
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition, and the Irish Georgian Society, An Taisce, The Irish Times and the Irish Arts Review have expressed dismay that the paintings may leave Ireland.
I share their concern for the paintings but I am frankly disappointed that some of the criticism of ABF has been carping, personal and distasteful. All who value our heritage should be working together. The last thing we need is the wasting of time and of course money on disputes between people who share these concerns.
Let us be realistic. The Alfred Beit Foundation needs an annual income of about €500,000 to meet its operating deficit. In the absence of a guaranteed government grant, ABF has decided to sell a number of paintings and set up an endowment of €10 million to €20 million.
These paintings are so valuable that ABF cannot insure them and or show them for fear of their being stolen. Some have been stolen more than once. If you cannot insure or show these paintings, then it is surely a good decision to sell them if the sale will save Russborough.
I suspect it is too late to withdraw the paintings from the auction. However, as Fintan O'Toole put it so well in a well-grounded, wide-ranging and fair-minded article ("The 'deaccessioning' of art – an ugly word for an ugly deed", Opinion & Analysis, June 13th) this problem is "above all a failure of Government".
The Government should show its concern by purchasing one or more paintings before the auction or indeed at the auction.
All those who love Russborough, and places like it, should express their support and understanding for the trustees, and focus attention on the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Minister and the Cabinet. – Yours, etc,
DAVID McCONNELL,
Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Sir, – Amidst the group of old masters to be sold off, deplorably, by the Alfred Beit Foundation in London in July, it is essential not to overlook the two splendid views of Venice by the late-18th-century painter Francesco Guardi. Ireland has a particular duty of care where this artist is concerned – two of his imaginative capricci were stolen from Russborough in the 1980s and to my knowledge are still missing. The Beit Foundation only has one further Guardi left (one hopes), and although Guardi was once reasonably represented in Irish collections, his works are now in danger of becoming all but extinct in this country. Furthermore, the two Guardis due to appear at auction will do so as separate lots, yet they are a pair and show the Piazza San Marco and adjoining piazzetta in precisely the same sultry late afternoon light.
Despite what the sparse entry in the Christie’s catalogue suggests, they were probably painted contemporaneously, agree exactly in terms of their dimensions and support and entered the Beit collection together. Understanding that they were companion pieces, Sir Alfred Beit hung them adjacent to one another in the Music Room at Russborough. Given Guardi’s reliance on British and Irish patrons for scenes of this nature, such was exactly the type of environment for which they were originally intended.
Also, for those who tend to understand the significance of Ireland’s heritage in terms of its local lineage, it is also important to note that Guardi’s own daughter, Madalena, married and bore children to the Irish grand tourist David Ker of Portavo, Co Down.
Here is a painter whose productions Ireland should be claiming as its own in more ways than one. – Yours, etc,
Dr PHILIP COTTRELL,
School of Art History
and Cultural Policy
University College Dublin
Belfield,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – At a recent meeting of the Council of the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, great concern was expressed at the decision of the Alfred Beit Foundation to sell a number of paintings that form part of the bequest of Sir Alfred and Lady Beit. The council understands that bronzes, porcelain and a very important picture have already been sold.
It is understood that the sale is prompted by the critical financial situation of the trust, which is now not able to support the maintenance of Russborough House and collections. There are few historic houses in Ireland where great collections of past owners remain largely intact in the house and it is particularly important to maintain this. It is unfortunate that the trustees see no other way of dealing with this financial crisis than to damage further the integrity of this collection which was intended to be enjoyed by the public as beneficiaries of the Beit generosity. In resolving the problems at Russborough, the State has a particular responsibility to assist and support the trustees in carrying out their public responsibilities and to secure for the future one of the most important and valuable historic houses and art collections in Europe.
The State has a further responsibility to honour the memory of the Beits, since the people of Ireland have also benefited immeasurably from the separate bequest of the Beits of a collection of world-renowned masterpieces to the National Gallery of Ireland. This is a house and collection held in trust for wide public benefit and its future is not simply a private concern and, as such, would not be in accordance with the wishes of the benefactors. This matter is of particular concern to us, the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, as we are the body which, since 1924, has donated 700 works of art and items of historical significance to the national and public collections throughout the island.
Deaccessioning of art gifted for public benefit undermines the generosity of givers who would see such actions as a lack of appreciation of their public-spirited activities.
The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland would urge the trustees to postpone the forthcoming sale and to work with the State authorities to develop a long-term solution to secure the future of Russborough and the Beit collection. – Yours, etc,
JOHN MAIBEN
GILMARTIN,
President,
Friends of the
National Collections
of Ireland,
PO Box 11481,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – Your coverage of the intended sale of several internationally important paintings from the collection of Sir Alfred and Lady Beit at Russborough House is to be applauded (Rosita Boland, "The flight of the Beits", June 13th).
What is disgraceful is the secrecy that surrounded the decision to sell these paintings and the failure of the Alfred Beit Foundation to have a conversation with any organisation, including those that nominate trustees, to see what other options might have been pursued. Had such a conversation happened, it is very likely that imaginative and innovative solutions would have been identified to save the collection and the house for the public’s enjoyment and appreciation.
We can only hope that the trustees will have courage to at least postpone the sale to see what solutions might be found at this late stage. – Yours, etc,
Dr DAVID FLEMING,
Department of History,
University of Limerick.