Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1888-08-14

Them with the Names of Famous
Artists-An Art in Itself. How u 10
Done.
"Did you know that picture forging on a
grand scale was being done right here IN New
York; asked well known connoiseur OF
reporter recently.
The reporter did not know it and askcl for
the particulars concerning such an en- erplise
at is a shameful TRUTH" continued the
writer's informant, "that there are at least
half dozen artists in this city unknown 70
the public as such, who are constantly en-.
gagged in making spurious paintings and sign.
ing such work with the names Of famous Grt-
lists The men who make these bogus pict-
ures are all young-as artists go-talented,
and without an exception have received tho
best training afforded by the foreign schools.
1t is within their means to make for them
selves enviable regulations, but their love for
ready money is greater than their ambition.
They have long and carefully studied the
works of those noted painters whose pictures
they initiate, and for which there is q con-
stand and ever-hcreasing demand. They
produce finished painting on an average Il
one month. They initiate the work Of such
painters as Rousseau, Dupre, Daubigny,
Millet, and Corot putting on their canvsses
every idiosyncrasy Of these masters ham
ding, copying the mannerisms and using the
same combination of colors, all of which
they have reduced to fine state Of perfec-
ton. They know the favorite subjects Of
the great painters, and make only such pict-
ures as are popular and get big prices.
AN ART IN ITSELF.
"The forging of an artists signature is an
art in itself. The American picture market
is flooded with these spurious paintings by
artistic counterfeiters. The latter often re-
| ceive large sums for their most clever imita-
tions, which are sold to INSCRIPTIONS dealers,
who in turn sell them to wealthy but inex-
perienced amateurs, who believe they are
purchasing the original work Of the master
whose name occupies a conspicuous corner Of
the canvas II by any chance, however, the
amateur finds that he has been swindled he
will tell no one. as such revelation would
reflect discreditably upon his knowledge and
good judgment as collector.
Picture forging is rampant in Europe, and
tons OF bogus old masters-and not few
forgeries Of modern ones-are annually
turned out and quickly bought up by par
venu collectors. Such despicable business il
comparatively new in this country. know
Of one picture forger who devotes himself ex-
clusively to painting landscapes in the man.
ner Of Corot. He has q stereotyped subject q
river shore view, with single tree, a white
cottage clearly reflected in the water, and
sky Of scurrying clouds This man is con.
tinually grinding out such picture, seldom
varying the subject, and 20 dexterously irpi.
tating the unique brush work of the great
Frenchman that none but an expert or special
student Of Corots work can detect the differ.
ence between genuine painting by the
latter, of similar subject, and a fraudulent
picture by this clever counterfeiter. 'sThe
latter lives in the greatest style, surrounded
by every luxury that money can procure
He has host Of friends who suppose him to
be Q retired broker, and entertains them right
royalty. He has his studio on the TOP floor
Of his palatial residence, and there surrepti.
tioualy paints his bogus Corot landscapes
He receives enormous sums for his work. but
is an extremely unhappy man, living a. he
docs in constant fear Of exposure and arrest
He Is, however, moro fortunate than his
brother counterfeiters, who are for the most
part under the thumb Of dealer, and being
! degree less clever and audacious, are barely
! shie to exc out comfortable living by the
means of their pictorial frauds Its highly
unsatisfactory occupation, to say nothing Of
its baseness and consequent dangers. New
York Evening Sun.