Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-19
ART In PITTSBURG.
A London Connoisseur Talks of the
Local Collections of Paintings.
MEISSONIER'S LAST PRODUCTION
Owned by Gentleman in This City Who
Refused Big Offer for 1t.
SEVERAL HIGH-PaIcED COLLECTIONS

j. Chesterfield Kray, an art expert from
London, Eng, is at the Hotel Schlosser.
This is Mr.. Krav's second visit to Pittsburg
and he is simply dazed at the rush and
hustle on streets and everywhere. He says
he finds himself lost in the whirl and hardly
knows how to get around.
II was down at the Exposition" said Mr..
Kray, land they have a really fine exhibi-
ton. There are some splendid art exhibits
and J was greatly interested in other things
as well. But Pittsburg people are too fast
for me. They stepped on me and spat upon
me, but could not keep out of their road,
and at last was compelled to leave the place.
"Tnis is great city, but the street cor
ners catch me. I start out from the hotel
and get few blocks away. In a short time
want to return and when think I am
about there 1 strike street corner that
lands me several blocks from where 1 want
to go. I was down at the corner of Eighth
and Duquesne way this morning and as I
had followed the river down l thought
would come back different direction. I
landed up near the postofice before knew
what was doing or whittier I vas going.
PITTsBURGERs' ARTISTIC SENSE.
"But Tor all that, Pittsburg is quite
the country. 1t is away ahead of Cincin-
natl and other Western cities. Some OF the
best collections in the country are to be
found In Pittsburg. 1 was present at the
opening of the Carnegie Library building
and was surprised at some of the pictures 1
saw there. While there are not many pictures
here from the old masters, take it from
1870 down and Pittsburg can't be beaten.
There are collections of paintings in Pittsburg
valued at over sl50,0O Some of the purchases
have been made in Europe, while others have
been made from agents.
"Pittsburg has several art connoisseurs who
are well posted on the painters of the age as
well as the old masters. and one could no: pass
apoor picture upon them as a masterpiece.
Here have Mouve valued at $3.50 and Van
Marke worth s., ESQ The average buyer could
not see 8, 80 difference in the two but if l
were to cover up the names and ask either Mr..
bockhart or MI Howe, or any other Of
Pittsburg's well-known art buyers, they would
easily pick out the better picture. Mr. Lock-
hart owns picture by Meisonier Gathering
Faggots,' for which he paid about 5000
recently offered him IS, 900 for tho picture and
be refused it. In fact it is worth more. be-
cause ii was the last picture painted by that
celebrated artist.
VALUE OE POSTHUMOUS WORKS.
"When an artist dies it increases the value
Of his pictures about one-third and often more,
because his production ceases and there is a
demand for the pictures he has left behind
Mr. Lockhart's picture. There are other gen.
tlemen in this city who have valuable collec-
tions that did not cost near what they are
worth now, because they purchased the pct
ures during the lifetime of the artist. Many
of the artists instead of selling their pictures
and leaving the money to their widows. leave
the pictures as they are worth more when they
are dead. In this way the widows get the ad.
vantage of the increase and it does not go to
dealers and others.
1--WE find that Americans take better care of
their pictures than do Europeans. In America
they put on very fine frame aud then box the
picture up in a glass-covered plush and ma
hogany frame No dust can get in and as a
result the work is much better preserved than
in England, where a very cheap frame is put
on and no extra precaution taken for the care
of the pictures. Consequently new frame is
wanted every little while, and the picture is
banged around. Ihave all my frames put ON
in America, though here l have to pay s85 for a
frame. while there it would probably cost $50,
though the work would not be quite so fine
However, you can't get the extra price for the
finer frame. An art dealer can't call attention
to the beautiful frame that goes with the
picture. or the people, who are enlightened on
the value of the picture, would put him down
as dealer in frames rather than pictures"