New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-25
LESSONS FROM ART SALES.

The comment which we made upon the sale
of Mr.. Johnston's pictures, in The TRIBUNE
of Saturday, seems to us deserving of an en-
phatic repetition. Not only this sale, but also
those of the Blodgett SniderPellegrini, and
MANY other collections which have been scat
tered during the present year. should satisfy
the business community that aesthetic invest
ments are among the very best. Considered
merely as luxuries, they are far safer than
furniture, fast horses, or yachts; while they
have the advantage over jewelry and other
articles of stationary value, in positive GER
tainty of gain, provided the works of art are
intellgently selected. Many an old patrician
family in Europe, at this day, is saved from
abject poverty by the possession of few in
herited pictures the sale of single one, now
and then, suificing for the subsistence of many
years
Among the buyers at these sales there is
always a considerable number who desire pic
lures, partly because they are the best decora-
ton of house, partly because some wealthy
neighbOr has them, and partly also because they
really like them. These men illustrate their ig
norance of art and their lack of business acute
ness in the same act. They yield to defer
representations, what they refuse to the artists.
They pay, in many instances, twice or thrice
the sum which the picture originally cost, sim
ply because it was first bought by another.
Two or three OF our artists, it is true, seem to
have attained a standard market value for
their works but it is not through these that
the owner derives his profit: he must give
about the same as he will get. But take our
landscape art as an illustration. Clifford,
McEntee, aud Whittredge are painting better
pictures with every year; yet they rarely re-
ceive from the private purchaser the price
which their works bring at auction. They see
eager competition for pictures inferior to those
which wait in their studiOs. The same pur-
chaser who increases his bid at the sale at
tempts to beat down their demand in private:
the same agent, agow with enthusiasm in the
one case, is chill and suspicious in the other.
Until recently, that charming artist, Samuel
Colman, has been almost wholly neglected, be-
cause some Of the collectors had overlooked
him. WANT and Miller give evidence OF rare
and delightful talent; but they are still paint
ing for the profit of those who shall buy their
pictures now.
Thus, successful sale, like Mr.. Johnston's
WHICH, IOI HiS Sdht, O''IJ wv 'h' "N'''''
rejoice in-is less an encouragement To native
art than il should be. 1t attests the value of
a picture but does not send new buyers to the
artists studio. On the contrary. IN such de-
pressed times rs these it probably dlminishes
the sums rescrvcd by tho wealthy for pictures
directly from the easel. A collector OF taste
and intelligence deserves the authority attached
To his name; bnt much harm is done by the
agent to whom art is Only his stock in trade.
We do not refer to those dealers through
whom we have received the best specimens OF
almost every noted living artist of Europe, but
to such MS thrust themselves between our own
artists and possible purchasers imposing upon
the latter by an assumption OF great knowl-
cdge,-middlemcn who buy cheNply and sell
dearly, aud fost n great deal OF third or fourth
rate foreign art upon persons ignorant of the
far better native work, produced almost under
their eyes. II every gentleman who wishes to
buy "A picture, and mOdestly distrusts his own
Judgment will ask a competent friend to ac-
company him TO the studios OF some OF our
artists, he cannot fail 10 make successful
investment. Moreover, he will have the salts
faction of knowing that the artist is paid
without deducted commission, and he has
himself saved the advance in price which the
middcman would have received. The true
way To encourage American Art is to purchase
directly from the artists.
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HISTORIC CHRISTMAS.