New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-16
ART NEWS AND COMMENTS.
THE WEEK IN ART CIRCLES.
NOTES OF THE ExHIBITioNs-THE 1NPoRrA
TON OF ..OLD MASTERS ART
NEWS ABROAD.

Gihords work for a considerable time, ano tnc public
will appreciate the opportunity for a closer ac-
1uaintancc with sincere, Observan and accomplishing
artist The exhibition Of Mr.. Davs's paintings at this
gallery closed Yesterday The exhibition at the Union
League Club the opening of the Whistler exhibition u
the Wunderch gallery the reopening OF the American
Art Galleries. and the studio receptions served to in
terest amateurs and the curious last week.
A collection OF water color paintings by Madeleine
Lemaire was placed upon exhibition yesterday at
the gallery Of Messrs. BOussod, Naladon Co. Ihese
nsintiny, were executed in illustration Of novel,
:. FIirtn by Paul IIervieu. They were imported In
bondr and il Is stated that none are TO be sod. The
exhibition is an interesting one for tefe nave been
few opportunities to the work Of the artist in this
cou,.trv The argument of those who oppose such
lmnort,iions by dealers is that even II pictures
not sold these exhibitions give special advantages
In the way Of attracting possible buyers OF other
paintings OF OF publications, and that the law was
not intended to afford special privileges 10 business
houses II must be conceded that the exhibitions Of
pictures imported in bond have been OF great In
tcrcst. The American Art Association has shown
three collections well worth SEEING and 1t Is certain
that these collections would not have been PLACED
before the public If 1t had been necessary to pay the
full duty But this does not affect the main cues
ton, which is one of the justice and the exact
struction OF the law.
In 1887 Mr.. II. G.. Marquand obtained a decision
from the Treasury Department that paintings ante.
dating 100 could be imported AS Antiquities provided
two or three were brought In together Last month
another decision promulgated based upon Judge
Lacombes decision in the Tcrter case, which has
been published. Judge Laconbe declared that the
term collection did not embrace articles grouped To-
sethcr bv the mere accident Of enumeration tho
same invoice and the chance aggregation Of two or
more articles fairly be held to be collection Of
antiquities. All contrary decisions were revoked In
Assistant secretary Tchenors letter, published in this
column sunday. there was also repetition Of the
decision that articles produced subsequently, 10 100
were not entitled free admission even as collections.
Within the last week, however. a ruling has been
made in regard TO articles antedating 100.
An agent Of Sedelmeyer. the Paris dealer.
arrived here with collection Of ~oh
masters presumably intending 10 profit by the In
creasing interest in these works. lie was met by .
demand for 30 per cent duty. and, probably with rass
in his heart" he betook himself to Washington at once.
and hi, campaign finally successful. His
pictures are described The Accountant painted BY
Rembrandt about 1850. and formerly in the collection
Of sir Joshua Reynolds The Horses Of the >tadt
holder painted by Paul Potter and formerly In the
Dendof collection: The sesta,' by Jan steen from
the Bournonyille collection. and Portrait Of the Ar
ts" By Van Dyck. from the DE Morny collection. Il
be hoped that the quality Of these pictures is
better than that Of various old masters which the
interesting feature of this importation Is the ruling
which has resulted 1t stated n
February that grouping on the same in
voice "chance aggregation did not const
lutc a collection. In his letter of March Mr. Tichcror
rules that these paintings were all painted By old
masters Of the Dutch school prior to 100, and have
been collected we'll known collections they FORM
as now grouped collection OF antique art attractive
and valuable Ia connosseurs and collectors and that
they arc entitled to exemption from DUTY a. claimed
under the Departments decision of February Is. lso',
and Of the 4h inst This liberal ruling should pre-
vent any further trouble II /, obvious tina, the
>edcmcvcr pictures merely brought together tenn
porary and that they will be scattered speedily
may be- There hardly be any difficulty hereafter
in importing old masters, provided two or three are
brought in at a time.
The prices brought BY some Barge bronzes at
recent sale have revived the discussion of the sound
n,.> Of the values set in private sales. The pieces
which sold at auction probably obtained
or.-nally from the artist himself. They were rd
proofs but they fine examples. presumably cast
under the artist direct supervision. \ comparison
g.. the prices brought by these pieces with the prices
-Md t. have been asked for pieces Of
the quality private sales shows the
f,lloving results: For the "Lion and Ser
pcnt- which brought SlOj az auction. 800 and $500
have been asked by dealers. The Walking Lion and
Tiger Walking brought ~ 40 each. For this pair
81 100 has been paid at private sale. and 500 each
Is about the usual asking price. The Lionoss and
CROCODILE for which from $3.50 TO 800 is usually
asked WAS sold for only SOD although the piece
rctoUched by Baryc and presented by him 10 Jules
Janin il is also stated that the price OF ~ 200 has
been asked fer tie "Centaur and Lapithac.- which
brought 500 tie sale There no doubt that the
high artistic quality of Baryes work represents high
pocuniay value, but the inference from this sale is
that American zeal has been excessive and that the
haxa Iaan liz, ia a
proof. or in one way or another is unique like the
silver lion with its interesting history. IL acquires
special value. But Barge himself published many, IN
d few cases hundreds Of casts OF his better knOvn
works. II has been said that recent sale of oriental
o.oclan> indicated falling of In substantial interest,
hIt good judges hold that thl, was only true II
The peachblov.' II Is stated that 81 500 and 81 900
had been asked for peach-blow vases which brought
: $50 and 800 respectively. No question tho
beauty and delcacy OF fine peach Blow porcelain,
and the for this depreciation Is not evident
is, the theory Is accepted that peacllbow' has been
exploited 80 extensively to become almost Ri
dicIlo," in the eyes Of porcelain buyers. Those
who believe that the finest porcelans are not over.
rated here State that the best snglecolor pieces are
hardly be found IN European markets. and that the
choices, blue and white held at higher prices In
London than in Ncw-iork
Messrs. Dur.,nd Rucl Co. exhibit one of the few
figure painting, 10y Corot which have been seen in
this country The TIE l. YOUNG 'lrl keclinlnS
in "a Lands, ape The landscape is mere back
lrnnd Of field and gray, summarily rendered. foliage.
The figure. in red Turkish Jacket and white skirt,
occupies the foreground. reclining upon leopard
Kin. The face i modelled with frnlnes, and
,horougncss which vii! surprise hasiy observers
Of Cogots work. II 1, true that TIE p ture Is by
means thing of pure beauty. The bright color Of
TIE costume emphasizes the muddnes, Of certain
'rc,. and the effect lack, completeness and SYM
pathetic quality. Yet 'he figure, with her grave
i'ticr heavy face. i cortanN much serious
ork than mnnv of Dial'> fantasies the colorng
/, less brilliant and less effectively CARED out. The
execution il broad and fee. and without suspicion
~ finish. The colr and subic, invest the work
WIKI peculiar interest II was probably one OF
'orots experiments. mdcl taken perhaps T. satisfy
himself. perhaps in reply Ia friendly challenge.
1hl> painting Is accompanied by examples Of Dau-
fiiny, Rousseau, Dupre, Fromentin and Barge. Tho