The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-19

feprising SPECTATORS in the fine arts, who next to
|oockeiing handsome sum by their operation, de-
ered to crafty the taste of aristocracy for the
productions of the great masters, would send
orders to France and Italy for everything in the
Fhape of an oil painting that worthless and I'M
Faleable in Europe. They consisted principally of
works of boys and beginners, who, if they could
put have known the eagemess with which they
we're sought after by fashionable connoisseurs
would have been delighted with their liberality, be-
|ldes being, perhaps, astonished little at their
Fancy. A cargo of this trash would arrive, per
order, and Immediately the announcement would
Pc made, that on certain day they would be ex-
Pbted in public for the triling sum of one or two
billings. The interim from their being landed to
he day of exhibition, would be expended in placing
hem in frames much more valuable than the pic
Pures; and when this was completed, private note
|r circular would be sent to all the editors in the
lty, inviting them to private view of these works
the odmasters, before they would be thrown open
b the public. These circulars would be couchcd in
Puch language as to convey the impression that the
REGULATORS designed to confer compliment on the
fess by thus exhibiting to them their trash in ad-
anoe ofthe public. In nine out of ten the trick
ltceeded, and the seventy-five cent and five
|olar Van Dykes were praised to the seventh
|eaven the next morning in the newspapers. While
be genius of the masters of painting was extoed,
pc writers took care not to omit paying a tribute
the discrimination of the purchasers, and to the
trustworthy enterprise of the proprietors and own
IS, in thus contributing to improve and expand the
ste of our aristocracy for the fine arts, as well as
hu eh,nu nd On cfvinu that which evictaJ Do,
hd-by, the exhibition would be opened to the pub
: and after while the valuable collection would
disposed of at public auction, at the prices above
hmed, and which were generally from fifty to three
|lndred per cent in advance of the orig inal cost
In this way our aristocracy and connoisseurs fill
heir parlors until their taste was satiated and
|e business Jagged. Rembrandts and Van Dykes
|ached as low point as thrty-seven-a -a-half
|nts, at which no profit could be made. Since the
he, however, when those scenes took place, a
fw crop of aristocracy, with eyeglasses and
bite kids, has grown up and as it is the very es-
|nce of their existence to be fashionable, and to
itate the ton OF Europe, they must, of course. pa
Pnize the fine arts as well as their predecessors
Id like them fill their parors with the productions
' an Dyke and others OF the great masters. They
'e a. out ripe enough now to become patrons, and
e have no doubt that the spectators in the fine
It's will soon recommence operations, and that we
|al! soon have cargoes of trashy daubs again adj
|rtised, framed, pulled, and sold at auction for
Try remunerating prices.
occasionally good picture-one having claim to
erit--s sent here and advertised to be exhibited.
most cases such articles are purchased by some
owing person, who travels with it throughout the
untry, and after clearing the original cost, brings
back again to New York, where it is exhibited
d sold. In most cases, however, the collections
paintings of the old masters which are exhibited
re, are the veriest trash-not worth the frames
nich enclose them.