Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-07
NOTES OF ART SALES.

Proceeds Of the BleImnn Collection ns
Large as Its Predecessors-More Pict-
ures By Modern Masters Secured for
Pittsburg.
All local lovers Of art were glad to know
yesterday, when Mr.. Bleiman packed up to
go away, that the sales from his collection
aggregated as much as from the Reichart
or the Collins, which preceded it. Mr..
Bleiman brought % good canvases here,
some Of them excellent. and everybody
must be pleased to learn that a majority of
of the best remain with us. He sold, alto
gether, IL. Pittsburgers and Alleghenians
of taste and wealth who take these fine
paintings are not indulging solely in selfish
qualification. They are providing delight and
instruction in the future for thousands whom
they possibly do not now even know.
1t Is seldom alone the owner of good pic
ture who derives qualification from it, or even
his immediate circle of friends. If in our
American cities we have not as yet any great
public art galleries, such as are common in
European towns of less means and population,
there is growing worthy custom Of loanlex-
hibitions, which, at seasons, to some degree
serve the purpose. An admirable opportunity
for one of these is presented by the coming
Pittsburg Exposition. On that occasion all
paintings of any merit in Pittsburg will no
doubt be cheerfully loaned: and some OF the
best products of bright artists from abroad
will also be sent on to be viewed by more than
a million of residents of the two cities and
country surrounding.
Popular taste runs in waves. Never have
there been so many collections OF fine paint
ings offered at sale in New York as in the
past six months. At the sale of several of
nous. In others they fell below expectations
Not all the pictures with great names, loudly
advertised, are deemed valuable by the con-
| noisseurs. 1t is an open secret as to some Of
the modern masters that there is good deal Of
forgery abroad. Works purporting to be by
| Corot, Diaz, Forhany, Daubigny and some other
| celebrated artists, are too numerous to comport
with the possible executive capacity of these
| artists, allowing them to work Is hours day.
But the genuine paintings by these artists are
| rarely doubted. Their history is known to col
lectors as thoroughly as the pedigree of race
horses to lovers of the turf. They always bring
| ignorant. Reputable dealers or intelligent
buyers are seldom caught by them.
The house of Allardi & Son, by the way,
which has gotten into trouble about duties
in New York, is one of the best known in
the country. It has elegant rooms on Fifth
avenue, where the visitors ring the bell and
| observe very much the iormalities which
would be required in calling at private house.
No particular display Of paintings is made in
the parlor fronting on the street, but If the
visitor inquiries he will be shown to a back
room where tremendously large canvases are
on exhibition bearing the most eminent names,
and offered, many of them, at prices that would
mean a fortune to people in ordinary ctrcum-
stances. The visitor to Knoedler's and Reich
arts places, in New York, and to Haseltine's,
in Philadelphia, is struck by the money repre-
sented on the walls and in the cases of these
houses Mr.. Haselt1ne alone has q capital of
81, 800, 900 in his business
=.
Besides the Diaz, the Jacques, the Perez
and the Munier pictures which were sold by
Bleiman early in the week, he was yester-
day gladdened by disposing of a Vibert,
whose price he had put at 81, 900. This will
be remembered as the picture of couple of
relocated schoolboys struggling on a green
sward. To the same purchaser, an East End
gentleman resident not far from Hiland
avenue, was sold the beautiful interior scene by
Heger and little pastoral work by Troyon.
An Allegheny purchaser, who was also a lib
took study of head by Henner at a hand.
some price.
The result Of the several sales at Gillespie's
within the past ten weeks is that works by
Vibert, Schreyer, Kammerer, Van Maruue
Diaz, Jacques and Troyon are now for the first
time owned in Pittsburg. These alone would
make an interesting nucleus for the Exposition
Loan Gallery.
The interest shown in these sales continuest to
stimulate the market for the local artists. It
also puts them on their mettle to do their very
best when their productions are to show
alongside of those by men whose renown is in
ternational