The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-15
VALUE OF OLD MASTERS.
FIGURES OF INTEREST TO THOSE
WHO LOVE FINE PICTURES.

WHO LOVE FINE PIC UhES.
Americans Not So Easily Humbugsed as
They Once were-The High and Low
Water Marks of Famous Painters-Mu-
rillo's Range from SIs to Sl25.OOO.
The value of pictures has been very
considerably disturbed by the revelations
recently made 1t has thrown suspicion
upon the method of sale by auction,
which has heretofore been so popular.
and suggests the possibility that more
than one of the great picture sales of re-
cent years have been in measure
cooked" affairs, in which prices have
been made to rise to height by no
means in accord with the actual state of
the market.
Americans have not shown quite the
same taste for ''old masters" as have the
people of other countries. Once they
reverenced them on account of their age
and gave high prices for their pictures.
But they were innocent then. and when
they awoke to the fact that most of the
old masters which they owned were bo-
gus, they made haste to rid themselves
of the same.
Since then Americans have had little
to do with this class of pictures. Now,
however, they are beginning again to
buy them.
BIG AND LITTLE GEMS
Following are some extreme and some
average prices of the pictures of men
whose names are mentioned:
Jan Van Eyck-An alteration of the
magi in the Northwick sale in 1859
fetched $2.16O. Van Eyck's works are
scarce and much sought after. The pict-
ure mentioned must have been an excel
lent example, for another picture of the
same subject was sold in Cologne in 1852
for little more than $500: Only the
best of his pictures have sold for more
than 5000 or $500.
Guercino-His finest works in the Lou
vre are valued at $4,000, $1,000 and
$4,000, the Martyr of St. Peter at Mo
dena" being considered worth $4,000.
Nearly every gallery in Europe has
some specimen of his work. During the
last century the highest price obtained
at auction has been S2.400 Small heads
and less significant works have sold as
low as $40. A few single figure paintings
have been sold at from $50 to $3.50.
Hans Holbein-His works are abund-
antly represented in foreign galleries.
Though one Of the greatest German
painters his pictures have never brought
large prices at public sale. A portrait of
lady was sold in 1850 for about 50, 900;
other portraits in recent years have
rarely exceeded $780,
Guido Reni-His Rape of Helen" in
the Louvre has been assessed at $780,
His works are in all the European gal
leries. They have seldom sold for more
than $4,000. A "St. John" was sold in
1853 for So, 400.
David Teniers-More of his pictures
than those of any other painter have
been sold publicly. He is extensively
copied and initiated, but of list of about
$50 different sales of his pictures the
highest price ever brought for any one
was $1,000 paid in the Van Sassengen
sale, in 1852, for painting called 1.-THE
Five Senses"
MURILLO AND RUBENS.
Murillo-The greatest of the Spanish
school in point of values There are nine
of his pictures in the Louvre. The most
celebrated of these is the Immaculate
Conception" for which the French gov
eminent paid $4,000. This is far in
excess Of ali the others. which are rated
as worth everywhere from 81, 200 to SIP,
600, at which figure the Holy Family"
has been appraised. His pictures figure
in all the principal museums of Europe,
and have often sold at auction at very
high prices. There were no less than
fourteen of his pictures in the famous
Soult collection to which the Louvre's
Immaculate Conception" belonged. The
"Flight into Egypt" brought $4,000; the
"Jesus and st. John as Children" S12,-
600; the 'St. Peter Bound" $50, 900; the
Miracle of San Diego" $1,000; a
"Brigand Stopping a Monk" $1,000.
The rest Of the pictures of the collection
sold for from 81. 900 to 5000. The price
brought by the Immaculate Concep-
ton" was the largest ever paid for
picture at the time. 1t is doubtful wheth-
er it would now realize an equal sum,
as Murillo's work has not increased in
estimation, while new standards of tastes
have taken possession of picture buyers.
A large painting of the very same subject
In the Eardley collection was put up at
auction in 1860, but was withdrawn in de-
fault of bid of $45, 000 Since the Soult
sale many of his works have been publicly
sold. The Empress Eugene gave the
largest price brought by any of his other
pictures. She paid So, 900 for 'Sleep of
the Infant Jesus" at the Patureau sale in
1857. Many Of his works were sold in
the Aguado collection in 1843. They
ranged from $18 to $500, at which sum
one Of his Annunciations was disposed
of. One Of his pictures figured in the
AspinwaI sale here few years ago, but
was without buyer. It was subse-
quently taken to London. where, after
long negotiations, it was sold, presume
bly, at no very great price.
Rubens. being the prince of painters.
his pictures have naturally commanded
very great prices. The fact that he
worked much through his assistants has.
however, made a great difference in
their value. His works in the Louvre
are estimated at $4,000. $1,000 and
$40, 900. some Of the famous series in the
lite OF Mary of Medicis being valued at
800, 600. His single portraits are worth
about $4,000 to $1,000. The famous
"Chapeau de Paille," one OF the most
beautiful portraits ever painted, was sold
In 1929 for about $500 Few Of his
best works have sold during the present
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