The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-29
FINE ARTS.

SALES OF PRIVATE CoLLEcTIoNs-ovEn
MILLION DOLLARS SPENT FOR PICTURES IN
SIX MONTHS.
Within tho memory OF tho oldest auctioneer thcro
have been many picture sales as during the
past winter. Scarcely week passed without two and
often three four sales. Wo DO not speak Of the
regular picture auctions held every week by certain
downtown firms but sales OF tho private galleries Of
well known collectors Notwithstanding tho hard
times which in most instances has boon the reason
for collectors song out their galleries. tho prices OBJ
tanned have, as n rulc boon good Thoro has been
falling of tho price Of tho very best pictures, for tho
people who buy such have not been affected by the
strngcrcy in tho money market The artists who
offer their pictures for sale at the National Academy
complain that there has been much money spent
pictures this year that there is eft for Chat
purpose now. There arc individual cascs whore pic
have brought much loss than their value but the
general average has boon excellent. as will be proved
by the following results OF Sales which HERALD rep
rcsentativo has been furnished Ny tie different
tioneers These sums, II must be borne In mind,
result oil auctions and have nothing 10 do with tho
sales oil the regular picture dealers:-
Knoeoer 4 Co., aside from lne,r gallery. have had
charge OF the sale oil numoer Of private galleries. Mr.
somerye acting as auctoneer except OF sne seaoury
took place Mt the kurtz gallery and were as follows
For .he Henry n smith collection, seventy pictures,
$40. 000 the James L. Ciaghorn collection, $50 pic
lures, $75 900; the Charles W. Seabury collection,
sixty pcturcs $50 o0O the Nathan Matthew's coIlec-
tlon seventy pic,ure,, $4,000; number OF the best
Of these were withdrawn for want OF bids anything
lixc their value. Mr. Matthews sold besides tho Sea-
bury Charles /. Frosts collection. 200 pictures,
$4,000, acd l0l American paintings at another nmo,
$4,000
pictures, $40 $685. tho Sndcr Peegrini collection, 26e
pictures, S72oO; executors sale oil the beaumont col
lection, 272 pictures 2i0oO the John Faulkner col
lection, 22 pictures, mostly water colors, $40 500;
regular auction sale IN March OF l59 pclures $500;
another in May OF l7s pictures, $ls, oo0
Robert Somcrvile sold tho John Taylor Johnston
COLLECTION, 800 pictures Tor Mr.. Avery $32S 900; tho
Evans collection, $50 pictures, $s5,oOo; the Ed Moran
Tho Messrs. Lcavitt have sold more pictures In the
last six months than during any previous six months
in their history. They have had twenty-one sples
since last November, averaging ZOO pictures each bud
realizing about $30O,OOO.
or the regular auction shops Edward Schenck
has had twelve sales during the winter, average
OF $4,000 each Bakcr Co. have mad more PFC
lures offered than usual and sold less their largest
salo was OF the Henry Pruse Cooper collection ninety
above amounts that over a million OF dollars have
been spent pictures at auction IN this city during
the past six months In England there have been
quito many sales and an equal proportion Of money
realized The growing taste for pictures both IN Eng
land aud America IS quite remarkable. In this coun-
try 10 has been more rapid, aud was particularly
noticeable during the Centennial Exhibition, whore tue
Art Gallery the most visited building on the
grounds. Tho different loan exhibitions that have
been offered 10 the people nave greatly helped the
growing taste aud IL may be said that pictures have
taken the place OF music q fashionable enjoyment
tins past season. The picture sales, beginning with
that Of the Johnston collection, have been places of
fashionable resort for ladies' as well as gentlemen. In
truth, have become nation oil connoisscurs, and
one hears Gorome Dauoirny, Mile. ana Coros ds.
lace formed tho topic OF conversation The change Ia
for the bottcr, ana VIC will not complain at occasional
suit cultivate and beralize the taste and encour
age art