Clark explains comments he had made on the position of [‘The Madonna and Child with the Infant St John’] by
Michelangelo at the RA, and quotes from his script. Clark had stated that he thought that it was incongruous to allow the only Michelangelo carving in England to stand "on the mantelpiece in the room in which they give dinners". He was not concerned with ease of access, but it seemed to him a
manque de respect. He also felt students and young people would feel uncomfortable in penetrating the RA's grandiose quarters. It was a personal feeling, which he had often expressed to the President. However, he was sorry to do anything to cause distress.