New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-19
RADENS PRIVATE PRINT COLLECTION.
PURCHASE OF HIS MODERN PRINTS BY Mr..
WrNDERIICH

PURCHASE OF HIS MODERN PRINTS BY MR.
wUNDERMcH.
Seymour Haden's private collection Of modern etch-
ings has been purchased by an American, Mr. wunder.
Itch. This simple announcement will arrest the alton
ton OF the general public we'll of print collectors
and an ateurs. 1t would be a waste Of words 10 en-
large upon Hadsn's rank a painter etcher Haden
Whistler and Jaeque the greatest survivors of
the modern revival of etching, which has brought
forth its best fruits and has entered upon its decadence
Haden has retired from the field In which he had earned
supremacy The we'll worn needle with which nearly
all his work was done was presented to one New
York dealer. Mr.. Kcppe, and now his invaluable cob
lection Of modern echngs has been secured by another
New York dealer, Mr.. Hermann Wunderlich The col
lection includes complete set of Mr.. Hadens own
work, covering some forty years We believe that
when Mr. Haden lecturng in this country in 1852
he found that Mr.. g. p. Avery had obtained few i'm
pressons from Deatrc, the famous Paris printer which
Mr. Haden himself could not duplicate. But HIS col.
lection will be regarded practically complete,
by very scrupulOus amateurs. who insist upon all the
refnements of trial proofs. single proofs from
perimenta imprinted plates, and all the finest sub
divisions of states. The set which Mr.. wunderlch
has secured nains 600 Impressions representing 200
plates. There are five states OF the Shore Mil
Pond' and eight Of the Sunset in Ireland and it
may Do inferred that the states Of other plates re-
corded In the best catalogue will be represented,
probably with some additions. At the last exhibition
Of the London Society of Painter Etchers, which
bodied special tribute to Mr. Haden. the founder
effort made TO form complete collection Of
his work. and one plate shown dating back as
early as IS43 Yet tho total number only 40,
representing but about two thirds Of the artists work.
Mr. Haden a conspicuous member of the com.
pany of panteretchers who brought plates TO DeatIes
establishment in Paris long before the public had
learned to recognize the quality Of their work. Hs
49, oiatfnF
Jacque Jacquemart and Others of that rank and there
many stories Of those days. some entertaining.
pathetic, like the tale of poor Meryon's insane
accusations. But need only recall the exceptional
advantages which the English etcher enjoyed for the
collection Of the work Of his French brethren. His
Meryon set contains 200 numbers, including etching
and drawings. There seventy plates, representing
with the different states $50 Impressions We have
given the collection only cursory examination, but
the trial and first proofs of the famous Apse of NOs
Dame have furnished tempting foretaste Of the col
lecttons quality The drawings have an unusual per
sonal interest. Amateurs will remember Meryons
habit of drawing upon small squares Of paper held on
the palm OF hts hand, he stood at some convenient
point Of view in the streets Of old Paris, gancins
askance at the passersby, striving conceal his work.
tormented with morbid suspicious Here are some OF
these very drawings, small pencil studies of spires,
facades doorways, slight I'm themselves, but wonderful
for the intelligence and accuracy of the designs These
drawings formed the basis of the etchngs, and al
though most OF us have some acquamlahce VITA ~
etcbngs we are not that any number OF
Nervous drawings have been seen In this country.
The varied relations Of Mr. Haden and Mr. Whistler
never to have impaired The formers sppreelauoa
of the later's best work. Mr. Haden's Whistler sea
contains impressions from 200 plates. ING
Brittany set and Thames set VIII promptly
claim the attention of amateurs, but the set
contains all Whstlers work down to the venice SCI
published In 1850 The etchngs of the last few
wears, we understand, not included. In addition
TO the work of these three artists, Mr.. Wundercn
secured from Mr.. laden about 700 prints the work
of other modern etchers. Mr.. Hadens collection
of old prints not purchased. -
The news of this sale will be received with
some surprise. The collection Is here, although
IL is not upon exhibition, and will not be before tho
autumn A thorough examination al this time Is
impossible, but it is safe 10 that the sets OF
Haden, Meryon and Whistler should find their way
to the Metropolitan Museum, which now has no print
department worthy of the name.