Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-20
PRINCE DEMIDOH.
rhe Romantic NObleman Who Has
Put Up His Wonderful Art Treas.
llres at Auction.
1.-THE ParisiaI

The Romantic Nobleman Who Has
llres at Auction.
1.-THE Parisian.I
Prince Paul Demjdon often says: "Ah! II
could only find man who would undertake to
change my collections every day." This excla-
nation OF ennui paints the whole nature OF the
man. He wants to enjoy, but no sooner has he
enjoyed than he becomes bored, and desires
some new distraction. The palace and coliec-
tons of San Donate, which are to be sold at
Florence next month, owe their existence, for
the most part, to the grandfather and uncle OF
The present owners the Princes Nicholas and
AnatOle Demidoff. The palace and the begin
ming OF the collection only date from 1923. Ten
years ago first sale OF pictures took place al
Paris the fabulous prices paid are stu fr .es1
OF Munster was sold for OOs francs: Cuyps
''Ayenue de Dordrecht, +" 104, 900 francs; van Us
tade's "Village" 40 900 francs; Ten1ers 10000
francs; a Hobbema, Il 900 francs, etc. The day
after the sale Prince Anatole Demidof dled ana
left the remains of his vast collections 10 Prince
Paul, who has since passed his LIE IN complex
Now. Prince Paul has taken dislike to the
Palace of San Donate and his collections He
wants to bave a palace and collection of
which he shall have himself been the sole crea-
tor. lie has. therefore. determined to install
himself In the Chateau de Pratol1nO, which he is
going to have rebuilt, and in which he will
gather together new collection OF pictures and
objects OF art. AT the sale in March, however
1t will no longer be as In 1870; everything
NoihS VI dit, plCtuIpsS, CARRIAGES, Iufnl-
ture-all will pass under the auctioneer's ham,
mer.
Paul Demidotf is now man OF 80 years Of ace,
He came to Paris in 1853. He had not vet come
tntO possession OF his immense fortune: his
uncle was still living, and his income was mod
EST. Tie was handsome man In the full force
OF tbt term-tall, slender, elegant; pale COM
plehion. somewhat bronzed brown hair and
mousl ache; open and high forehead and pale
blue Slav eyes; soft, languid and yelled by long
lashes Under skin of satin he had muscles
"a W. q hylf1f to- list leo
umph over life. He always used to dress In
short coat, round hat, rather short trousers
and shoes. He never wore wastcoat and
never suffered from cold. He took up his quar-
ters IN a furnished lodging at %, Faubourg St.
Honore, and 1t Was there that began his famous
series OF mems soirees and supperS Soon after
Cercle de la Rue Royale. Paul Demidon, how
ever, was not a regular gambler; he played
only by fits and starts, but when he did play he
played boldly, for he was one of the race of
grand rireurs. From the Faubourg St Honore
he migrated to the Rue du Marche- 'Aguesseau,
taking with him the same joyous band OF friends,
at the head OF whom were Grammont-Cader-
ouse, de Juigne and CASTOR de Saint-Maurice.
For moment he had passion for hunting, and
rented some game preserves near Rambouillet.
Paul Demidoh had all the instincts of the Slav
nature. He was eccentric, sometimes excess
sively so. He would call up his servants, open
all the windows, and take cold bath. He had
constantly at his bedside a decanter OF iced
champagne, Of which he drank all night. Nc
body, however, ever heard of Paul Demidoff
being drunk. In the morning he sometimes had
fancies worthy OF Nero; he would send four or
five servants, and make them fight together
until they had eliminated the VICTOR VINO re-
Ce1yed handsome qualification.
In 1867, Paul Demidon married the Princess
Metchierski, and went to live In the Rue jean
yeriJable museum. When he married he took
his past life like a stick, broke 1t In two and
threw away the pieces. 1t was all over. His
fortunately, died In chfldbed, and Prince Demi-
doff died to the world. But enthusiasm like
his could not be extinguished He threw him.
self with ardor into religion; the hero of the
'.fast" life Of Paris became the hero of the
cloister. He shut himself up with his grief, and
his charity became now as open-handed as his
extravaganza has been. He was mean toward
himself, prodigal toward the poor. He dressed
like Quaker, and had long interviews with
Pere Hyacinthe. He had abandoned his hotel
In the Rue Jean-GouIon. and lived alone in
small apartment in the Rue de Milan, we be-
lteve where he treasured up all the relics and
souvenirs OF his married life. His bedroom was
a reEquary Of his past happy days.
One fine day he left Paris and went to Russia.
He had grown weary Of solitude and tears. He
had been touched by the spur of ambition. He
0leamed OF playing role In politics. and began
by becoming governor Of Kieff, a post which he
held for five years. But the post was too uniHl-
portant for his vaulting ambition. Perhaps he
thought of the embassy at Paris, or perhaps Of
some other equally lofty position of the same
kind; At any rate he grew tired of being mayor
If kfen; he sent In his resignation and settled
al the palace OF San Donate, near Florence where
ne Drought his second wife, the Princess Trou-
DetSkoi, daughter OF the celebrated Princess LiSe
TroubetSkoi, who has so OFTEN occupied the at
tention OF the PariSianS. Since then he has
never left San Donate, where he has accumu-
sold next month.
" ha, is the reason Of this sale? Lassitude
and ennuni. His last passion. as we have already
OF all vestiges oft he is In hurry to satisfy
new passion. The Palace OF San Donate Is to
be abandoned for the Villa de Pratolino, near
FfeSOle. where nothing remains but the ruins OF
the splendid chateau which formerly sheltered
the romantic loves OF the Duke Francis and the
lair Venetian lady, Blanca Capello. Among the
ruins Is the colossal statue OF the Apprentices,
which was sculptured under the direction OF
Jean de Bologna, one OF the finest monuments
Of an immortal epoch. The restoration Of this
Chateau win give Prince Demidof an opportu-
nifty OF becoming M8cenaS in q more active
and extensive manner The whole work will be
under tie direction OF MIR. A. de Baudot, one of
the most accomplished and enthusiastic disci-
pies OF the late Viollet-de-Duc, and for the va.
I1ous details OF decoration, fitting and furnish
Ing competitions will be opened Prince Demi-
Qon Will be patron OF art on scale which has
turieS.
The origin of the fortune OF the Demidoffs is
curious. One day Peter the Great was passing
through the Ural When he reached Mini,
Tagilsk, one of his pistols broke, The Car
asked the governor to send him a workman to
mend 1t, but in that obscure and distant village
Inert WdS HO Que 10 WHOM Lne governor dared
to entrust the Imperial arm. There was no gun
smith. At last they brought to the Car a
modest workman, whose trade was certainly not
that OF gunsmith, but whose skill was highly
spoken OF In the village. He took the pistol,
and half an hour afterward he brought 1t back
as good as new. His name was Demidoff. Il
will remember you!" said Peter the Great as he
rode away.
Months passed Demidon had forgotten the
Cars promise when letter with the Imperial
seal was handed to him. 1t was the grant Of
the freehold OF vast track Of land. Demidoff
set TO work. He discovered mines of tron OF
brass. Of malachite-a fortune in short which
II would take centuries to exhaust. Such is the
history OF the fortune of the Demidoffs.
The EnuliSh ElonAio.a Auo.>a