New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-27
THE sTEBBINS COLLECTION
BEAUTIFUL AND COSTLY CATALOGUE

ArEAUTIFIrr. AND COSTLY CATALOGUE.
The edition de luxe of the catalogue OF Mr.. James
H. Stebbins's collection has now beer puohshed ana
the volume which lies before us fully sustans the
promise of the sample copy' mentioned III Inc
Tribune few weeks since Without leaving IL 10 DO
Inferred that increased money spending for examples
of art necessarily means pondng Increase IN
culture II must be said that the expenditure OF
$4,000 upon a catalogue of paintings implies az least
a substantial growth Of interest In things afusuc'
The catalogues OF collections in the sales galleries
I'm 10 the time of the Morgan sale
presented little especial distinction. Tho Johnston
sale led the list Of picture auctions for several years.
but nobody would compare the catalogue with The
catalogue Of the Morgan collection, and the same
might be said Of the Illustrated catalogues OF the
Rumble, Wolfe and other sales. Illustrations were
not uncommon, but the American Art Association IS
10 be credited with the first serious effort at COM
ploteness and perfection In the making of tho Morgan
catalogue, with its fine paper and typography, It's
series OF etchings and abundance Of vignettes ana
process plates The Stewart catalogue proved to
be It's worthy successor, and we have the Stebons
catalogue, which, have said at another time,
represents the best work of tho kind yet done in this
country Indeed there to fear extension
Of comparisons. The Goldschmdt sale held in Paris
last year a sale of great Importance, but in
every feature the catalogue surpassed by the stebbns
catalogue The same might DO said OF the De Foer
catalogue and Of tho catalogues Of other collections
so far knowledge goes, including the collection
Of Laurent Richards. Such catalogues as have come
to us from Vienna and Berlin have borne no com
parlson with the present volume I'm the quality Of
the Illustrations and the mechanical features. Pub
locations like the catalogue Of the Glasgow Loan
Exhibition, with Mr.. Henleys text and the collected
etchings of the Hundred Masterpieces" with Albert
VOLTS text, not properly to be included In this
comparison, since speaking Of tho catalogues
of the sales galleries. So far our acquaintance
m
to tho opinion of the distinguished amateur who has
pronounced the Stebbns catalogue tho finest OF its
class.
The uncut edges and generous margins Of this
surnptuous volume will be taken for granted by
biblophiles, but even they may well
pause TO note the generosity In margins
made possible by pages measuring sixteen inches In
height by twelve in width The paper, which Is hand
made roughly finished, and FREQ from the excessive
gloss of high calendarng, shows texture, substance
and honest quality worth recognition I'm this time Of
cheapness. The head lines and titles are printed
in red. The introduction Of descriptive" text has
given the printer more work than usual, and the
work done by Mr. uttlo's firm appearsto be entirely
satisfactory II less stress has been laid upon the
binding than upon other mechanical features, the
reason presumably is a belief that many owners of
this superb volume Will prefer to chose binding
for themselves But II is the illustrations which
VIII receive most attention from those who may SEQ
this catalogue. Ihoso llusuauOnS cOnslst Oh thtoo
groups There are twentyfour etchlngs printed upon
India paper and bearing the Endorsement implied In tho
etchers signature. There forty zinc etchtugs'
made from Mr.. Kurtzs azalin0 photographs OF the
paintings. These process reproductions arc printed
upon Japan paper. Next comes a gallery
Of portraits. There como forty vignetto
portraits Of the artists represented, etched by
Messrs s. j. and Gerome Ferris IL will be seen that
the illustrations amply the pictorial possibilities
of the collection.
This collection is known to many OF our amateurs,
who have recognized IT as presenting many excellent
and some famous examples Of French figure painters,
whose eminence has certainly been based upon super
lstive executive ability. We say famous examples,
for this may properly be said OF Gerome's "Moere
Breakfas ting with Louis NV and DEminoncc
Grlse,D of Fortnys Spanish Lady," socalled, which
is set down his only portrait OF woman, and there
also the Messoniers, which pictures Of dis
tnctiOn. Bouguereaus Hesitatlng Between Love
and Riches might be added 10 tho list of pictures
which have general reputation, and YiberVs span
These pictures have been Interpreted by etchers ali
OF whom with exception, arc American, and thuS
| the catalogue has value as means OF encouraging
American ART. MessIs. Clifford, Dielman, Parrish,
Ferris, Harper, Turner, Hamilton. Thomas Moran and
Freer are among the etchcrs, and their work VIII be
| found to be usually commendable Among other
| paintings which have been etched are examples OF
| Detaille, royon, Zamacos, Daubigny, Rico, Horace
/ Nornet, Bchreyer, De Melville, Aima~Tadcma ana
| Auguste Bonheur II IS impossible 10 discuss these
echings in detail, but the names Of the etchers mean
something, and VIC need only add that their work
| has been intelligent and conscientious. The zine
limits Of paintings BY Dc Nittis, Yilegas Alvarez
| Goubie Worms, Gsriido, Pasini, Berne, Bollecour,
/ American painters represented Mcssrs. W. III.
| Beard and Berstadi. With passing reference to
| take leave OF publication which Is the most am
bilious and the most successful American venture In
| the making of luxurious catalogues.