The New York herald., 1870-03-20
THE FINE ARTS.
The San Donate Collection Sale in Paris-Priccs
Paid for Paintings-Patrenage Of Ar
tists-Goszp in Art C;rcles-A.
r. Stewards Purchase.

I. StewartS Purchase.
PARIS, March s, 1870
The excitement caused by the very exorbtant
sums paid for some OF the paintings at the third
vacation Ql tle san Donate sales will not subside
for somo time. II Is the nniysEsai topic Of conyer
sation In oil artists studios; and though at Arst
sight 1t woud appear that painters should be elated
at the high prices which great works fetch 1t is not
the present case. Painters know that after all
great sales time OF total sl0wness succeeds in tho
market. Millions cannot always be forthcoming,
and the living have TO suffer for the dead
neither can these chronic fits OF extravagant
appraisements be called encouragement OF
tho fine arts" What artists prize above
millionaires are those rare amateurs who
buy paintings all the year round as do several Amer
leans IN Paris and In other parts Of Europe. But
some discernment is required for these selections
some taste and cultivated imagination, whereas at
these great sales nothing Is called for but heavy
money bags. Any one who has the means can buy
Greuze Paul Delar0che II he c0mprehends
that by becoming their fortunate possessor he will
acquire what others equally wealthy could not out
bid him In at auction. No more sense than this Is
requisite. When the G,yS casses was adjudged.
after struggling ascension OF hundreds, for $4,000
francs the outlay was styled foolish and when the
nineteen heads by the same master (Greuze) went
for 725,000 francs it was called insane. Folly ana
insanity, however, very relative 1t s evident,
that tho price OF any object only be appreciated
by the desire caused for ITS possession, and few be-
lieve they do now and then pay too much for their
whistle" This kind OF madness could better
be demonstrated II the purchaser were put to the
following test:-WOuld he, for the same sum--neary
million OF rancs-engage twelve or less great ar
lists decorate hall Ia one OF his residences with
Tnis would prove love OF art for art, and could
also be called encouraging the arts. Many great
protectors OF science have spent little and given
immense impetus to discovery and learning BY ju
dlc0us Efforts to encourage anu stimulate. When we
reflect that Greuze IN his life time lived In penury
ana had 10 sell his own PICTURES calling the attention
OF passers by at the sales by excaIming: BUY this
'cruche ca5see' /" we can but deplOre the utter
instability OF our thoughess, herd-ike race led on
by fashion and the prevailing mama OF the day.
The following IS list OF the other paintings sold
on the same OccasOn:-Eleven works by Boucher,
1io ooof.; splendid marble statue. BY Desinger Ia
statue by Debaz, 18.000i.; the two by Lickesne,
Is, OOof On the fourth vacation OF the same sale.
which took place ve days after the above, enthusl.
asm had had tune to cool. and some OF the works
were even sold below their value, the total being
Tlntaretto, Glorgione and many others OF the
THE EDWARDS COLLECTION.
Immense crowds pressed yesterday into the Hotel
des Ventes Rue Droust, 10 view the famed cO.iec-
ton OF M. Edwards, now being exhibited previous
comprises thrty-six paintings by modern masters;
ten by Eugena Deacrolx, SIX by Rousseau, nine BY
camps, one BY Fromente, one by Coz Corot tai and d one one
by Miet The most envied In the Della
croix series appear, to be "L'Amende honor
Duke Of Orieans. from whose gallery 1t went over
to ,r. Edwards. The scene represented is judg.
windows. AT the further end sits bishop wearing
Q mitre; he is under canopy, and with sombre,
around hun. the cuprlt, whols almost stripped Is
being dragged towards him by three priests, rem
dered repuIsve by strong expression OF cruel hate
ON their faces. The wretcn between them Is on his
knees, falnting from exhaustion after che torture.
PROBABLY TO which ne mas been subjected but which
has not drawn from him his avOwal. He Is being
torn along on his knees to hear his final sentence,
and 1t evident he Is eager for release death.
In the distance procession OF more priests Is seen
fling OF for the service OF the dead. C0istral ter
rOr and "reminiscences OF the dates OF the lnquIsl-
ton come forcby on the mind as the spectator looks
DeIacrolx "Jesus During the Tempest" Is also
here and 1t considered OF the best of
the modern school. The small bark rolls In the vault
of an enormous wave and the heavens are darkening
above The apostles hold on TO the sails In anguish
atmosphere OF light which appears to emanate from
his sacred person.
The third masterpiece or Delacroix In the Ed
wards collection Is Lies ConvulsiOnnaireS DE Tan
GER" or the convulsionary fanatics 0f Tangicrs Is
intended to depict the religious delirum OF the Ais
saonas His adopts are possessed OF the devil; thev
roll, gnash their teeth, foam ana howl like wild
beasts. On they come, opening march In the
streets OF the city, and are followed by SheIk
horseback shaded from the sun by q standard held
above him. He is mpassiye, serene. ind yet his
exaltatlon Ia such that KIND OF defed expression
turks In his concentrated gaze. few Arab chiefs,
draped IN their white Durnouses march by his SIDE
IL Will be interesting to note which OF these three
works Will attain the highest price. The names OF
the others by Delacroix are:-"rhe Battle OF POic-
tiers" "Hamlet ana HOratO,h Hamlet and Polo
nius,r sRebecca" from Walter Scott's work;
'.Horses Coming out oil the Water" ARABIAN
COursers,n "An Arab and his Horse.n
WHAT IS SAID IN ART CIRCLES.
There IS no dearth OF artistic news III Paris Just
now, as preparations are beng made for the open
dustrle, TO which edlnce competitors are to send
their productions on the 18th inst. Eastern and
Egyptian subjects abound owing to the numerous
sketches taken by some of our pest artists present
the Inauguration OF the Suez Canal.
GEM IN NEW YORK.
very large painting for Mr.. A. I. Stewart, OF
New York, Is creating Il great sensation. IL Is the
mean war are at the Museum Of versailles. 1t is
aegorical and called the 'United States or Ameri-
Ca" The thlrty-four States are represented by
figures drawn III chariot by lions, and they are
grouped round two other figures in the centre, Re-
public and Wisdom. The past Is represented TO the
right and IN the distance by hide0us gibbts in the
foreground ere seen the dead who have worked for
good and great things bursting from their tomDs
and triumphant TO the left the sun rises over sea
their families while above all celestial heraos iy to
The four quarters Of the world procaming the glory
OF the United States. Peace, labor and the abolition
OF slavery are also portrayed, and statue OF Wash
ingtOn above these groups stands out IN brilliant
apotheosis.