Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-10
Costly Paintings.


The price paid by prominent Phila-
delphian for Munkacsy's two great paint
ings is probably with the exception II
that paid by Judge Hilton for two paint
ings belonging TO the late Mrs. \. /.
Stewart, and presented 10y him 20 the
Academy Of Design-the largest sum
ever given for two pictures. The won
der is that cotempOraneOus art treasures
should be valued at higher price than
the works of the old masters, whose
value has generally been estimated
greater than the product Of modern
painters. When it is considered, now
ever. how lofty figures Individual wealth
has attained, and also that mhlionalres
are multiplying, the outlay should be
considered relatively, and thus, IN It's
proportion 10 present great fortunes 1t
is really no greater than sums previously
expended for meritOrious work.
Other modern artists, however, have
found their work profitable. Roberts
"Interior of the Duome, Milan, sold
in 1860 for Il, 700, and his Interior Of
St. Peters" was purchased by Mr. 7.
Cubitt for 1000 guineas CalcOtt's
southampton Water" at Sir }. Swim
burne's sale, brought in 1861 l,02j
guiueas; Mulready's "ConTalescent
from Waterloo, in 1857, 1,lS0 8uIneas
his First Voyage" in 1863, 40
euineas. Etty's Dame from the Shield
Of Achilles" brought 81, l55 in 1857, and
his Joan Of Arc" 5000 guineas. Ma
clise's Marriage of Strongbow was
sold in 1857 for LILO guineas, and Stan
fields "Port IA Spania produced
81, 700; Feeds "Sundsy in Canadian
Backwoods," el,7l0, and Leslie's "San-
cho and the Duchess, l.l70 guineas
Landseers dead Game IN 1853
brought 1000 guineas; his "IitRnia %
cost Lord Clinton in 1860 $500 guineas,
and Christie tried to get.2, 600 guIneas for
Jack in Office" But the four pictures
exhibited ia the Academy in 1916
"Feace," War" " Reireshment, and
the "Stag at Bay sold Tor
IS. $50, or about S34, 600.
Sir Joshua Reynoldss portraits have
commanded high prices Lord Ward
gave 100 guineas il 1859 for " Miss
Penelope Boothby,' and the Marquis OF
Hartford gave $50 guineas for " Mrs.
Hoare, Of Boreham Park, Essex, and her
Child" The same collector gave ., 100
guineas at Rogers sale in 1896 for the
repiica of The Bowood Strawberry
Girl" The Imperial Gallery OF St.
Petersburg possesses the "lnfant Her
cules Strangling the Serpents.' Rey-
nolds received l,S00 guineas for it, and a
gold snuff-box, with the Empress's por
trait set in large diamonds. The King Of
Bavaria gave 1000 guineas for viii
kie's Reading the Will" The Duke
of Wellington gave him 81, 300 for the
"Chelsea Pensioners Reading the News
Of the Battle OF Waterloo" His Rent
Day" fetched l,0j0 guineas at Mr..
Weiss sale in 1913. Three of Turner's
works, the "Guard-Ship," Cologne -
and " Dieppe," at Mr.. Wadmans sale,
in 1854, brought 1880 guineas, 1000
guineas, and 1850 guineas respectively.
In 1860 his "Grand Canal, Venice, 3"
fetched 2, 400 guineas, and "Dstend "
1850 guineas The largest price ever
given for q Turner was that obtained at
Mr. Monro's sale, when Modern Italy -
brought 3, 300 guineas.
Until of recent years Americans have
not been great patrons OF artistic tfca-
sures, but cultured taste has set in that
direction. and, as in everything else,
their appreciation expressed IN money
now outstrips all rivalry abroad.