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Camden New Journal - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 17 May 2007

Hospital paintings sale is delayed

HOSPITAL chiefs have decided to delay the controversial sale of four historic paintings donated to the Middlesex Hospital nearly a century ago.
British symbolist Frederick Cayley Robinson’s Acts of Mercy canvasses were yesterday (Wednesday) given a last-minute reprieve to give interested parties time to raise funds.
Christie’s are handling the sale of the pieces, which passed into the hands of University College London Hospital, following the £175-million sale of the Middlesex Hospital in January.
Cayley Robinson, who trained at St John’s Wood School of Art and is coming back into art world fashion, is also renowned for designing the Titanic’s tea service.
UCLH and Christie’s are remaining tight-lipped about whether or not the giant canvasses will be sold privately or put up for auction.
The hospital has provoked outrage among artists and former staff following the decision to sell them. They claim there is insifficient space to keep them.
Hospital chief executive Robert Naylor said the hospital board had reaffirmed the decision to sell the paintings, adding “there’s no comeback”.
A hospital spokesman said: “We’ve decided to defer the disposal of the Cayley Robinson paintings for six months to give suitable institutions time to identify funding.”
Kitty Edward-Jones, of Fitzroy Square, Bloomsbury, has teamed up with conservation guardians the Twentieth Century Society to plead with English Heritage to list the Middlesex building and its contents.
Ms Edwards-Jones said: “They are amazing, absolutely stunning paintings.”
Artist Chris Price, of St John’s Wood, said: “These people think they can sell off the birthright of London.”

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