The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-03
THE FINE ARTS.
ART sALEs.

narrow circle In the United States within n few
years past and become general in all classes of
society, Is an important Indication of national
prosperity and of a disposition to use money
for the qualification of the finer instincts of
human nature, that are significant of the fact
that the American people are preparing to take
tx cir stand beside the older nations of the earth
in all those relnements that mark an advanced
state of civilization We have been too long
accused of being mere utilitarians, and it is GER
tainly time that Americans had learned to spend
their money for works of art, not only for the
pleasure which such works afford, but for the
purpose of stimulating artistic genius. Leaving
every other consideration out of the question,
however, 1t is certain that fine pictures do have
a humanlzing influence greater in some respects
even than literature, and that for the de-
cUation of homes they are superior
to any other ornaments that money can buy. 1t
is impossible to estimate the beneficial effects
that few choice works of art will have upon
the children of a household, who grow up in
familiar daily acquaintance with them from in
fancy, and it Is just the kind of culture that Is
most needed at the present time on this side of
the Atlantic. Our artists need public that Is
able to discriminate In matters of art to stimu
late them in developing their faculties to the
highest degree, and to supply that appreciatlve
spirit of criticism without which it is useless to
hope for first-class performances. We mus
have intelligent, art-loving publ :.
before we can have race of first
class artists. These are considerations that pre-
sent themselves to those who are solcitous about
the prosperity of the fine arts in the United
States, but the majority of those who have money
to spend on pictures and statUary chiefly
concerned about making good investments.
They desire to secure works of real merit that
oE Co..
after familiar acquaintance with them on the
walls of gallery or drawing-room reveals their
defects but which will rather increase in attrac-
tiveness as time advances. 1t is certain that no
better investment of money can be made than in
really meritorious pictures. They will increase
in value with each succeeding year, and under
ordinary circumstances can nearly always be
sold at an advance on the original purchase
money. In the dissemination of art
works, the various public sales that are
held in this city nearly every winter do much
for the promotion of art culture. 1t is true that
a great number of inferior productions are thus
at times put before the public, but the good that
is accomplished more than counterbalances the
evil, and picture buyers enabled to make
selections and often to purchase works of ex-
traordinary merit at comparatively low figures
that would be impracticable under ordinary cir
cumstances. 1t only needs an ordinary amount
of discrimination and common Judgment for
purchasers to avoid having bad pictures forced
upon them at art sale, and the superior
character of the works offered on these occa-
sions proves that the public has learned to dis
criminate.
This season there has been an unusual amount
of activity among the fine art dealers, and u
number of sales have been inaugurated or are in
prospect that will afford excellent opportunities
for picture buyers to secure the performances of
artists of established reputation, whose names
are, to a certain extent, an assurance OF excel
lence. No one, however, who really wishes to
adorn his home with paintings that will be
perpetual source of enjoyment to himself, his
children, andIhis friends, should dpermit himself to
be guided in his selections by the names upon the
canvas, for there are many works of rare merit
offered at art sales executed by men unknown to
fame or who have failed to achieve that popu-
larity that the vagaries of public taste has be-
slowed upon some others. All that is required
in cases of this kind is that purchasers should
allow themselves the exercise of an unbiased
taste to choose what they know they like, or, if
they have no confidence in their own judgment,
to avail themselves of the experience of some
one whose knowledge Of art matters is sufficient
for the formation of critical opinion.
In connection with what we have said above,
we call the attention of our readers to the col
lection of oil paintings now on exhibition at No.
1120 Chesnut street, which will be sold this
evening and tomorrow by Martin Brothers.
These works are from the galleries of Mr. G.
Pelman and Mr.. Joseph Richardson. The first
named of these gentlemen is well known as
picture dealer of taste and experience. His
handsome gallery at Callowhill and Marshall
streets is favorite place of resort for art lovers
in the northern part of the city, and in the col
lection now offered for sale he has some choice
works by French and German artists, popular
in subject. and executed with that technical skill
for which the best European schools are cele-
brated. tMr. Richardson is art connoisseur of
nice discrimination, and his contribution to the
sale, besides number of original works. includes
copies of the old masters, some of which are of
much merit and others which are interesting as
curiosties.
Among the prominent pictures we notice a
charming pair after Sir Edwin Landseer, enti-
tied 'Peace" and ''War;" several fancy heads
attributed to Sir Joshua Reynolds; curious old
"Allegory of the Creation, with the four Ele-
ments" attributed to Rubens and Breughel
'Ruins near the River Rhine" by H. Becker
of Dusseldorf; ''Goats, by Won Severdonck
"a Portrait of Wombwell's celebrated Lior
Wallace" painted from life by Joseph Richard
son; Landscapes with cattle, dogs" ETC., by
H. and G. Shayer "Coast Scene" by w. Slayer
Jr. 'Interior," by F. strobel; 'The Sword
maker, by Scheeres; "The Poultrywoman of Ant
werp," by Verhoven Bail; "view on tn,
Ohio" by Hetzel; PORTRAIT of Andrew jackson
NUyaY- an