New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-30
Auction SALES In PARIS.

AUCTION SALES In PARIS.
,.or,p,r COLLECTIONS AT "I'HorEL "-MERCANTlL
PHASES OF FINE ART BUSINESS.
trRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
PARIS. April 9.-Horses are sold by auction
a the Paris Tattersas fish and country produce at the
Halle Oentales the unredeemed pledges OF the Mont de
Pete at the ntra magazine of that institution Literary
authors in their migraOns from one library 10 announcer
ON their way to posterty oblivion stop for night III
the narrow low rooms Of the MasOn SyvestIe Rue des
Bons Enfans, but artists are put up at LHoteI' Inc
Hotel for emnence and short sometimes also mentioned
as the Hotel Drouot for that it faces the street named
after the general whom Napoleon 1.-THE Great styled the
Sage of the Grande Arm6e, and by full legal baptism
Hotel des Commissioners Priseurs or Auctioneers Hail.
is situated Just behind the old French Grand opera
Tho hotel might be compared phrenologcay speaking
To the bump Of taste and perception in art various
indeed are the articles sold there. Worn clothing ana
bedding and most elegant raiment and furniture an
varieties of bric-abrac ancient and modern ana neo
antique of all .perods" and lands and islands beyond
the sea 1 recollect few years ago lot OF brazen
Hindoo gods from-Birminghan.
But il with three four of its upper chambers that
now have to do Here, during the season. the picture
sales take place. Here Hodge for day or two caravans
of old masters and new, and asprants OF all schools
What s called much Oftener than known as the French
School, is exhibited here in the course of season with
far greater approach to completeness than in the Lux
embourg gallery, OF at any one annual Salon. Tie sea
son begins and ends about with the frosts 1t not at
the full before December and is generally at its night
month or two later. The great sales are most apt
to fan in Lent There fewer other delights for the
eve and less Qualifications the pride OF fashionable
hfe the ordinary openn g for money out through
are more contracted in those somber forty days Having
more leisure their hands, the wandering public then
throngs more numeouy than at other periods TO Inc
Drouot free gallery.
There is to be found an exposition, when large col
econs are TO disposed Of for two three pre-
cedng days Of the objects TO be sold On grand occa-
sops the first day or two is for the "priyato VIEW,
hen if you 60 early and present the entrance card you
have obtained at the auctiOneers oihce or piece OF
silver 10 the uniformed guardian Of the door, you find
the room already crowded and the air close on the
last free day it is damned and the air mephitic. On
saeay IT ia gorged and there is not air. The auc
tioneer is all animation he plies his great art OF
cheating the house" Master Pet, for example, one
OF the chiefs OF the corporation 1.-THE Commissioners
Prseurs a cOrpOrate,body with notable priveges
his eve in fine frenzy rolling from front sitters 10 back
ISLANDERS in the and from side TO side OF the house.
catches and fascnates you asks, demands creates by
sympathetic glance and jerks out Of as 1t were the
answering bid Then he trolls IT, like bait dipping and
raising magic hammer across the pond of intense up
turned faces catching another higher bid which straight
way, he bangles again. Meantime, his assistant
crie provohes YOU with repetition OF his cries and little
recommendatory appropriations OF his own. and the
other actor the expert looks with fond regret at the
pictures about TO pass from him, as though 1t were his
sacrifice And So by dyes and tens hundreds and thou
sands the canvas swels price, TILL just at the last right
moment. bang goes the hammer and 1t is yours, for
cash with five per cent additional which goes to the
corporate auctioneers fund.
You might have had the picture something cheaper
a matter you think OF next morning-lf some other Of
the guild had presided at the SALE II you ever come TO
dispose of your invaluable collection strive that NJ
Pulet have the disposition OF it. In his way he is
a master OF his art as any master whose pieces he
kuocks down. His skill in warming the sale" is
eaualed He has a sincerely impatient way with him
and about you. He orders you to hurry up bids
His preSsonS preSSons, nessierS" is all his own.
Hurry gentlemen quick now! mpresses you as though
he had very urgent business-the President Of the
Republic at the door. dinner at home waiting for him.
He has no trick Of half bantering, half pompous
eoauence does sing the praises Of his goods, but
pushes provokes bids you bid aud be done with it, He
never lets bid lag. least of all the last one
The great which have the town talk OF that
large porsn OF this town who interest themselves In all
that relates art, and which have brilliantly illus
trated latter Lenen days are the Wilson, the Papn,
and the Laurent Richard Some incidents OF and items
regarding them Of interest that may bear descrb
ing TO your readers 1t is Of the material and other
features Of these art sales and of the actual mercantile
phase OF the ne-art business which venture TO touch
on FOR the entertainment of the curious.
The Wilson gallery consisted chiefly Of modern French
works collected by the father of its latest proprietor
Frenchman Of English parenage Of notable standing in
the political world and the actual proprietor Of the
favore residence OF Diane de Poiters that most charm
ing Of oil French historical house,, the Chateau of
Chononoeaux. The gems notorlees of this collection
we're landscape by Jules Dupre, the English Coast by
SOUTHAMPTON, aud the Death OF Sardanapalus by
Delaorox. among the earliest works of these
artists wheE the andscapst, In 1885. and the other in
1871 in their discomfort with-say revolt agaiustthe
tame formal prettnesses and fridites into which the
French school had fallen, were seeking tor another
method and style OF expressing the genius that in
them and worked under the fresh strong influence Of
the Turner'S, Constabes. and Gainsboroughs. whose
works they had come to study In England. That Con-
stable by the way the begettng father In pregnant
French art of actual French laudseapsts foru
nate enough in lack OF direct vision OF his canvases 10
have SEEN loved and studied the mezzotint reprodne
tons OF his choice OF them by Lucas, familiar
with Dupre Rousseau, Daubgny Coro and the brilliant
rest can for @ moment doubt. though the shronicled
proofs of the proposition wanting. Bnt wander
from the shop.
son pere 40 much 1900 francs sold, last fort
night for 1900 francs. When, in 1928, Delacrox
posed bis Death OF sardanapalus, painted the pre-,
oedtnx wear, the critics lifted up their voices and
hocred fts romantst horrors Of mad msdrawng and
idot,c daphery of cOlorng. IL was II possible, more
shaeess violaton OF the rules than his Massacre OF
seio Of liza. lstlll IN tie Luyembourg WHICH, though