[Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel, and Michael Ayrton.] Duplicated Typescript of 'Minutes of the Sixth Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Friends of the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art', London, including four-page list of art library of David Leder.

Author: 
Friends of the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, London [Michael Ayrton (1921-1975), artist and author; David Leder, German textile manufacturer, and his wife Lola Leder, art patrons; Haim Gamzu (1910-1982)]
Publication details: 
'held on the 13th April 1948 at the House of Commons.' [London]
£280.00
SKU: 21404

An interesting document, produced on the eve of the establishment of the State of Israel. Full heading on first page: 'Minutes of the Sixth Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Friends of the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art held on the 13th April 1948 at the House of Commons.' 5pp, foolscap 8vo, on five stapled leaves. Paginated and complete. In fair condition, aged and worn, with first leaf detached. Recorded as present are: 'Mrs Barbara Ayrton-Gould [Michael Ayrton's mother and a Member of Parliament] (Sitting-in for the Chairman) | Mr. J. Isaacs | Mr. Michael Ayrton | Mr. Goldstein (Representing Mr. Kaufman | Mr. A. Margulies (Treasurer) | Mr. S. Oppenheimer | Mrs. J. Vigor (Secretary)'. The minutes begin: 'The secretary reported to the meeting that Dr. Stross had sent his apologies for absence from the committee owing to an accumulation of urgent business upon his return from abroad the previous day and had asked Mrs. Ayrton-Gould to sit in for him so that the meeting could be held in one of the Committee Rooms at the House of Commons; this she very kindly agreed to do. Mrs. R. Solomon had also asked the secretary to present her apology for absence as she was on the point of going abroad. | In the absence of Dr. Stross, Mr. Isaacs, Deputy-Chairman of the Committeel agreed to take the chair. | The Minutes of the last meeting having been circulated to members were taken as read and signed by the Chairman.' A section headed 'CORRESPONDENCE' follows, in which the chairman reports that 'Dr. Gamzu' [i.e. the art critic Haim Gamzu, one of the founders of the Museum] has 'pointed out that whilst the Museum Tel-Aviv would welcome the acquisition of the Sickert portrait of Israel Zangwill, it was considered there that the price was very high and it was particularly clearly pointed out that if the committee had as much money at their disposal the Museum would prefer it to be spent on a Modigliani as this painter's work is held in the highest regard in Palestine where his style has considerable influence on the work of young artists. This preference was noted by members.' Gamzu has also asked Mrs Vigor if 'she might make enquiries in the London book market concerning the availability of a fairly large number of books which the Museum would like to acquire'. Gamzu has also asked her 'if she could approach Mrs. Leder again to try to obtain the name of the purchaser of her art library as, although this had already been delivered to Mrs. Leder's packers, owing to the state of affairs in Palestine it might be some time before it could be shipped and negotiations might be successful in the meantime.' Her response ends the first page. Pp.2-5 are each headed 'DAVID LEDER', and contain a list of art books, beginning with ' Koch, Zeichnungen altdeutscher Meister z. Zt. Durers | Zeichnungen von M. Liebermann (herausgegeb. v. H. Wolff)', and ending with seven 'Knackfuss, Monographien' and 'A. L. Mayer, Goya.' Included with the minutes is a list (2pp, foolscap 8vo) of 'Books Published in Amera', with Author, Title and Year of Publication. These publications date between 1939 and 1947, and the list is probably Gamzu's, containing the 'fairly large number of books which the Museum would like to acquire'.