The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-10
ALBERT .. rLETcHER'S PICTURES.
Why Painting Ordered for the Empress Of
Russia Was Never Delivered.


NAPLES, Italy, Dec &c Some one had sent
me the catalogue of the oil pointings, books,
furniture, etc. that were cold at the residence of
Mr. Albert e. Fletcher, on the 9th of November,
last. refer to this sale, because there were
some exceedingly valuable paintings in the col
lection, three of which were painted land well
painted, too.l before the pilgrims landed at
Plymouth, and two of the collection, though
more modern, are of historic interest, while sew
know one of the purchasers of any of these
paintings, and that is Mr.. Ayers, of your city,
who bought the magnificent painting Of the
Bay of Naples by the late Signor Smargiassi.
Smargassi was the first landscape painter Of
southern Italy, and this picture after his death,
in 1882, went up to a very large price. The
painting in question 1 had the pleasure of
first seeing when half finished, and then
learned its history. In 1873 the late Empress of
Russia-the invalid wife of the late Alexander
IL, and, of course, the mother of the present
Emperor of Russia-came to spend the winter
in some sunny spot on the Bay Of Naples. She
settled upon the town of Sorrento, two hours
from this city, but often passed to and from
Naples. 1t was during this sojourn that the
Duke of Edinburg, the naval son of Queen Vic
toria was in our beautiful harbor in command Of
the British feet of the Mediterranean. He
often found mis- way over to the "Hotel
Tramontano," where the Empress was
staying with her young ir-haired
daughter, the Grand Duchess Maria Alexan-
drowns. 1t was then and there that the young
Rrifi ch MIN md fho Rz1cc
cess, who is now the Duchess of Edinburg. The
Empress of Russia was very much benefited by
her stay on the border of the picturesque Nea-
politan bay, and wishing to have a souvenir of
the charming and world-renowned scenery Of
this region, commissioned one of the noblemen
in her suit to see if any artist in Naples had
or more paintings which gave view of Naples,
or of the view of the bay and of the Vesuvian
shores from Sorrento. It was not long before
the report was brought back to her Imperial
Majesty that Smargiassi, who thirty years be-
fore had painted two of the most beautiful
Italian landscapes for the Emperor Nicholas of
Russia was engaged on a magnificent picture of
the view from the birthplace of the poet Tasso.
in Sorrento, embracing the headlands between
Sorrento and Castellamucare (the ancient TIA
bine), and in the distance Vesuvius lifting mis-
graceful column of smoke, which just shows
against the sunny sky of Italy. while still
further beyond rose the dim outlines of the
Apennines "For whom are you painting thisW
said the Russian nobleman to the artist For
myself was the reply, las feel in my advanc-
ing years as if wished to give on canvas an ex-
preston to my ideas of the beauty of the bay of
my native land" The Russian then told him
that his errand was from the Empress, and he
desired to know if Smargiassi would not let her
Majesty become the owner, and if he would also
paint pendant companion piece-to this,
with a view of Naples, the bay and Vesuvius
from the heights of Posilipo, not far from the
tomb of Virgil. After considerable converse
ton. Smargassi consented, the arrangements
were made, and later 1t was ascertained that
his own price Of $4,000 for each picture
was entirely acceptable to the Empress,
or rather to the nobleman who had full power to
act for the Empress. Smargiassi was desired
to set about the new picture Immediately, in
order that the Empress might see 1t we'll under
way before she left when the warm weather
should come again to the banks Of the Neva. No
contract could be clearer When some FIVE
months had passed by, the picture 1.-THE identical
one now owned by Mr.. Ayers) was in such
state of advancement that true idea could be
obtained of it. Before this the nobleman had
seen it several times and had pronounced it very
satisfactory. But when the artist had written
that the painting was now ready for her Males
tvs inspection the nobeman did not seem in a
hurry to inform the Empress Smargiassi did
not comprehend the matter, and supposed that
the nobleman did not like it that an ordinary
messenger, though respectable man, should be
sent with letter to his Mightiness, for some of
these personal attaches Of royalty and imperial
ality are greater sticklers for etiquette than
majesty itself. To remedy the supposed want
of etiquette, this time an italian nobleman,
equal in rank to the Empresss chamberlain,
and his superior in every other respect was sent
by the venerable artist to Sorrento to know
when her Majesty would see the painting which
she had ordered. And now comes in something
which proved exactly what I had ''read of in
books" viz, an exempliicatiOn of the corrup-
ton of those who surround the Russian court
When the Italian nobleman reached Sorrento
the Russian nobleman, one of the constant at
tendants of the Empress, in no unmeanng
terms. wished to know how much the artist
would allow him 1.-THE Russian) as commission!
Unless tndJ was uone, ne was In a position to
prevent the contract form being carried out and
nothing that Smargiassi could write to the
Empress would help the matter, for all letters
to her Majesty passed through his 1.-THE Russian
nobleman's) hands. Old Smargiassi was indig-
nant He whose pictures adorned the
palaces of Versailles ST. Petersburg,
Turin, Naples and Rome was not to
be treated in that way; and then
to have fingers snapped in his face
with a what are you going to do about it any
wayF' He would not and could not stand it, He
sent back word to the Russian nobleman that he
had supposed him to be gentleman; that he
had treated him as gentleman and not as a
courier" who took his 10 per cent commission
out of every person who sold anything to his
1.-THE couriers) patron. He wound up by letting
him know that he did not do business in that
way-aoove ALL artistic business where he had
put brains--and no painting of his could be had
on any such terms. Her Majesty might go for
ever without the picture before he would
humiliate himself to such patent scoundrel as
hnNf al otA ka1t "a n.