if 



The chief events of the year in connection with the Gallery have been 

 the Exhibition of Decorative and Applied Art, and the Autumn Ex- 

 hibition of Modern Pictures in Oil and Water Colours. 



It was originally intended to hold an exhibition of Decorative Art in 

 connection with the Art Congress, held in December, 1888, but the whole 

 of the rooms being then occupied with the various sectional meetings, 

 the project was deferred until the Spring of 1889, when it was carried 

 out on a very extensive scale, and proved to be one of the largest and 

 most comprehensive Exhibitions of Arts and Crafts ever brought 

 together. It was opened on the 30th March, by His Worship the 

 Mayor, E. H. Cookson, Esq., and closed on July 19th. Notwithstanding 

 the faJt that an Exhibition of such a character was not likely to attract 

 the pubhc generally in large numbers, the result proved very satisfactory, 

 and a balance of profit remained after defraying aU expenses. The 

 Exhibition comprised the choicest examples of Fictiles, Decorative 

 Painting and Design, Wall Papers, Metal Work, Stone and Wood 

 Carving, Stained Glass, Table Glass, Printing, Bookbinding and 

 Furniture, besides a large and important contribution from South 

 Kensington Museum, which included rare examples of Modern Fur- 

 niture and electrotype Reproductions of Old Royal Gold Plate. There 

 were also included some rare Cabinets, Chairs, Coffers, and Tapestry 

 of the 16th Century. 



The failure of the negotiations for the purchase, by the Committee, of 

 the picture "Captive Andromache," by Sir Fredk. Leighton, Bart., P.R.A., 

 threatened, at one time, to render the holding of the usual Autumn 

 Exhibition a matter of doubt. But this was happily averted, and the 

 usual preparations were made in the Spring, which resulted in the holding 

 of an Exhibition quite as large and important as any of its predecessors. 

 The Committee regard the attendance and the financial outcome as in 

 every way satisfactory. 

 The Committee lent the following Pictures during the year :— 



To the British Fine Art Section of the Paris Universal Exhibition :— 

 " Samson," by Solomon J. Solomon. 

 " Pelagia and Philammon," by Arthur Hacker. 

 " When the Children are Asleep," by Thomas Faed, b.a. 



