The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-10-28 00:00:00

THE ARTISTS' CONVERSAZIONE.

The artists and amateurs' Conversazione at the Exhibition
Rooms, on Wednesday night, in spite of the boisterous con-
dition of the weather, was well attended. There was a very
fair sprinkling of ladies, many of whom appeared in full dress.
The presentation sketches were exhibited, all of which dis-
played much talent. Messrs. Herdman, Walters, the Eg-
lingtons, Buchanan, Crane, Aspland, Collingwood, Pugh,
Marshall, Spence, and Bishop, exhibited sketches. The
portfolios of Mr. Herdman and Mr. Collingwood attracted
much attention. These converzationes are eminently quali-
fied to do good to art in this town, as they bring the purchas-
ing public into communication with the painter, and afford
opportunities of works being seen. Many and many a pound
is spent in Liverpool upon bad pictures, in spurious, base,
nasty, bungling daubs, which have been vamped up and manu-
factured abroad, or in London, so as to appear like old works
and rare productions. Fine names are appended to them,
and rooms taken in a leading thoroughfare, where some cun-
ning, crafty dealer shows his " wares," and procures for them
high prices, when they are worth comparatively little. We
have had frequent opportunities of tracing the progress of
pictures from their first introduction into the town. For
instance, Mr. Z. brings a lot of pictures into Liverpool, and
announces, in the public prints, his " arrival, with a choice
selection of works by the ancient and modern masters, in-
cluding fine specimens by Carlo Nlarratta, Titian, Tinto-
retto, Paul Veronese, Parmegiano, the Carracci, Domeni-
chino, Guercino, Ruysdael, Rembrandt, Backhuysen, Os-
tade, :Borland, Src. Mr. Z. begs to draw particular attention
to a CLAUDE, a celebrated picture from the collection of the
Baron Spitzensneezencoff, and a JAN STEIN, a most remark-
able work, lately in the possession of Burgomaster Vander-
fuddle, of Amsterdam," &c. &c.
The dealer also sends cards of invitation to known pur-
chasers, and, by means of what is vulgarly called " gammon,"
manages to persuade a £5O, £6O, or £7O, and sometimes a
larger sum, out of the pocket of a visitor, for a work which,
if really genuine, would be cheaply bought at the same figures
with an extra 0 after them, or a numeral before. The pic-
ture has a splendid frame, perhaps is inclosed in a glass door
with an outer case of black wood or mahogany, secured by a
patent lock, to preserve its high value ! The picture is
bought, sent home, and paid for. Some time after Mr. X,
the fortunate purchaser of this cheap picture, takes a dislike
to it, having perhaps some suspicion that he has paid dearly
for his whistle. Another dealer at this time comes into
town ; the same ceremony is observed, the same style of
advertisement is put forth by him, and Mr. X visits Mr. Q's
collection. Mr. X there sees a work with some fine name
(much finer than his own inestimable gem possesses) ap-
pended to it. He now tries to get rid of his last purchase :
the dealer is deep—deeper than his visitor, for he exchanges
with him his finer-named work for " the gem," receiving
some £lO or £l2, or more, to boot. This process of selling,
swapping, and chousery, is carried on for a long time, until a
dealer finds his stock has increased to such an extent that he
must have a wholesale clearance, having become possessed of
his " stock" in such a manner that, sell for what it will, money
must be made. Weeding, therefore, the works got out of
Liverpool, for fear they should be recognised by some old
friends, the stock is formerly announced for sale, by a
leading auctioneer, as " from the collection of a nobleman
well known for his taste and judgment ?" Up they go.
Down falls the hammer, at prices pleasantly varying from 7s.
(we have got a picture, purchased at an auction, for that
large amount, which we have had put into a decent old frame
cut into a comfortable size, and very well it looks) to £2O.
Although the auctioneer deplores the low prices—as, of
course, he ought to do, considering his commission is in-
fluenced thereby—he knows pretty well that his employer will
be satisfied with his labour. And so a picture that once
fetched £6O, will drop down to as many shillings when sub-
mitted to competition, until it falls again into the hands of
a "cunning Isaac," who will touch it up, and varnish it, and
make it as good as new. Generous public—subscribe to the
artist's conversazione—see with your own eyes—talk to the
painter himself, and buy a work from him, or give him an
order to paint you something—no matter what—and if it is
not a Carlo Dolci or a Titian, be content with knowing that,
instead of hanging up a clever counterfeit, you have in your
possession a very tidy, tasteful picture, which your friends
will be pleased with, and yourself have pleasure in looking
upon, because you must feel that you have encouraged art
existing in your own town. The young man that has earned
yyoouurw money may, perhaps, become eminent some day, and
ill then with pride point to his picture and say, " I
was one of his early patrons."
On Wednewere sday evening several pictures were sold, others
inquired about, and we believe in one or two instances
We orders given,
noticed on the tables a great many of the
newest and rarest engravings of the day, lent by Mr. Lin-
necar, including
borate work,) " Jones' A-lhambra," (a splendid and ela-
" The Canterbury
Haddon Hall," Londonanterbury Pilgrims," " Sketches of
as it is," &c. &c.
We observed that
awarded to 93, mt.. the Agar's 450 corporation prize has been
Canaan. The choice
it and Alfred—the remained,Pilgrim, which we understand, between
should
taken altogether is by far
the better picture. We be thankful that we get
pictures at all to look at, as the London Art Unions clear
away all the best. The meeting appeard to give very great
satisfaction to all present, the company
remaining until past
'clock.

