New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-09
2 MR.. VANDERBILT AS A PATRON OF ART. :
SELECTING PAINTINGS BECAUSE HE LIKED THEM
VISIT 10 ROSA RONHEUR.

SELECTING PAINTINGS BECAUSE He LINED
VISIT TO ROSA BONHEUR
Samuel p Avery the well-kBOwn pcturedeaer,
is credited vith having assisted Mr.. Vanderbilt in
the purchase OF the greater part OF his gallery ol
paintings. lie said last night:
81 can say little in detail of Mr.. VanderbilTs
pictures further than can be found in my catalogue
compiled some two years ago. Since then he Eas
only bought two pictures both of which he chose
himself. one large Detaille, he bought at the
Salon year aga during hasty visit to Parls ana
80 deceived was he as to its size that when it ar
rived home a place was with difficulty found for it
in the gallery. An IMPRESSION am afraid. pre-
walls that Mr.. Vanderbilt himself had little to do
with the choice of his pictures. This is far from
being the case. He bought nearly every picture,
because he himself liked it, and not because of the
name. For instance, Tor years he would not buy
Corot and only bought the two small examples that
he has because he SAID be was tired of being told he
must have Corot He liked strong. or cheerful
subjects or those which told story. it were, and
of these the bulk of his gallery composed. took
many trips with him to Europe and was always
struck with the frank simplicity of his ways and
conversation. He referred often to his life as a
simple farmer on Staten Island but never with
an Alteration or forced humility
shall always look back with pleasure TO little
trip we took to see Rosa Bonheur at Fontainebeau.
little party Oi Ne or SIX. we arrived lutIe carly III
tine morning and had breakfast with hel MI
Vanderbilt and she seemed at once TO feel them
se.vcs IN sympathy ana though he could speak no
French and size no English they chatted away
through "a friendly Interpreter with freedom ana
good nature. lie gave her commission for two
pictures but when size said he could only have one
/ in year and the other in two or three years he
/ broke IA with Tell her | must have them. ! III
getting an old man and want 10 enjoy them. She
laughed at him for calling himself old. for she DIS
/ covered that she was exactly his age herself. The
/ uIshoI of il that though lac did not offer "A
dollar more than tue price originally agreed upon,
h., obtained both pictures within The year. don I
think MIR. Vanderbilt ever bought As commercial
sueculatioh lie would not care after he had
/ bought picture whether the artists work gained
or lost IN public estimation. At the same time |!
am inclined 10 think that his collection would sell
to-day for a great deal more than he gave Tor IT,.
lie himself used pride himself manly on the fact
that IL such perfect collection OF me eN-
aInples II | wcro 10 begin to buy to-day, lie has
often said = / could not within few years gather
such collection If were to spend all my fortune.
10 should not Ice forgotten either that lie was not
selfish in keeping all the pleasure of his gallery.
to himself. lie threw il open to the public until
! il became serious annoyance to himself and his
! family and any student Ui art was at all times
! welcome TO visit tie gallery