Page:Municipal Handbook of Auckland 1922.djvu/91



The Auckland Art Gallery—the first permanent Art Gallery erected in the Dominion—was opened on February 17th, 1888, by the Governor, Sir W. F. D. Jervois, before a large attendance of citizens, Mr. A. E. T. Devore, Mayor, presiding. At the date of opening the contents of the gallery were small, consisting of the Grey Collection, a few pictures by local artists, and others presented by the late J. McCosh Clark, Albin Martin, and the Auckland Society of Arts.

From this small beginning the Gallery has steadily grown until to-day it contains a collection of pictures and works of art, which will compare more than favourably with the galleries of British, American, or Australian cities of the same population, and even with those of greater size. This happy condition is due to the public spirit of many Auckland citizens, who have at various times made presentations to the collections.

The outstanding position occupied by the Art Gallery is due, most of all, to the bequest of the late James Tannock Mackelvie, at one time a resident of Auckland. Mr. Mackelvie died in 1885, and by his will bequeathed his art collection and a large sum of money, in trust, to establish a Museum of Fine Arts for the people of Auckland. Mr. Mackelvie's will instructed his trustees to erect a separate gallery, but the funds at their disposal at the time being insufficient, Mr. J. H. Upton, then Mayor, suggested to the Trustees that the Corporation would erect an addition to the Auckland Art