New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-08
THE SPITZER COLLECTION.
APPEALS TO AMERICANS TO PURCHASE 1T.

Rrurr FOR THE TREAsUREs-THE MOST
COMPREHENSIVE AND VALUABLE AN
RAY OF EUROPEAN ART WORKS
IN THE WORLD.
To the Editor of The tribune
Sir: since the death Of Monsieur Splitter, In PARIS 'ne
Question has been asked here In America, as well - "
Europe: What will become Of his magnificent coiec-
tom VIII it'be parcelled of under the mariner a'
the Hotel Drouo and thus 60 TO the different quarters
Of the art world and be hereafter known only as
thing of the past. did the Hamilton Casteilih'
soltikon and similar great collections, only TO turn up
mart by part as a grain among the gatherings that
continue so that may notice, In turning te pages
Of catalogues in the future, that this or that oo'oe'
was from the Splitter collections
Works Of art are ever destined to wander from one
abode TO another, only finding temporary shelter WIN
the amateur until they finally pass Into the Keeping
of museums Whether disposed OF prvaVeH OF %
auction, they travel from mansion to mansion-iroh
country to country-inspiring unknown delight IN
stng new aspirations and suggesting tue s'ar'lns
point for hitherto unthOught OF careers anu Proie'
sions Owners are tempted and sometimes compelieu
70 mart with treasures which for years the prce
of their posse sons, and indeed they cohtiouuc h'
little to the dignity of home, and end Denenoe.
inAnence to the tone of the surroundings Perhaps
the more often works Of art change hands tho DeIer
they become known, and the more thoroughly uicy
nculcate the taste for and the knowledge Oh a'' anu
when in museums they afford STANDARD Oh eA-
ceIlence and serve inspiring models 10 risi,ls
renuses and at the time cultivate aud refine the
masses. -. 49,.
II vvould be q matter Of indifference In what FORM
and 10 what extent patronage is given TO works OF ART
and to their purchase, were not this patronage 10 u
TO direct influence on various pursuits OF lie Win
which art has become identified Art las already
noble and prominent position in the world 1t Is IN
| nd u haSh QaU
every branch of life. 1t nvades our occupations
and coors our pastmes-an essential element In uns
| otherwise prosac existence
What a grand opportunity for a monument Is
offered to him who will essay the roll OF behe-
factor to our American Industrial ART III
purchasing the Splitter collection This would
Weld material Increase in the welfare Of our indus
tries and the prosperity Of our nation WHAT goio
mine this grand museum would prove for all who pro
t.ss art work but alas the chances are remote that
this costly collection will be purchased Tor our
country few enthusiastic lovers OF the beautitul
have indeed sgnhed their interest by subscribing LOT
IT, but those who could best afford to 90 so hoid Oh
our very wealthy people have no time TO THINK Oh
these matters-they are too busy adding TO their
wealth-and our museums still In their infancy nave
not the means at command being supported III every
instance by private donations. Our Government does
not-ll1e those Of Europe-gve grants OF money Ior
such PURPOSES Millions Of dollars are sunk III pohu
cal Jobs Of one kind and another but not one slhee
dollar for the purchase Of an object winch wotio anu
our artisans in their abors, nor would any memoer III
the United states Congress or Senate making such
motion be sustained.
| let rs pass from these sad reflections to our more
easant theue-our most sincere praise Of the Splitter
collection It's grandeur and magnihcence are lar DC
vond our ability to do full justice to. but We Deiu
our best endeavors to make the effort UnfortunaoeN
this unique coIecton-without its rival in the world
is almost unknown to people; therefore much tha'
We might say would hardly be accepted. for no
| one unless lie has seen the splitter coiec'io"'
can possibly form any conception of its Importance
md It's principal charms. The uniform quality ana
integrity Of each object absolutely stamping the re-
marlzable ability Of the master upon our MINDS INC
amount OF labor and judgment necessary properly 10
classify this vast gathering into rational ORDER can
hardly be realized. For this reason the splitter COZ
| lection is so valuable In fact its value Is Of two
kinds-lntrnsc and implcIt-that Is, the value no'
alone of each individual piece, but the additional Venc
from the fact of being assembled in proper order ana
Tins forming perfect encyclopedia OF the choees'
specimens of the middle age and renaissance art -
| We know from the biographies published immedl-
aely after his death that Frederic spitzer was ucl "
Vienna in 1915, and encountered many u'i"' -.
the beginning OF his career After passing some tr'y
rears in the business Of art objects In Germany Itay
rcond and France he finally settled In Paris where
his Intelligence, his knowledge and activity soon gave
him tie 1,st place among the distinguished amateurs
~ Enrope In n little volume entitled lie Mu'oe'
snitzer, by the very able art critic Edmohu DOun"n'
Won will find the principal collectors OF the day unuer
more or less transparent pseuuohSlns' '"o '''
| This ,tcle Is thus described:
r+ Eve Years ago YOU arrived in Paris. alone,
Obscure having no fortune but the genius OF your a'e
and the passion for art objects you went 10 "orA u
selected patiently day By day whatever human in"u"
had bneaIed. filed. woven. hammered scuip'uieu y.
ae4 into the most exquisite forms since the ua"n u
+ho middle aces t. the decline of the renaissance !
| - .,ossod q collection without rival unique ana
| Ill. nalace To house 1t, and when you survey ueSe
Ir, Galleries Of velvet and silk passing from rI"",o
| ,o Germany from Germany 10 Italy, lroh i'a'S "
| snain Won can strike the ground with prlue au Ss
II alone have done thsr You have succeeueu
know every delight, having fortune d i"ii0' -. :,
and being the point around winch tu0 -s IT., 30
snItzer,s personal predictions attrac'eu INN "
| A., noissance and the middle ages ana
| 49,. ,os most fortunate Antiquity Is 100 'eino.o
| Tn, ne the manners OF the ancieh'S' ~
! nrivate lives and their implements or -
| ours Explored for centuries by ItaIy' fi"ueo, No
| Iand Russia and Germany, antiquity lo'el' ',.,
no adorers only occasional surprises ana a.
lloi ,n o.ber hand the sixteenth, seventeenth
| L. ,,,+ooptb centuries touch us nearer we nave
- ,pder our ewes in our palaces, In our museums
| ond in our private lives; we know uleal in''O' y
haart We ART. the children Of their spri' 'eN 49,
| end their blood; they are our direct 'n0o'9 -
o - rbore must we seek the most uselul
I"Itrnctlon-most immediate assimations And TINS
:, rhat Monsieur splitter did in the organization Vi HIS
:. aDd in the fitting Of his splendid residence
The grand collection rests in thlS spacious :, P ou
built especially for it In the Rue VieluS.' ou-
purpose to enter it, even now, himself
or from visits in tie days when the inaseer
WI o,or its rooms The entrance hall Is large
rttn broad staircase leading with stately turn 10
,arre gallery hung with GOOolin tapestries having
for design nymphs and satyrs' who smile welcome
90 von These tapestries series OF four WIN uii'
form borders are though old in perfect sl'e VI
ervation. From these, and what turi'ule '"''' -
sIrht YOU get the key of what to expect 49,,
| ao shovn into a large room 10 the right, whlch
n sytger nsed as study, and in which he was IN the