National Republican., 1876-12-25
100000 Worth of Pictures Sold in
New York Last Week-ham OF tho
Buyers and the Prices Paid.

NEW 7 ToRK, Dec. 22.-In a few days Mr.. John
Taylor Johnston's valuable collection OF paint
ings will be scattered to the four winds Of heaven
As none but the wealthy can gratify taste for
Melssoniers, Geromes, Troyons, Bouguereaus
and Schreyers, at cost Of from o., 900 to 10000
apiece 1t is very suggestive to find, even in these
hard times, no lack of buyers for SO large COL
lection as the Johnston Gallery when forced off
at public auction The spirited bidding, which
was q notable feature in the proceedings Of the
last two nights at Chickering hall, became very
fierce over certain gems. On the first nights sale
Mr.. J. G. Bennett carried of the prize Meis-
sonier's 'Soldiers at Cards." 1t was sold at
midnight being the last picture on the list. Mr..
Bennett had as competitor one Of the best
judges Of pictures in this city-a man of great
wealth, but very close buyer. Mr.. Bennett,
through his agent, ran his adversaries, one and
all, off the field, and came In victorious on the
home stretch on final bid of s1l 500, thus closing
the proceedings Of the evening. John W. Gar
rett, president Of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
way, not satisfied with diverting o considerable
portion Of our legitimate grain trade to Bal
timore, has likewise captured some very valua-
BILE pictures. signed Hunt, Church, Williams,
proposes to transfer from New York to the
Monumental City. At the first and second
evenings sale MI: John w: CARROTS purchases
directed ihe bidding made on his behalf we do
Of the West" Mr.. william Il. vanderbilt, put in
an appearance on this occasion. Mr.. Garrett,
like Mr.. Bennett, went In against the field. 1t
rett dep6ted Vice-President King to settle the
raeway war, but came on here in person 70 at
tend the sale Of the Johnston Gallery. MI; John
Jacob Astor was the purchaser for s., 200 Of Null
ler's "Roll Call OF the Last Victims Of the Reigu
of Terror" one of the highest-priced pictures
sold ut the first evenings sale, while Mr.. George
Paah0dv WatmOra of the
nihcent Wetmore Chateau, at Newport,
bought Gerome's wellknown picture, "The
purchasers We notice the names Of Alexander
Brown, ID. Stewart, LIE Grand B. Cannon, H. z.
Leroy, John II. Sherwood ano Wm E. Dodge.
Some ten years ago an auction sale of paintings
equal in value and excellence to those Of the
Johnston Gallery would have met with very diff
times then were apparently more prosperous,
money more plenty and people generally richer
than now. there was generally lacking that nice
paintings which has developed itself so rapidly
among our wealthy classes during the last de-
csce: As we have already had d. occasion M onto 70 point
mercial counting house Of the New World, the
centre Of wealth and commerce In these United
rank side % By SIDE with London MAI and Paris "a as sI re-
CARDS everything which makes life attractive
and agreeable in those capitals.
seeking the sum ofexcsllence In all that pertains
so the comforts and elegances OF lifeline houses,
furnished and equipped in admirable taste, and
regardless Of cost; handsome equipages. we'll as
sorted private Libraries and choice galleries OF
pictures. Nor are the public libraries, the Astor
and the Lenox. tsoon to be opened, the theatres,
and other places of amusement ct all behind SIM
liar institutions abroad. Our Central Park Is far
ahead Of all London parks, more attractive and
better kept, while IL compares favorably, taken
as whole, with the chief parks and public gar
dens Of Europe. The buyers Of pictures form but
q small portion Of that large class which repre-
sents the accumulated wealth Of this CENTRE and
which Is rapidly Transforming New York into an
imperial city.