The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-01-13

LIE TIREUR D'EPINE.
4 REMARKABLE ANTIQUE sTATUErTE-TrS
EXHIBITION AND SALE IN PARIs-A
RoTHsCHIL.D AGAINST THE
LOUVRE.

LOUVRE.
There has just been exhibited and sold
in Paris one of the rarest and most beau
tiful Of the smaller art treasures of the
world, delicately painted, bronze re-
duetion Of the Greek prototye of the Ro-
man 'sSpinario," known also as the lie
rireer d'Epine, > FROM which it differs in
detail considerably. This statuette is
PROBABLY specimen of Greek art of the
fourth century, and the figure as seated
is nine aud seven-eighth inches in height
1t was lately bought by the firm of Ro2-
lin & Feuardent, of Paris, where its ex-
hibition created much sensation in the art
world, and has been sold for 70.000f.
(Sl4, ,000) to the Baron Edmond de Roth
schlid, who carried it off, while the au-
thorities of the Louvre were debating
about buying it, and those of the Berlin
museum were anxious to secure it. In
an article in La Chronique des Arts of
the 18th nit. III. Adrien de Longperier.
distinguished archaeologist and ex-
conservateur of the antiquities at the
Louvre, pitches into the present authori-
ties for their hesitating policy in regard
70 the purchase of the work, of which he
gives highly appreciative account. We
are able, however, to supplement his ar
t;cle by some facts as to original discov-
cry aud owners of the statuette. Some
fifteen years ago it was found at the Ac.
ropolis, on the site of Sparta, Laconia,
and sold for small sum to Mr.. Merlin,
English Consul at Athens. While on a
continental voyage, which included
Greece, the present Duke of st. Albans
saw the work and bought it of Mr.. Mer-
lin, paying e200. One day, some years
after, in London, the Duke brought it TO
Mr.. CASTOR L. Feuardent, now of this
city, and then head Of the London house
of Rollin & Feuardent, ana asked him
what he would offer for il If he (ba
Duke } were willing to sell. Mr. Feuar
dent, recognizing its value, promptly
answered, Zone thousand pounds" This
offer was much higher than a previous
one which had been made to the dnke
who promised that when he did sell his
statuetto he would give the first choice
to the house of RolHn & Feuardent
which we infer be has now done. Mr.
teuardent, who spent day with Prof.
Comyns Carr in admiration and examina-
non OF the statuette, says that it is truly
ca art work OF the highest merit. 1t
shows, be says the art Of Greece prop9r,
which is different from that of Magma
draecia. The latter in general is pleas
ing, graceful, but slightly effaminate if
compared with pure Greek work.
The legendary story of the ''Spinario''
is as follows: 4 young shepherd, seeing
the Latins enter in the night time the
Roman territory, ran to the capital to tell
the Senate. On the way he got thorn
in bis foot, but did not stop. He endnr.
ed the pain on his continued course. and !
after having delivered his message. sat
down to extract the thorn. The Senate.
IN admiration of, and to perpetuats his
tame and patriotism, decreed the statues.
representing him taking out the thorn.
should he erected IN his memory. The
seated figure is tha5 of young man. the
(Hscular indications on whose BODY
show that he will become an athlete. As
he bends forward to extract the thorn
from his left foot, which rest or the
right by the knee, the expression of his
face, aud the whole anticipatory shiver
seen throughout his body, show that be
knows that it will be painful operation,
but that he is bent on going through with
it. This particular statuett differs from
the usual Roman type in that the right
leg is extended and rests on the heel. the
ground and the rock are longer, the
youths hair is short and the whites Of
the eyes are Of silver.
The story of the Louvre's loss of the
work is stated as follows: NJ. Alexandra
Dumas, who was one of the first to see it
on its arrival in Paris, spoke of it to NJ.
Iurquet, the Under Secretary. of State
for Fine Arts, who, after he had seen the
statuette, was in favor OF its going to the
Louvre. The firm who owned it, who
had to pay well for their purchase, nat
urally wanted to make any terms which
were agreeable as to payment. The
Louvre authorities hesitated; for part of
the sum would have to come out of the
budget for this year. They asked for
reduction Of price and decided when this
was refused to buy, bat finally, in the
midst Of all these pourgarler8, let the
chance slip. II. Turquet even thought
that some Of the money should be dis
counted, which is to come TO the museum
fund from the sale Of the crown Jewels.
Only the other day the Frankfort Roth
schiId carried of for 800. 000f. (316O, 000)
the celebrated Jamnitzar silver gilt cup.
which was in the Germaaic Museum at
Nuremberg, and now one of the Paris
members Of the family gets the best f
the Louvre and the Berlin and British
museums.
OVER THE HILLS TO THE
BONEYARD,
SEraioht TO the RoDeva,d ,,oo,Io -