The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-24
A GREAT ART Event.
Opening Day Of The Sale Of The Celebrated
Laurent Richard Collection in Paris
THE PRICES AID.
Description Of the Principal American
Paintings Sold Yesterday.
rsY CABLE TO THE HxnALp.l

PARIS, May 90, 1878.
The sale of the celebrated collection of
paintings belonging to NJ. Laurent-Richard,
the well known and very wealthy tailor,
was commenced to-day before large au-
dience at the Hotel Drouot. M. Charles
Pillet was the auctioneer, and NM. Durand
painter, the experts. The approaching sale
of this collection, one of the most impor-
tant which has been offered during num-
Der Of years, has been for weeks the talk of
the Partisan art world.
NJ RICHARDS FIRST COLLECTION.
The bringing under the hammer of NJ
Richards first collection some five years
ngo was an enormous success He had COL
lected the pictures for number Of years
under the advice Of connoisseur friend,
and received many times more than he paid
for the majority Of the examples and splen-
did prices for all Out of this sale he
bought in several of the most i'm
portant works which figure in the
collection now being sold, and which
he used as nucleus in bringing together
the present pictures, which he commenced
10 collect Immediately after the first sale.
He bought about the same names as he had
before possessed. and being more sure in
his art knowledge did so chiefly on his
own judgment.
THE PAINTINGS SOLD TO-DAY.
The following is description of the prin-
cipal pictures sold to-day, with the prices
they reached. In each case the first of the
fguresHiven after the title indicates the
height and the second the width in inches
Of the paintings:-
MHIssoNIER's Gle DEux VAN DE vELDE."
Meissonier's "The Two Van de velde,"
10 IL by IL, brought tine highest price,
81, APO. The painting, really fine exam
pie Of this famous master, represents a
scene in the studio of Adrien Van de vclde.
William, his brother, dressed in his street
costume Of gray, with red cloak thrown
back over his shoulders, with his hat in his
hand, sits in front of an easel with one foot
on II. He is examining carefully and app
provingly panel painting which his
- - Dnh 49, T..
stands Adrien, leaning against carved
cabinet, on which are some glasses and a
small wine pitcher. He has just risen to
give way to his brother and has his palette
and brushes in his hand. By the easel on
the floor and up against the cabinet lies q
portfolio Of drawings and to the right is o
chair. The light falling through the win
dow is admirably distributed over the two
figures, which are finely posed and in the
artists best style. The expression of the
laces is excellent, aud, like the gestures,
full of suggestion of the brotherly love of
the two painters, and Of the interest Will
lam has in the progress of his young
brother.
ZINE rRoYoN.
One Of Troyons most famous master
pieces, animals at Pasture, Plains of Ia
Tongue, Normandy" 38 by 81, which,
when exhibited at the Universal Exhibition
Of 1856, created great sensation, brought
$4,000.
In the foreground of the meadow mag
believing. with one large calf by her and
second lying near some dock leaves to the
right. BY this group are some sheep and
shepherd, who is seated on tree trunk.
Further on in shadow are other cattle. In
the middle distance are couple of tall
trees, and past q small wooded space to the
right are seen sheep gambolling over the
slightly rolling meadow, beyond which is
seen the ribbon of the river The finely
painted, clear sky is full Of rolling masses
Of cloud form.
Another Troyon, "a Shepherd Guarding
His Sheep" IA Ia by 16 IL, sold for SC, 900.
The shepherd stands leaning on his staff in
the midst Of his flock, who are grazing or
lying about him on tho field. The air is
cool, for he stands dark up against the
mastery and luminous sky wrapped in his
cloak. The picture is simple in motive, but
exceedingly effective. 1t represents admir-
ably the different positions taken by sheep
on the pasture.
''MoRNIxo," DY ROUSSEAU.
For Theodore Rousseau's delicious sMorn