St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-02-07
A MiIiionaIre's Pictures.
AN OBSERVING VERMONT wOMAN's
CRITICISM OF THEM.

estate, shed mild tears over our lack
of artistic knowledge, and told us in
the sOftest of tones, that he feared we
could never hope to excel in art, be-
cause we were almost entirely destitute
of copies which were worthy of study
We sat down in the improvised Valley
of Humiliation and eyed the chromos
and Autographs which adorned its
sides with i'll concealed sorrow. There
come a day luminous with sunshine,
lettered in scarlet, when the pOstman
handed down card telling us to come
up higher and look into the picture
galleries of our two hundred million
aire. Never did invitation find more
hasty response. No one began straight
way to make excuse, and to suggest
search through the highways and
hedges.
The anticipated day came and
Forth went the dauntless three
One was of rare and radiant eye, one of
aristOcratic name and bearing, and one
the humble individual whose initials
will follow this article. After an
hours struggle with fierce rain and
fiercer wind, they stood at last, on the
mosaic floor of the vestibule of the
Vanderbilt mansion, waiting for the
massive doors to open, and the still
hA,r nf In,
butler. The galleries were "A reyela-
ton to me. | had known that money
would bny fine clothes, stately-step-
ping horses, pews on the broad aisle OF
fashionable churches and that it was
exchangable in the New York market
for social position, but did not know
that it could accumulate such treasures
of art and make them the property of
one man.
AS even the costliest gem is en-
HANGED in beauty by superb setting,
so the ideal thought of the artist is
shown to best advantage amid elegant
surroundings. The rooms are nagnifi-
cent in construction yet finished in
dainty taste. The walls are hung
with Turkish tapestry, partly hidden
by the wealth of paintings, and above
the line in finely executed frescO work.
The centre of the main room is adorned
with a table, carved in antique designs
and inscribed with the names of the
old masters. Here rare books of en-
cravings lie in tempting confusion.
We could enjoy an afternoon resting
upon the luxurious divans and study
ing these alone. There are balconies
containing choice eXOtics, beauties OF
nature, mingled with works of art, halt
concealed by crimson plush draperies.
Whether Mr.. Vanderbilt does OF
does not encourage American art in
the decoration of other portions of his
dwelling, he gives tie public no hint
of anything but the foreign i'll his
galleries. Six MeissOniers hang on the
walls. A small portrait of Mr.. Van
derbilt by that French artist is valued
at thirty thousand dollars, and is re-
markable in its minuteness of finish
Of MeissOnier's other paintings, Gan
Artist and his Wife" compelled ouI
attention. The intensity of feeling
and companiOnship is well expressed
as the devoted wife leans over hel
husband and they gaze at the finished
picture.
The newspapers are telling how Mr.
Vanderbilt cunningly found from the
artist himself, that he considered the
Information" his masterpiece, anG
that he sent an envoy with bags o.
gold to secure it. However made nj
this story may be, the little painting
would repay years of careful scrutiny
Possibly the artist does not make his
brushes Of the eye-lashes of week ole
babies, but surely no ordinary brusl
can give 80 minute details with sucl
marvellous faithfulness.
! Such names as Ger0me, Alma Tade
ma, Jules Lefehvre, Knaus, Landseer
Fortuny, Munkacsy and Van Marck,
add to the value of the collection. Ros;
BOnheur is represented by two of he
| famous cattle scenes. And the CRANE
''Old Monarch glowers at you from
over the library door. The "Road t.
Ruin" is powerful painting by Knaus
! 1t represents youth who, in the ex
element of the gaming table, is en-
treated by two good angels to leave
I They appear in the form of wife an,
little daughter. The sneers of hi
companions are depicted with mucl
action and good drawing. Another o
Knaus', "a Village Fete," is a ma,
holiday scene. The "Arab Chief" b,
BOnnat, contains vast amount of fin,
cOloring. L0ustaunau's "After Mar
riage" is one of the few paintings in tb'
gallery which represents humorous
thought. 1t is not work to study TO
any ideal beauty which it contains, bu
for certain grotesque indifference oil
the faces of the "happy" couple. Th,
expression of the man is capital. Not
ing an item in the morning pape
J which attracts his attention he holds i
in place with his knife against the de
! canter and is oblivious to all surround