Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-13

selling of replicas for originals. While 1t is
dishonorable, it is, strange to say,
legal. The practice comes from
custom that has obtained in Europe
for centuries. Nearly every prominent
artist there has group Of students VINO
work with him in his own studio. When
he completes painting which promises 70
be successful the pupils make copies In
whole or part of it, which he in turn corrects
aad perfects with his own brush. Whlie
these replicas are naturally not so valuable
as the original, they always command e1.
cellent prices and are classed as being OF
the artists own handiwork. When people
have bought replicas and afterward gone to
law on the ground that they had been de-
ceived, that the picture was not made by
the artist as advertised or represented, the
courts OF highest resort have uniformly held
that replica is legitimate work OF the
artist who made the original, and that un-
less sold as the original, or SO warranted TO
be, the purchaser has no redress. OF hun
dreds of foreign paintings brought across
the Atlantic large number are replicas.
Importers and dealers OF high standing ln-
form their customers Of the fact, but they
are in a minority.
WORKING THROUGH CANADA.
The latest device in the art business in
this country is the canadian racket" and
Is nothing more than . shrewd system OF
beating our tariff system. A dealer orders
an invoice OF fitv high-class paintings. If
they were landed in New York, Boston or
other American ports OF entry, the duty
would be very considerable sum and would
have to be paid on not only the pictures that
hit the popular fancy, but also those that
proved unstable. Besides this such an in
ha hu H.
cial SO as to prevent foreign agent billing
what cost 100, 900 francs in Paris at So, 500,
as has been frequently attempted. The
dealer, therefore, has the pictures shipped
to Canada where there is no tariff on works
Of art and where rent and incidental ex-
penses are much lower than they are here.
The favorite place is Montreal, but Quebec,
Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton and Windsor
have also been utilized in this regard.
The pictures are put on exhibition and
neat catalogue prepared. The dealer then
sends by mail u copy OF the catalogue and
business letter to all his regular customers
and TO such art collectors as he thinks may
purchase. II may seem queer that man
will undertake q long Journey to buy
painting, hut such is the aet, A genuine
art collector or an enthusiastic art buyer
will travel 1000 miles to obtain treasure
and think nothing Of H. II ID not long be-
fore the Invoice IL quite sold %. or the 30
the Canadians will buy one and the Amer.
cans 30. Or the remainder half will then
be sent across the boundary TO the United
States aud another half will be shipped back
10 Europe "A uBsuited 10 the American mar.
ket The dealer saves money at almost
every step Of the operatloh. Tie American
buyer saves money likewise.
AVOIDING THE DUTY.
The Custom House machinery between
the Republic and the Dominion 10 mere
babe compared with that Of the great ports
Of entry. II may be questioned II there DO
an Official Of the former class who could ap.
praise any art work within hall or quar-.
ter OF iA value. The dealer, or many Of
them, Ia willing 10 bill bis sales TO u good
customer Ut any figure which will enable
the latter 10 save the Custom House duty,
Az consequence there are hundreds OF
pictures which come across tho llns without
bef which pay hall or quarter duty and o
mere handful which pay the legal tax.
/ am told that similar condition OF
affairs exists on the Pacific coast between
our country and Mexico, but OF this ! know
nothing OF my own knowledge. With tho
Canadian traffic AN personally y acquainted.
and know " IL on the Increase. II will con-
tiRue until Congress abolishes oil duties
upon works Of art
Although the art business IL undermined
with tricks and devices, IL Ia improving
nevertheless. The few great houses which
do not indulge in these underhand ways Of
taking, money grow stronger every day,
and will eventually control the industry.
In the meantime the nouyeAux riches Of our
growing cities, and especially OF the West.
ern communities, are slowly acquiring q
knowledge OF art matters, which some day
will put practical end to the dishonesty
now SO prevalent
WILLIAM e. 8. FALEs.