Van Dyck's Abbé de Scaglia Press Cuttings Album

The album contains press cuttings relating to the sale of Van Dyck's 'Portrait of the Abbé de Scaglia' in 1928 from the national and regional press, including press cuttings illustrated with photographs of the Van Dyck in the sale room. The album also contains two letters, from Arthur Grenfell and Alec Martin, congratulating Berry on his purchase. An invoice from Christies for the purchase, dated 17 May [1928], is pasted onto the first page of the album.

In May 1928 the art collection of the late Sir George Holford was sold at Christies. Large crowds attended the sale, which attracted a great deal of publicity. The first day of the sale broke the previous record for prices achieved at a London picture sale. Anthony Van Dyck's 'Portrait of the Abbé de Scaglia' was bought by the newspaper proprietor Sir William Berry.
The picture was subsequently acquired by the National Gallery in 1999.

The album was given to the Gallery in 1999 by Mr Mark Macauley.

Dossier for Van Dyck, Portrait of the Abbé Scaglia [NG6575] contains material relating to the picture, including catalogue entries and published articles.