Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-03-19
How Art CORnOisseurs Sometimes
"DiscriminaIe."

STORY OF THE wM. NJ HUNT SALE, AS TOLD
IN THE BOSTON JOURNAL.
The re cent sale of the Hunt collection is
kept fresh in the minds Of the artists and
part, at least, of the public, by number of
interesting facts which have come to light
since the paintings and drawings were dis
posed Of. 1t was astonishing to person ac-
quainted with the actual value of pictures to
see what large sums these works brought but
We have since heard of one or two private
sales which quite throw these prices into the
shade. For example, one picture, which was
considered dear when it was knocked down
in Horticultural Hall for $3.50, has since been
disposed of by the lucky purchaser for $4,000.
1t is also known that one of the finest pic
lures in the sale, which brought $4,000, was
offered by Mr.. Hunt to a well known collec-
tor in this city six months ago for 5000
which shows that painting is a much better
thing than any scheme of life insurance, and
that to die is sometimes money in mans
pocket. The best story regarding the sale is
related with such circumstantiality that it is
impossible to doubt it, and it is too good to
keep, although it affords q rather cruel COM
mentary upon the intelligence of those who
commend Hunts distinctive" style, and
pride themselves upon their ability to detect
traces of his hand. Some twenty years ago,
an artist who is now famous as one of the
most versatile and skilful of our landscapists,
returned from study abroad with a number
of paintings, which were finished in that care
full, timid style generally characterizing the
work of beginners, There were in them,
however, qualities which attracted Mr.. Hunts
attention, and he purchased one of the pic
lures for fifty dollars. After his death, and
when his pictures were being prepared for
sale by some unexplained chance this paint
;,, hal
lenged the inspection of the public for sever
al weeks, and at last reached its turn for pur-
chase in the Horticultural Hall The real
painter of the picture had not failed to per-
ceive his work among the productions of
Hunt, but, having desire to test the condi-
tion of popular intelligence, he held his peace
and was gratified to see the modest effort of
his earlier years knocked down, after spirited
bidding, for over Si00. The best part of the
joke however, remains. Inquiry for the
name of the purchaser revealed the fact that
the picture had been bought by a man who
was a great admirer of the actual artist, and
had in his house a number of his works.
while he had always reprobated the methods
Hunt employed and had many times refused
to buy his pictures. Falling into the fashion
which the admirers of the latter had set
however, he had at last come to the conclu-
sion that his reputation for artistic appreca-
tion would be impaired unless he attended
the SALE doing which he purchased the only
picture in the lot to which Hunt had never
put his hand. OF course, the real painter of
the picture soon acquainted the managers of
the sale with the facts in the case, and the
work was taken back and the money refund
ed. The purchaser is now more prejudiced
than ever against Hunt and those who prof
fered bids against him in a desire to obtain
the work are not presenting themselves for
Identification.