II 



Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York. The greatest number 

 of visitors on a pay day was on Whit Monday, when 565 passed through 

 the Gallery. 



The deficiency is a little greater this year than last, and is accounted 

 for by the expense incurred in thoroughly repainting the building, the 

 purchase of medals awarded at the Photographic Exhibition, and by the 

 reduction in the amount received as commission on the sale of pictures. 

 The pictures sold were of the catalogue value of ,£419; which, owing 

 to the depressed state of local trade, must be considered satisfactory. 

 The number of catalogues sold reached 5,953 copies, an excess on 

 former years. 



During the year, the usual number of Exhibitions has been held. 

 The Autumn Exhibition was good in quality, and the Art Union in con- 

 nection with it realised the sum of ^92 15s. od. 



The Spring Exhibition was of exceptional merit, and. the Committee 

 were fortunate in obtaining from the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest, 

 the loan of Sir Frederick Leighton's beautiful picture, the Bath of Psyche. 

 There were other fine pictures; local art was well represented, and the 

 Exhibition was deservedly popular. 



The Summer Exhibition consisted of Photographs, and a number of 

 representative exhibits were secured. Medals were awarded, and in the 

 opinion of the judges, Messrs. England and Mayland, the Exhibition took 

 high rank as to the quality of the works submitted. In the lower Gallery 

 there was a small collection of sketches by the late Charles Jones, the 

 eminent animal painter, and the thanks of the Committee are specially 

 due to that gentleman's son, Mr. Bertram Loud, for the interesting loan. 



The Autumn Exhibition now in progress, without containing many 

 important pictures, is interesting, and the general level shows improve- 

 ment. That the Gallery continues to rise in the estimation of Artists is 

 shown by the fact that nearly two hundred more pictures were submitted 

 for selection than could be hung, and that it is appreciated by the general 

 public because it has attracted 8,000 visitors during the month that it 

 has been open. 



Mr. and Mrs. Henry Boden, of the Friary, have presented to the 

 Art Gallery Ceramic Collection a number of pieces of Derby Porcelain 

 of various periods, including some special examples of modern manu- 

 facture, among which are specimen plates from the dessert service 

 presented respectively to the Duke and Duchess of York, and the 

 Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone. 



