, 1862-12-04
The Two Picture.

A few years ago, some persons Of cultivated
TASTE and lovers Of the fine arts, met at the house
Of distinguished traveller. During the evening
la discussion arose among the guests respecting
certain paintings, dnd the comparative merits q
the old masters.
al hear" said the host, turning to friend al
table, that you purchased the large picture that
in days Of yore adorned my hall p
"Yes," was the reply sand although obtained
It at q very moderate price, considering its great
merit, Il ultimately proved very bad bargain foE
me-" *,
at can tell you," said the gentleman, a very
singular adventure connected with that picture
but before dOsO, pray tell mellow your Affections
arose" ag
at is a simple story, and, / fear you win Ay,
the story Of simpet0n. The picture was greatly
admired; and one day gentleman expressed 4
desire to inspect t. and after giving utterance IN
glowing terms to bis admiration, be urged that It
should be sent to person henamed to Be cleaned
and repaired. consented to eonfde Il to this
highly extolled artist, and after paying Sohe pounds
for suitable case, ind divers other pounds for
charges toand no, and thirteen pounds tothelmght
Of the brush for bis laBOr, again received my
picture, but in the interval in the house
rendered 50 large q picture no longer admissible.
l therefore forwarded Il to London for sale. This
was another expense. II was placed in gallery,
and there for some time i rePainedi but the ex-
expenses becoming too heavy, i ordefed L TO be
sold for whatever L would produce. For my con
ISOLATION IFeceiveda letter informing me that, had
sent the painting to town IN its original state,
the writer would have given me two hundred
guineas for Il but now ten pounds was the utmost
the picture was worth, and from this go0dy sum
must bededucted all the charges incurred which
meant, in other words, that l had to pay whatever
II -. Ii
the matter and Did idien 10 my Picture and my
advice to others i Iioww exceedingly prudential
say to them, if you are rash enough to buy IN old
painting, AZ loast Be wise enough 70 ahun an ~
/ pairs and cleaning. Il b like gliding bl0n1o
you waste Your gold, and your bronze Is spoilt
Now, my friend, that sOu have had your smile at
my simplicity, let US hear your adventure"
/" Il Is soon told. When was in Italy, / had
the opportunity Of seeing many very choice pic
lures IN private collections, and on my return to
England I was astonished to learn that one Of
be sold by an eminent auctioneer In Bond street.
l took care to attend the sale, as there were tAo
pictures which 1 desired to possess: the one was
the painting which cadsed yodf aIlietiohs, and The
other was cabinet picture, very small but deli
cately finished, and thought to be the best prbduc
ton Of that master. The attendance was good,
and tie contest for the little painting was very
spirited, but aoppod very suddenly when the last
i bidding had reached nine hundred and flty pounds
Upon this advanced tWenty y-ite pounds, and no
one seemed, as ! thought, willing to exceed that
sum. Whel q Jew cried out thousand pounds.
bid again twenty-five, pounds, and lalt assured
that the picture would be mine; but, Is the ham
mer was falling, my OPPONENT, the Jew, called
out;
MAKE Il guineas.'
alta bidding ceased, and the auclioneef turned
| to me 4 fst A second. and even a third time and
aImost entreated ~ f15t q lo;e tha ficihfc.
said cannot 90 HIGHER, and the picture the next
moment became the property Of he Jew. A very
few minute Afterwards 8 foreigner entered the
room n qfeat haste and, coming up to me, inquired
| IN broksn English. when the cabinet picture was
to be sold nointing 70 ne catalogue. 1 replied,
~ 4 sIready sold
a What yon mean. sars he exclaimed.
AZ mean'' was INV repIy. lhat Won are too late
for the Id Won mention has len nut m 70 auction
snd sol5.'
!. THE gehtleman left me. bat shortly aitef cane
| N me agsin
| a1I do understand, sat,' Ne said, that Sod have
bOughf ilat hiefhfes
~ Yon ma Nv nn,;ss;nlD,l,t fetaied II bia
q, ,le S;c,1re hgt I S,ss i;ot sneoessI: Had
purchased the painting: 4 would have been added
to nv little Collection: but ne person who has
obtaineI n n am moi iueFror. has bought Il for
90 ami IN nHTslSscr SoiI tsill Rnd standing N
,onder CORNER NAV IN Won. for your Gutidance,
,ha, NV M vas ons ,honsand and tventylaye
,o,n;a. ..d ~ s,,cccssi1I olsr VaS one thousand
aTJ % 6Tsv nornSs5 -I
m. hra~ne, oSSnIr,.uuel his thanks for The IN.
sormat;oD on5 amer short time he returned 10
me. bringiDg with him ne buyer q the picture,