New-York tribune., 1889-12-22
ART NEWS AND COMMENTS
THE WEEK IN ART CIRCLES.
IMPORTATION IN BOND AeAIv-vEw p.,xr,x

The revival of the discussion regarding the ,r,
ton Of pictures in bond brought special sgeu. - 49,
Treasury to this city last week, and IL may be ins
that his report will have considerable influence :.
the agent In question has any sense Of humor so,.
his experiences must have compensated him 10, 49,
trouble. Others, at least, who have made nau,r.
have been fairly deafened with the protestations 4.
superior virtue from every concerned. The "A
dress to the Secretary Of the Treasury which is nd
by six prominent picture dealers Of this city r,,,
no new point and states nothing which will sunni.
those who acquainted with the picture busin...
In this city. The Tribune discussed the questio, !.
length when the objections 10 the impOrtaons q, "a
" American Art Association were first made. Al tina,
time II declared repeatedly that none Of the vi,
lures imported In bond would be sold or Offered q,
sale. Nevertheless ii is understood by persons usual.
well informed that certain Of these pictures were son
Lerolles The Choir" The Organ Loft which ",
purchased by private collector and is now in IA.
Metropolitan Museum, in the first collection in.
ported in bond. 1t has been generally understood
that OF the pictures by the impressionists wer
sold on account of this exhibition. The exhibition
French art at the Academy In 1887 included IA,
Duncan pictures, which were soon aftervard soN
at auction abroad. The duties have been paid upoa
the Vercstchagin pictures, and they are understood
to be for sale at present. notwithstanding the ogaa
claim that they would not be sold under crcun,
expected complications made this step necessary T
exhibitions held at the American Art Galleries have
been usually interesting and instructive, and thes
are amateurs who would choose to have many
exhibitions possible without regard to other
sideratons. Yet the fact remains that these ex
hibitons are upon different basis from the ex
hibitons of art museums. 1t would be absurd to
claim that the sole purpose is disinterested desire
benefit the public. If this true, there wOuh Be
Too cha, at tba
pictures imported in bond have finally found pur
chasers in this country, and ii would be bold ma1
who would predict absolutely that no sales connected
with importatlons in bond would occur again.
The other associations" mentioned in the petition
Of the dealers are the Eden Musee, and Boussod,
yaladon d Co. 1t is stated that in the original char
ter Of the Eden Musee Company, which Is we'll known
commercial company, one Of its objects is set forth
the sale OF paintings. The BOusOd Valadon Company
is correctly described the branch house of hrn
of foreign pcture-deaers The representative Of this
house states that only picture, Constants Dead
Shek" has been imported in bond. 1t Is also stated
that admission fee is required, and that any eI
hibition in the gallery is free. 1t IS true that cart
of invitation issued, and that the gallery Is nt
thrown open to all cOmers but it is explained that this
limitation is necessary and that artists or amateurs
of art may readily obtain invitations. Madeleine Le-
mare's watercolors may be imported in bond and ex
hibed in this way II is stated that all these water
colors have been sold in Paris The right OF exh-
btion reserved presumably in order 10 call atten'
ton to the publication of the firm wherein these pct-
ures are reproduced. The exhibition would undoubt-
edIy be Of benefit to the firm, but at the same tme
like exhibitions which the American Art Association
has held it would be of much interest to amateurs,
This however, does not bear upon the main point.
Some amateurs and others especially interested In art
have been disposed 10 ask for many exhibitions
possible without much regard to the exact construc
ton Oh the law The evidence collected at various
times indicates that the majority of artists and
amateurs favor change in the law regarding the i'm.
pOrtation Of works Of art But, the law stands. Ii
seems reasonable to believe that II not INTENDED
to permit picture dealers to place samples Of their
wares before the public without paying duty. or 70
help them to make profit out Of fees for the d-
mission of the public TO exhibitions of works i'm
ported In bond assist in directing attention
other objects which they may have for sale This. at
least is the commonsense view of many dsinerested
persons, who have supposed that the proviso in the
law referred to art and art schOOs-n other
words, to associations which not primarily CON-
mercial in character.
No wellnformed person now doubts that the thres
firms companies referred 10 are in business to
make money for themselves and not TO promote art'
for the public good, without regard to private inter
ests. In reply, one firm expresses its willingness
to accept proviso that all exhibitions shall be free
Of charge 1t might be interesting to this tried
Up to the present time, even professional artists and
art students have been compelled TO pay half dollar
if they desired to Millets "Angelus," which was
imported free of duty for the encouragement Of art
Another firm retorts that the first firm holds eahbi
tions only invitation, and that these are not ray
public. 1t is declared that If no admission fee "a
charged, no pictures win be brought for exhibt
ton and willingness is expressed to accept the mo
rigid conditions regarding sales. Moreover. 1t is sus
gested again that the other dealers form themselves
into dissertations and undertake "lmpOrtattons IN
bond" But the other dealers reply that
they see no reason why they should
be compelled to change the form of their business. and
that if they bring pictures to this country the pictures
are for sale. Past decisions have been in favor Of
the associations But whatever the decision may
be upon the present petition has been learned oS
experience that such importation in bond as has
been described, is simply business venture que
to interested motives and not to philanhropic desire
| to promote and encourage art" for arts sake
Messrs Reichard & Co. exhibit Mr.. c. II. Davss
| Salon picture, view in the forest OF RamooulieS
This is large painting of broad, low SLOPE VITA
! heather in the foreground the strong light Ot We
setting sun on the sandy soil beyond, and group o'
pines on the right. This work is OF large sze' Wv
composition broadly designed, and the execution IN
| -
out of key but the picture is one Of simplicity dignV
and force Mr.. Davis seems TO paint with more
decided touch than formerly, and although ths
picture is less delicate perhaps it might be cslsi
less poetca than certain of his earlier landscapes
it shows some gain in power. In other pictures NJ
Davis has made much of his distance but this
really a foreground picture. landscape by NJ.
Bolton Jones exhibits change in the artists methei
which is in the direction of less positive definition am
a more sympathetic blending Of the coloring and .
softer touch. Mr.. Jones has painted group o.
birches with delicate yellow foliage growing in
rocky pasture with an open vista on the right ~
water and sails in the distance There are QUE
paintings by Messrs. Wyant and Rehn and there 20
large coast scene by Mr.. George lnness, which falr
deies Identification. This is view of waves bFesM
ing at the of gloomy cliffs beneath leaden sS,'
The brush work is firm and hard. and the exees
ton as well the subject. illustrates the arus.
versatility. The picture was probably painted aO'U'
. twenty years ago