St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-01
THE BLENuETM ART SALE.

Inc American pubic talked a good deal
about the MORGAN art sale, and properly
manifested great deal of pride in it. But
during the past week there has been a
picture sale in England to which the NOR
GAN sale could not hold a candle. 1t was
the sale Of the famous Blenheim collec-
ton, which was perhaps the most valuable
collection of pictures in the world. Blen-
helm house, which gives the name to the
collection, is castle at Woodstock, near
Oxford, which was given to the first duke,
JOHN CHURCHILL, by parliament. in re-
turn for his services in the BaYarian cam
paign. In distinction of his great victory,
the castle was named Blenheim house.
and was erected at a cost of So, 800, 900, ap-
propriated by the English government, and
Woodstock manor, a vast landed estate, was
added to it, The castle is most exquisitely
furn ished, containing magnificent galleries
of sculpture, as well as paintings and re-
mafkabie collection of bfiea-brac and
curios of ali nations. The library, con-
tanning 49, 600 volumes, was sold in 1882 at
a series of sales extending over several
months. That sale, as we'll as the one had
NuiAiS piiO Paoo NOSh, 0uo 1olCCu NY tllC
extravaganza of the present Duke of
Marlborough. who seems to inherit all
the vices and none of the virtues of his H.
lustrious ancestor. His dissipation and
gambling propensities have reduced him to
the humiliating necessity of selling off the
valuable collection of books and pictures
to meet the demands of his creditors.
Some of the most famous paintings were
purchased by the British government two
years ago, including the famous RAPHAEL
and VAN DYKE. Two paintings by RU-
BENs, one portrait of his wife, and one
of his wife and child, were purchased for
25. 900 guineas each, and his Hesperides
for $3.50, 600. At the sale made last week
by direction of the court of chancery under
special act of parliament, included many
famous pictures in the collection
painted by CUYP, VAN DYoK. REM
RBANDT, VAN DER NEER, and RUBENs.
The latter's picture of "Venus and
Cupid Endeavoung to Restrain Adonis
from the Chase" which is regarded by con-
noisseurs as RUBEAs' chief work of art.
was sold for 81, 200. 1t was present to
the first Duke of Marlborough by the EN-
peror of Germany. RUBENs' portrait of him
self, painted OH canvass 30x24 inches, only
brought clio, while THE Holy Family
brought $4,000. Another biblical picture,
Suffer Little Children to Come" was sold
for 81, 600. HIS Madonna and Child. %
which was in the DUssELDoRF collection
in re, brought Sc. 800. One of VAN DER
NEERs most exauisitely finished landscape
pictures only brought So, 500 while the
Death of Adonis," by JeRDAEUs sold as
low as 500 1.-The Travellers Halt" by
CUYP, sold for so, 900.
1t is misfortune that we have not a
national museum of art with fund in
band upon which some discreet person with
genuine artistic taste and education could
draw when such an opportunity is offered
as the Blenheim sale furnishes to pur-
chase these valuable works of art. If
some of our millionaire philanthropists
want to do something 10 endear their mem
cries to the American people they Will es-
tabliSh such a museum