Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-11-12
BUYING PICTURES.
A REPORTER CHATS WITH SEVERAL
WELL KNOWN ARTISTS.

pabie of Cultivation and VIII Improve. |
"How do people buy pictures7' Colin
Campbell Cooper repeated. "well.
suppose the majority of collectors con-
suit the advice of a dealer or some ar
list, and yet there are those, not pre- |
tentious connoisseurs. either, that know
a good thing when they see 1t, and
evince unusual wisdom in their pur-
chases. To some, however, self reliance
in investing on large scale IN paint
ings has proved rather disastrous ex-
pertinent. The other day collection
made by man thirty or forty years
ago was sold. There was hardly half a
dozen good things in it, simply because
he bought and he did not know what he
was getting.
''Art in this country is gradually wax
ing up. Perhaps the Centennial might
he called the American Renaissance.
We know infinitely more about art than
our grandparents did, and with oppor-
tunities increasing from year to year it
is fair to suppose our children will show
still more marked improvement in
taste. Greater facilities for travelling
have done much to bring about change
in our little world, and the tendency of
our art is rather toward the cosmopoli-
tan than provincial. Naturally, time is
required to educate the public taste
along artistic lines.
81 think people will buy more pictures
when they understand painting is not an
accomplishment merely a pleasure to
the eye, but that it is part of educa-
ton, of civilization. II will require
time to realize this. Exhibitions are
visited and the majority like to look at
pictures with an admiration rather
ephemeral. When the picture is out of
sight the impression is gone. With a
general diffusion of art paintings will
be bought not solely because they APP
peal to the senses, to personality, but
| for their artistic qualities; not simply
because the subject illustrated is rather
a pretty idea, but because the work is
technically good art production"
Stephen Ferris said: The world is full
of good pictures to be bought for rea-
sonable prices, but unfortunately many
thousands of dollars, many fortunes, are
spent for nonsense, while good work re-
mains unsought and unbought. Com.
mon sense is happy capital in picture
buying as in any other business. One
can hardly provide a set number Of rules
TO be observed IN buying. Many books
have been written on military science
yet the world has seen comparatively
few fine generals. Judgment rules the
world, and in picture buying one person
is more successful than another becaus,
a spirit Of superior intelligence dictates
, his purchases"
Thomas Eakins would like to have
people buy pictures that please then
and appeal to their taste. THE major
ity are afraid to buy what they like
| they must have some one else's advice
, Well, IL they start with bad art, per
| haps before long they will come TO tn
good. Let people buy what they want.
Il have not thought much about buy
: ing pictures. said Mr.. Frederick Waugh
I'VE artists are more chiefly concernet
' in trying to sell them. 1t is the priv
: lege Of the artist 10 paint pictures whicl
D appeal to people; which they understan
/ and want to have for their own. Blu
0 he should have high standard, and
/ cannot succeed if he lower it 10 cater
I the popular taste. He is fortunate if i
9 working out his ideas he pleases tn
: public and yet does not lose his ind,
: pendence nor forfeit his originality
r His work may be appreciated by larg
!. numbers, but it is always certain tha
some few will recognize his endeaye
and will want to buy il.
= "In the Old World art is accessible |
A all. The Luxembourg and the Louvi
u are filled permanently with the maste
e pieces Of all ages, the best that hay
d been done. There, too, the spirit ,
l. union is strong among artists. The
, gather together and talk of everythiu
r pertaining to the art world. consequen
V ~ they live entirely in a congenial 81
10 mate and they grow and develop in d
II essentially art atmosphere. Impressio
lie ism2 Yes, this is the great word now
of days. Many have an idea that it is
synonym for vaguely treated and pa
ii TALLY unfinished pictures. Impressio
h. ism claims TO record facts as obsery,
le by the artist. Sincerity to nature
"a its aim. After all, there il nothil
ID so beautiful as truth; and the near
s. we get to it. as we find it in nature, Il
better artists we are"
MANY Americans buy pictures" n
F. de b. Richards responded, "becau
ne they have accumulated money. n
ct pictures are the proper thing to has
IL Generally they know very little abo
On it, and a dealer does the work for thel
Ks II people purchase pictures to tiatt
al their vanity, let them spend big SUI
his and buy high priced pictures. II tn
N, buy for pleasure, let them buy what
Mt terests them. remember meeting {
IT, win Forrest after sale. I've bought
is picture said he. They told me not
,e- do it, because very likely it is not orr,
nal. But 1t pleases me, and shou
buy il il it were by somebody | new
heard tell Of A picture pleasing to t
~ eve is source of education for the til
nj being at least Adverse criticism m
nd lead a man to scrutinize 1t and study
ne more closely than il he had bought O
re he did not like half so well.
an II think should be inclined to b
NJ what liked personally" was the op
IT. ion Of Edwin Swift Balch, mot forg
or ting that tho pictorial qualities shor
not be lost sight of in the desire TO ge
pleasing subject. Good handling, |
proper placing Of values and meritoric
go color, allied to a sympathetic subje
Gu will tend to keep our interest in pal
'ct ing alive. philadelphia Times.
to $3.50
in. Equal 20 the Occasion.