The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-05
Sale OF Marshal Soult's Paintings.

The Paris correspondent of the New York Com
mUc,aI Adusrt,s~, in letter dated the goth OF
May, gives the following account Of the sale OF the
paintings owned by the late Marshal sout; :,
Yesterday was a great day for artists and am
ateurs of the fine arts generally. The sale Of
Marsha! Soults famous Spanish gallery of paint
ings commenced at the Sale Lebrun Scarcely
were the doors opened before the rooms were
filled Besides the interest naturally attaching to
the dispersion OF such wonderful collection. pub
lie curiosity was stimulated still higher by The
knowledge that an English nobleman, (the Mar
quis Of Hertford,) and agents for the Qusen Of
spain and Emperor OF Russia. besides the director
Of the National Museum OF France, were to dis
puie the Possession OF several OF the chez dGucrei
The proceedings began at two O'Clock, and pre-
scented during the first hour nothing worthy of re-
mark. The pictures which were generally OF
doubtful origin, and without signature, brought
low prices, and excited little rivalry. Two small
enamel miniatures-one of Cottinet, and the other
OF Iurenne, by Petitot-were bought by the Duke
de Salliera at 2,0Oof. each. Several productions
by Tlntore.to, Thuden, and Joseph Ribera only
brought from 600 TO 1901 apiece. The Vision OF
st. John. by AlaEo Cano, which here put up.
seemed 10 awaken the energies OF the audience.
The canvas is of small size, hardly 80 inches by
a. and the painting represents an angel carrying
ST. John to the top OF mountain TO shoy him the
heavenly Jerusalem. Is started at ,OOUf., and
rose Immediately to 5000, al which point all the
bidders fell of except the Duke de SalerE and the
Marquis of HEREFORD. The latter finally obtained
1t al u oo0f
at as now O'Clock. the hour previously an
rounced for the sale OF MuriIlo's Conception of
the virgin This picture, eight feet six inches
high by five feet wide, has always been considered
Spain a Muriilo's masterpiece, and is by many
Connoisseurs regarded the finest painting cx
tant. Ii represents the mother Of our Savior IN
the act OF beng carried up TO Heaven. The beau
Of this picture can be but family set forth upon
paper The sensation 1t excited, the frantic bid
ding, and the hna price paid. will give better
idea OF the estimation IN which IT is held The hrst
bid was Isl 600 francs, but the offers quickly TO
W a a
posed by an English millionaire. Up to this point
the bds had been Of 10, 600 francs each. They now
fell of 60 thousa and the Of $50 900 francs
Wac slowly reached. Spain, Russia and France,
were now alone, Britain having dropped behind The
picture hung for ten min es al the latter cum, when
NJ. Thurneyssen, the agent of Nicholas, hoping 10
win by coup dc rsa,n, and by bold stroke silence
all competition, jumped at once TO half million,
(to which sum the Emperor had limited him. the
sensation caused by this maneuvre amounted TO a
very considerable tumult. When silence was re-
stored, the bidding began again with great spirIt
IL stopped 52s 900, and Spain seemed the
point Of coming into possession Of its own again
the majority OF the paintings having been carried
oil from the converts and palaces Of the peninsula
~ Soult But the rivalry again sprung up, Thur
ueyssen now and then putting in word on his
own responsibility. The Spaniard seemed bent on
victory, and went till the enormous price vi
5sb,UOO francs was reached, when be gave X,
5tsf a stiyTs Vas knock ID down at sll7 900.
"A salyo Of applause followed this result, but IL
vas not generally known who wac the successful
bidder. When the auctioneer answered that VI.
Nleuwerkerke wss the happy man, and that the
great Murillo was now the property ofthe Louvre a
real ~hirlvind Of congratulafion burst forth Peo-
pie rushed at the director Of the Museum, shook
hands with him, and even kissed him on both cheeks
The day before, the galleries had been moot uncer
enormously cleared at two O'Clock, and NJ. Nisu-
werkerke and Louis Napoleon paid them visit
during their two hours stay, it was probably re-
solTc1 that the Louvre should carry the day, sny
cost. satished with his conquest, it made no bid
or any Of the other pictures offered.
Two other Murillos, st. Peter in Bonds,' and
Jesus and John, when children were purchased
Tor the Gar, the former for ISL OO0i. and the
latter for $4,000. A Christ bearing bis Cross'-
the only picture Of the Italian school-wss slsO
fought Tor Russia at 81 oDOE Marshal soult had
once refused 80 900 for IL.
The total sales Of the day amounted TO 973 1921
Out Of THE, the estate pays 10 per cent for the
expenses Of the sale, and the purchasers per
cent. 80 that the corporation Of auctioneers re-.
sllzed from this single dsy's work the sum Of
l45,ODJi.-S29 ,OO0'
" The sale will continue two days more, Friday
nnd Saturday OF this week. There are several
masterpieces evil to come, but nothing Of the value
or merit OF Murillo's Conception"