New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-09
THE HUNT SALE OF PICTURES.
THE INTEREST AND RESULTS EXTRAOR-
BINARY


ACrER ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE SOME OF THE
PRICES AT THE SALE.
tFRoh STAFF CORRESPONDENT TRIBUSE.l
BOsTOS, Feb. Sit seems to me noteworthy
circumstance that in the past two DAYS here in BOs-
ton there have been sOld of the works OF artist
whose home and studio were here, and who has
been hardly five months dead. sixty-two finished
paintings and 101 charcoal sketches and studies,
which have brought to his estate over 100000.
while enough were withdrawn and had been pre-
viously retained to bring probably much more at
any public sale. 1t is hardly necessary to say that
tins fact alone sufficient TO establish that artists
fame however critics may differ to his methods and
the character Of his work. For believe am cor
rect IN saying that no posthumOus sale OF an
artists works in this country ever produced any
thing bike such sum. And when it is considered
that large proportion of these were simple
sketches in charcoal, and what might be called I'M
finished. though finished in the sense that the
artist never intended to add to them, it is safe
to say that such sum OF money has ever been
paid under similar circumstances in this country
for work that was performed in so short period of
time do not venture TO say that IL marks an epoch
In the history of art in America, since such an as
sertOn might bring upon me tho sweeping knife OF
the professional critic and, what is much harder to
be borne the sneer of the prevailing connOisseur.
make no pretence of beng either critic con-
nosseur. and it is not from the point of view OF
either that make bold to say d word or two about
this sale of Mr.. Hunts pictures. But purely as
commercial transaction it is great as 1t seems to
me, that even an unprofessiona and unamateur-
if | may use the wOrd-observer will not be reck-
oned audacious in a few fund reflections upon it.
The story of Hunts life, which remains to be writ
ten, was almost as much q romance IA the ending
NJ If woc frappdy Mr. Truman II. Bartlett the
sculptor. one of his most intimate friends and de-
voted admirers has briefly sketched 1t III the pre-
face to the catalogue distributed before the sale;
and il is TO be hoped that to the same diScrimina-
tive and careful hand the task may he Entrusted OF
charging these outlines to the proportions OF full
biography. To my mind Mr. Hunt was very rare
YES much more - an absolutely unique
character. His appearance was picturesque;
meeting him in the street you would turn round
and look after him and ask who he was His man
uer was cordial, hearty and sincere; YOU made
up your mind at once that he meant every word OF
what he said and that whether il was of blame or
praise there was no nonsense it. His converse
ton was scintilant. original, epigrammatic. and
with so little waste of words that his sentences
fairly bristed with points. He swung IN large
spaces with perfect sef-p0se and without shrink
ing his intellect was cleln-cut and its processes
robust and full and his talk. whatever the subject.
was always fresh and crisp and trimming with en-
tertainment and instruction.
1t seems TO me, looking at ms pictures that
mans works so thoroughly illustrated his life
and character There's nothing here that has been
done by manipulation or the turn Of the wrist II
all has the sweep of the arm in it. There isnothlnR
of what he used 10 call "nlggling" here you are
impressed with masses, not Initiated with lines. He
didn't putter with his fingers. but did his work
with an arm that swung free from wrist to
shoulder And he talked that way too; swung out
his convictions upon the broadcast assertion illus
tratcd them in some large and striking fashion, and
left details to take care of themselves HIS Talks
on Art" published four five years ago, was
compilation of epigrams, each ono the text
and suggestion of whole sermon. And he
painted epigrams well. or rather he struck them
off with a stick of charcoal His talk was not more
in tints than his work. but was, like the latter.
thrown off in bold and vigorous Okes that wreaked
his thought upon expression in glowing hgure or start
ling aphorism One does not need to be an artist or
An art student or even an art amateur to read and
appreciate and enjoy these nervous and pithy frag
ments thrown off at random III the studio caught
the wing and compiled by one of his pupils. They
are ierky and spasmodic; sometimes hardly more
than EXPLANATIONS or CALCULATIONS; but they are
none the less full Of the results of wide experience
and large observation in matters that by means
nertain exclusively to art, ana contain rs much OF
philosophy and poetry as of technical IN
styuction In the work Immediately under
consideration. They have the suggestiveness
and meatiness of Emerson III matter
with the downright sledge-hammer manner of Car
lvIe His talk suggested his pictures; his pictures
expressed his talk he was the embodiment OF both
and all that he said and did and was made the round
full and complete character one might expect from
seeing his work. reading his utterances. listening to
his conversation or even looking at the man. He
might surprise but he never disappointed you He
WAS in every respect rugged picturesque. original.
do not think am wrong in calling him absolutely
unique.
Rp1 have been saving much more than intended
about the character of the artist and the Let
| IL he nv apology that few men have ever so i'm
nressed me and am unable to separate the circum-
| stances of this sale from the memory of the man
| who made them possible. The first day Of the sale
| was that of the driving snow-storm
which made the streets almost impass-
able and kept everybody indoors whom
| the most rigorous necessity did not drive out
| Tuesday, the 3D. In such weather did not dream
| that there could be anything but postponement.
But AT half-past IL o'clock horticultural Hall. in
which the sale took place. began to fill with ladies
and gentlemen and at l o'clock, tho hour of open
ing the seats were all full, and many were standing
| AT the rear and sides of the room. 1t was q high
tribute that Bostons best society paid TO the genius
| of the dead artist III thus coming out through the
| deep snow and binding storm TO attend what
might be called his memorial service. Hunt had
never fattered Bostons best society or gone out OF
his way to say pleasant things to or about them.
He had on the contrary said sharp and bitter things
sometimes for he had not seldom been stung by what
he felt to be their lack of appreciation IL not posi-
tive neglect. He used to say of them such things
as this: "But if one of those old painters were
I;ino in Roeton to-day not one of his works would