St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-06
HIS Native Heath,

who have already drawn 80 per cent
from his pockets, the art which he has
acquired at such cost? Not in reason.
We mulct him first, and then kick be-
cause he won't let us use the object for
which he sacrificed so eXorbitantly.
Probably that is the theory on which
James j. Hill refuses admittance to his
gallery, which is crowded with some of
the best and some of the worthless
works in this country. But it seems for
all the high tariff that d. G. Shepard, j.
]. Hill and T. B. Walker, of these
parts, and Mr.. Seney, of New York, and
the younger Hutchinson and Mr.. King,
of Chicago. and other American art
patrons. would rather buy high-priced
pictures abroad and bring them to
America to be abused by the public
than to give any substantial en-
enlargement to American art what
ever. In quoting these gentlemen
as art collectors of America, much may
be said in praise of their hobby. or their
business. as in reality it is with some of
them. But the Inconsistency of such
men always glareS at the close observer
of their prankS, when such an accom-
piished master of the brush drops
among this heather land of politics and
pork as Carl GutherZ, who recently
held in this city. Mr.. Gutherz was adj
vised to greet us with his beautiful con-
ception, 1.-The Light of the Incarna-
tiOn," by relative living in this city
gentleman who has been prominent
and active in the affairs of our city
these past twenty years, and who was
presumed to suspect the tastes, or want
of taste, of this community. Mr.. Gutherz
came: he Saw-what? He saw wild
| erneSS in sentiment and desert in mat
tiers artistic. With the pride that is ever
| the temperament of man bred abroad
| in and about the art academies of the
| old world, Mr.. Gutherz ventured
! heavy expenditure in proper display
| of his works-works which, as collec-
| ton, have never before been exhibited
| in this country, and works which gar
nered medals and distinction for their
| creator in Paris. Munich and Florence.
Now that Mr.. GutherZ has retired
| with his treasures, comment upon his
reception and fortune with our people
will not appear designed for advertise
ment. We may all take to ourselves a
feeling rebuke for the lethargy which
| slovenly passed by Mr.. Gutherz's exhib-
| it. Instead of going to see what he had,
criticising the bad and applauding the
| good work Of this artist, our rich men,
encies of progress and culture, simply
guessed that, like nearly everything
that has come to st. Paul heretofore,
there was nothing even worth looking
at in the GutherZ collection. This was a
serious mistake and an awkward slight.
Mr.. Walker, of Minneapolis, throws
his gallery open to all respectable visit
ors, and no one ever left the Walker ex-
hibit without deep sense of gratitude
to Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Walker. Their
hospitality and kindly interest in your
full enjoyment of their pictures is ap-
| parent the moment yon enter the gal
| lery, and this household, together with
| the exhibit in the Minneapolis library,
holds the highest sphere in a refined. in
strnction and entertainment of Mime
| apolis people.
We have nothing. We do not appre-
ciate good thing when it is thrust upon
us. Mr.. Gutherz leaves this city On the
Goth inst. In the meanwhile he is the
guest of Col. Mark d. Flower, with
whom Mr.. Gutherz is visiting the inter-
eStiDg features of the district. / under
stand that his pictures are packed and
| the time for viewing them is now past.
| The fact that few of his pictures were
sold to quiet, modest purchasers, who
buy art tor arts sake, is a slight mitiga-
ton of our shame.