Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-12

The sensation of the past week in the art
circle of New York was the failure of the
sale of Franzen water colors at Ortgies' gal
lery. The success or failure of an art sale
in New York may not be of especial inter-
est to Pittsburg, but the discussion which
this failure has given rise to is decidedly in
teresting. Mr.. Franzen broughti to this
country collection of his own works. ex-
his tied them for short time, and then offered
me entire collection at auction. The sale was
lamentabls failure. Artists and art people
re lamenting the apparent lack of apprecia-
tion of such artistic work. and extending to the
artist their good will and earnest wish that he
should not permit himself to feel in the
least discouraged by the miseraby INSULT
clert result of his first auction sale.
The interesting feature of the discussion lies in
the fact that the works of MIR. Franzen, it is
claimed, are exceptionally fine. and that New
York buyers failed to recognize their merit
simply because the ARTISTS name is compare
lively unknown. Thus the question which is
forever coming up is made a direct ISSUE and
it is charged that majority of picture buyers
even do not understand, of their own kuowl-
edge, the higher qualities of art. Of course if
the works of Mr.. Franzen do not merit the de-
fense they are receiving, then all arguments
touching the incapacity of the people to under
stand merit fall to the ground; but a number of
artists of recognized ability have expressed the
most favorable opinions of the pictures
For instance, Mr.. William n. Chase, who is
certainly entitled to speak upon the subject of
art saws: 1T would appear that there is little
understanding in the public here. but this
young man should remember that such sale
in no way affects his rating as an artist. He
must not be discouraged. 1t is after all, not
for money that the artist works but for the
pleasure his profession gives him. Mr. Franzen
is young. should beg him not to feel badly
about this; his time will come. saw some of
his pictures at the water color exhibition. and,
while they were not well hung, was much i'm
pressed with them. What were their character
lstics? He Is evidently disciple of the new
school, the open-air cult His impressions of
nature appear to be most truthful The glaring
contrasts of color, which some might object to,
are considered meritorous in Monet. Alto
gether, Franzen has a future before him."
Mr.. ]. q. Brown, the well-known figure
painter, said: - think it must have been be-
cause he was new man, whose name was not
familiar here There could have been no other
reason that Mr.. Franzen did not have fair
show. as he says CorOt himself was, l believe,
nearly 40 years in securing. even in France. that
recognition which enabled him to get into the
Salon"
Mr.. p. B. Ryder, one of the well-known ar.
tistic tenants of the Studio building, said that
the same pictures by better man would have
realized much larger prices. "There was a
great DEAL" said he, "that was clever about
them. His landscapes showed nice feeling,
ana in one of his evening scenes there was !
remember, female figure in a straw hat that
decidedly strong; and should say he belonged
to the new impassionist school,"
Il saw two of Mr. Franzen's pictures at the