New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-12
TIE Tariff ON WORKS or Art

To the EdttOr OF The Trtoune.
SIR: If we were 10 accept recent kilograms
from Paris ia TO the Increased duty on foreign
pictures without making the proper discount, We would
think that the excitement on the subject amounted
almost 10 declaration Of against this country But
as mater OF fact the best foreign artists have no In
tsrest in the matter foreign picture dealers have been
asserting for yesrs the demand In Europe FOR the
best pictures grea; that 1t was extremely dhci
TO obtain them then only at such high prices that
there was little profit TO BE- male on them. Aud
they have also habuay asserted that the prices for the
samc class OF pictures ruled much higher ia Paris than
in this country The dealers say that this 80 per cent
duty will ruin them. But by some queer rule OF IN
verse proportion which ID not TO understand they
have grown rich by doing business under such seem
ipgIy adverse conditions so perhaps they will become
regular ROth.childs by being completely ruined
Circulating among the studios is tho following solution
OF the pnzzlng problem to what caused Congress TO
make the change in the art duty. IL ia, that II the at
teDton OF the Tariff Committee had not been called 10
the art item by the petitions calling for the abolition OF
the duty IL would not have been changed but when
the committee read the petitions they looked almost IN
vain for the names OF the artists whom they had be-
come accustomed 20 regard the opponents OF Amer
can ant and concluded that the petitioners did not
really represent the Of the body OF American
srsts also that the other sgners Of the petition were
mostly gentlemen who affect foreign art. and who
can afford TO pay much duty Oh the for
elgn pictures they buy and Keep Tor their
own qualification profit they DO on their
other imported luxurles The petition 10 remove the
duty wa, signed mainly by our younger artists. who
iumped like flock OF sheep after its leader and with
little or no reflection. The idea OF free art" was
taxing one Most OF older and better known artists
refused 10 sign the petition. many OF them believing
that the duty should be increased the poorest ind
lowered on the classes Of imported pictures by means
Of change the ad yalOrem 10 q specific duty. This
change would to great extent prevent the constant
frauds IN differentiation. II would exclude much OF
the ira sh manufactured in Europe for the American
lures held by most prominent dealers
will see that duty Of this kind would benefit them, that
IL n thew have been paying duties valuations within
three or four hundred cent OF their selling hgurcs
Even this OF thirty cent VIII not cause any or
them TO retire They do not do business on any margin
profits some what OF course 1t will never occur 10 them
10 their prices in consequence OF these new con-
II any Of the foreign dealers not disposed TO submit
10 essenIug OF their profits they VIII only have To mark
down it the figures OF the Invoices they sub
The American students Ia Europe and tns best foreign
artists viii think about the matter, ana the
world will wag on ~ o. yOre
Perhaps should add tnat the dealers alude TO are
only those who when asked why they do not keep
American pictures for sale, reply "Of course would
The fact ia that the American artists cannot paint well
enough 10 satisfy class OF customers who buy only
the best works." etc. etc, TO the same crect.
II n were possible for one would Ike TO nave all
really good works Of art imported free OF any duty and
have nigh duty only the inferior work that IL made
by workiaen who have claim TO be considered artists,
- AMERICAN ARTIST
Aurtl o