FIT —The polite
Herdman
MR. COOKE'S BENE • ite box-keeper at the
Theatre • Royal has announced his benefit for Tuesday : he is
very deserving of patronage.
...._.
G.
ANCIENT LIVERPOOL. W
, a well-
known and highly talented artist, of this tow is preparing
e as de
and
for publication a work on the above subject. ft h
voted his attention to it for many years, . is in possession
of a curious and valuable collection of views of all the old
buildings, that time and the hand of man . have swept away.
The letterpress will be descriptive of each view.
Mr. BASIL BAKER.—Mr. Baker made a rather successful
debut as Dogberry, at the Dublin Theatre, on Saturday last.
The Dublin Evening Mail says, " Mr. Baker made a success-
ful de'but in Doyberry. His personal appearance. was not
perhaps sufficiently portly or consequential, butih his
whats concep-
tion of the character was admirable, and he delivered
was " set down for him " with a comicality of tone and
gesture, the effect of which was irresistible."
THE CHARGE OF FELONY AGAINST A CLERGYMAN•—
On Wednesday the Rev. Dr. Berrington was again brought
up at the police court Birkenhead, befote J. D. Case and
H. Winch, Esq., when Mr. Robinson, of Liscard, at whose
house he lodged. stated that he had no further evidence to
produce against him. The doctor produced testimonials by
which it appeared that he was ordained by the Archbishop
of York as deacon, and by the Rev. Dr. Butler as priest ; be
also produced his diploma as Master of Arts, and also his
dipploma of D.D., and likewise a certificate from S. W.
Renshaw, Esq., on applying to him fora situation as mathe-
matical tutor and master of a grammar school ; also testimo-
nials from Sir Henry and Admiral Digby, &c. Mr. Case.
—These testimonials appear most respectable. Dr. Berring-
ton.—l am glad of having an opportunity of proving that I
am what I represent myself to be. The rev. doctor was dis-
charged on the charge of feloniously stealing from the house
of Mr. Robinson, in which he lodged ; but the court ordered
him to find sureties for the assault on Mr. Robinson, himself £5O, and two others in £25 each. In default of procuring
bail, the doctor was again ordered into the custody of Go-
vernor Booth, keeper of the lock-up.
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1-1170 NAJ,S
"''100(121 x,117

THEATRE-ROYAL, LIVERPOOL.
THE Public is respectfully informed that the celebrated
Pianist,
MR. THALBERG,
WILL GIVE

TWO CONCERTS
at this Theatre, in which he will be assisted by
MADAME RONCONI,
AND
SIGNOR RONCONI,

From her Majesty's Theatre, (being their first appearance in
Liverpool,)
MRS. A. TOULMIN,
AND
Mr. JOHN PARRY.

THE FIRST CONCERT WILL TAKE PLACE
ON WEDNESDAY, NOV. 9.
THE SECOND CONCERT
ON FRIDAY, NOV. U.
FULL PARTICULARS WILL BE DULY ANNOUNCED.