New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-25

It is acknowledged that on the second night Of
the sale oil the pictures had been marked with
upset prices by the owner and the dealer in
charge, without any notification to the public.
The result was farce gravely enacted before an
audience who were perhaps the more indignant
because the bidding in' was taken seriously at
first. IL Is no excuse 70 say that the owner
desired to protect his pictures, or that the
sale was not announced as without reserve
Common honesty demanded that the facts should
be known The owner had the privilege OF
publicly announcing tho withdrawal Of the pict-
ures and stopping the SALE or he could have
instructed the auctioneer to announce the upset
price Of each picture when 70 was placed before
the audience. But the attempt 70 make wholesale
"biddlng in" pass for o genuine sale will cause
suspicion to rest upon the picture auction business
In this city for long time to come
We emphasize this case because IL is one Of
much importance, but II is not the only one.
Even IL it we're true that all auctions are con-
Quoted in this way, the faot would offer no ex-
cuse. but we should be reluctant to believe that
there are no picture auctions where buyers are
not obliged 70 bid against owners In disguise. 1t
has been said that oil the pictures have been
actually sold at only two auctions in the last ten
years. 40 one great sale, IN IL e5, IL was rumored
that . snail galhry-full Of pictures was bid in,
and n has been reported that score or more OF
paintings were bid in at o stin greater sale In
1885, even though the dealers had rallied 70
protect" the Fontainebleau and Barbizor
picturss which the collector had bought from them
at astonishing prices There are countless charges
and copntes-oharges which are familiar to those
who Wit the sales galleries and know something
Of the Intense rvalries which exist in the business
Perhaps this personal feeling is valuable ss an
ILLUSTRATION OF the failure of environments TO al cot
character the failure OF association with the
true, the beautiful and the good' 20 exert an in
6uene But it is our present purpose simply TO
point out the imperative need Of change in the
picture auction business and the adoption Of
raiGtforward and open methods. Whenever
pictuns are offered for sale without reserve they
shouN be sold accordingly. II tho owner proposes
70 reserve prices upon certain pictures the fact
and the prices should be made known when the
pictuns are placed upon exhibition before the
SALE Furthermore, II is time to stop the announce
ment Of private collections which ore really
stuffed" with the refuse pictures Of dealers.
Again and again we have seen the name Of some
private owner used like the mantle Of charity 10
cover amultitude Of SINS The Penal Code pro-
vides penalty for auction sales at which actual
change OF ownership does not take place. IL
would be worth while to try enforcing law which
has been allowed to become q dead letter Or, IL
the law Is regarded as too stringent there should
DO an enactment requiring owners who intend 10
protect their pictures TO announce the fact and the
reserve priees whan the pictures are FIRST placed
on exhibition.
There q another phase Of tho business, private
selling, which seems to be guided by e1traordi-
narily indefinite rnes Of coEduot. That is
there appears 70 be no fixed standard OF values
or Of profits Since French art became fashions-
bic our amateurs have fairly fallen oves each
other in their haste to obtain examples. Those
who have had French art 70 sell have enjoyed
n rare opportunity, and we know that human
nature Is prone 20 succumb TO tho gold hunger
few years since the talo was told OF picture
bought by a dealer for $4,000 and sold TO con-
fding would-be amateur for $4,000, but we has
ten 70 record our belief that such opportunities
we should shy practices-are are. Nevertheless
IL would be interesting TO know how Ear the price
Of picture depends upon the customers naivete
and docility. Most Of our amateurs have pur
chased considerable educational experience by
this time and their judgment OF prices 10 much
sounder than formerly. But Is there any stand
ard rate Of advance upon the Paris price, and is
the New-Yosk price constant for all comers2
Moreover. since the prices OF pictures by the more
popular French artists are oleverly advanced and
sustained by Paris dealers who control the mar
ket what guarantee have we against collapse
IL tins support ID withdrawn There are o great
many questions regarding the picture business
which wall occur 10 the curious, and business
which has the appearance OF being so profit
able. so unregulated, and so remarkably devoid
Of brotheriy love. certainly offers an interesting
field of study.