Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-04

~ANt 1NlGLLlSEN CE.-Ne nave ASSSA ~
from Redding & Co., pamphlet entitled Gan
Appeal to the People of the United States IN
behalf of Art, Artists, and the Public Veal,
written by S. Spooner, M. D., whose labors
in restoring Boydelrs illustrations Of ShaIs-
peare are so well known. The object OF the
present article is to solicit aid i'll the repubhca-
ton of the magnificent series of engravlngs
copied by Napoleon's command from the best
statues and pictures which were collected IN
the gallery of the Louvre, by selection from
all the galleries of art in the countries which
were conquered by him. When the allies en-
tered Paris in 1915 these were returned to
their original owners, and must now be sought
through the different galleries of continental
Europe.
"'These works., (the Musee Francois and
the Musee Royale,) says a distinguished con-
noisseur, are unquestionably the greatest
productions of modern times. They exhibit
series of exquisite engravings by the most DIS
tinguished artists, of such a magnificent col
lection of paintings and sculpture as can new
er be again united These works were in
tended as great treasury of art from which
not only artists, but the whole world might
derive instruction and profit. To secure the
utmost perfection in every department, no eX-
pense was spared. The drawings alone cost
the Frenc oh government 400, 900 francs"
&" The engravings were executed by the
most distinguished engrayers ofEurope, with
out regard to country; among whom it is sufi-
cient to mention Raffaelle Morghen, the Chew
alier Won Miller, and his son g. I. Won Mil
Ter, Bervic, Rchomme, Rosaspina, Bartoloz-
ri, Gandolf, Schiavonetti, the elder and
younger Laurent, Massard, Girardet, Lignon,
Chatillon, Audouin, Forster, Claessens, etc.
Stanley says that proof impressions OF Ber-
vics masterpiece, the LAGOON, have been sold
in London for thirty guineas each. There
are many prints in these works not less cele-
brated, and which are regarded by connois-
seurs as masterpieces of the art.
"Nor was this al. Napoleon summoned
Visconti, the famous antiquary, arch@ologist,
and connoisseur, from Rome to Paris, to assist
in getting up the admirable descriptions and
criticisms, particularly of the ancient statues.
This department was confided to Nisconti,
Guizot, Claric, and the elder Duchesne. The
supervision of the engraving and publishing
department was entrusted to the Messrs. Ro-
billiard, Peronville, and Laurent. These
works were published in numbers of four
plates, atlas folio, at the price of SO francs
each, for the proofs before the letter, and 48
francs for the prints. The first number of the
Musee Francois was issued in 1903, and the
last in 1915 but the Musee Royale, which was
intended to supply the deficiencies of the Mu-
see Francois, was not completed till 1919;
nevertheless, it was Napoleons work, though
consummated in the reign of Louis XVIII
The original price for proofs was about
$2500. For prints $3.50. From this it will
be seen thatin point Of merit they exceed any
similar collection in the world, both as to exc
cution and value of the subjects of the en-
cravings. DIR. Spooner is now the owner of
the original plates, which he proposes to re-
store in a style of excellence superior even to
Boydelrs Shakespeare, and publish at the COM
paratively low price of $3.50 for the whole Sc
ries, numbering 522-thus bringing the cost
of each plate little less than half dollar.
AS may well be imagined this enterprise is
not without its enemies. So profitable has
our market become for the sale of prints pub
lished abroad that all the influence that can
be brought to bear against the completion of
this enterprise is awakened and at work This
is very natural, for, according to the Doctor,
more than 10000 pictures, painted to order
like so many signs, passed through the New
York Custom House last year, which had been
sent out by the large Partisan picture manu-
featuring establishments for sale. Besides
this great trade nearly all the print publishing
houses abroad have their agents among us,
who canvass the country, and, by their activi-
ty, supply the demand for prints at less cost
than they can be engraved and printed here.
If, then, such magnificent collection as
the one under notice can be afforded at a cost
which will bring them within the means of
all, it will at once be seen to what degree it
will diminish the great trade in prints that is
now the source of so much profit to foreign
houses. But in another and more important
view, if the masterpieces of art reproduced in
engraving to degree that leaves nothing to
be regretted, can be brought before the com
munity, they will form the best means of ed
ucating them as to what is good and correct
in style. We hope every one will procure the
pamphlet and give the Doctor fair hearing.