The morning call., 1892-07-24
THE DUMAS COLLECTION.
A Recent Sale Of Notable Pictures il
Paris.
How Works by Great Artists We're obtsinel
by the French Eovelist-Ths
Prices Paid
Correspondence of TIE MORNING CALI.

Dumas, poet; Dumas. novelist, and Du-
mas, dramatist, are we'll known, but only
recently has the public heard of Dumas.
colIectiOnneur. However. Dumas has, ali
his lifetime, been passionate admirer o
art and a collector of pictures. The frs!
picture OF his collection was bought at the
age of Is, and was called ''Une BaigneuSe,"
by TaSsaert. 1t was hung on the wall OF
the first place he called his own, the ground
floor in the Rue Bourdaloue. After this
picture was purchased Dumas bought can
vas after canvas. and paid certain sum
each month. SO that each dealer called him
''my amateur"
Alexander Dumas has right to his taste
for art. His father. although always toe
poor to buy pictures, lived in the midst OF
art and artists. One day Dumas pere gave
fete In large empty apartment. The
walls he covered with gray paper Then
he scattered abaut the roam immensr
tables, ladders. pals of colors and pounds
of glue. Inviting Eugene Delacroix, Ga
varni, Riesener, Paul Huet, Louis Bou-
langer. David dangers and Decamps.
to use his own expression, be ''let then
their decorations in "a hours. David
d Angers and Barge lmproyised chandeliers
from clay, Deeamps painted on pane
Don Quixote followed by Saneho PauZa anG
Eu9eue DeidcFOlX painted DOaOuti 0eelH2
before Granada Strange to say after the
fete Dumas allowed these sketches by the
greatest artists of his time to fall in pieces.
Dumas pere adored Delacr0ix and succeeded
In buying "Tass0 in the House of Madmen,"
but one day, needing money he pawned II
for 100 francs. The son of Dumas regretted
the DelacrOiX. redeemed and hung it on his
own wall One day an amateur saw and
admired, and Dumas fills sold the picture for
49, 000 francs. Reserving his HOO francs he
l,..lf al FA% tlt.,N INla
him spread 13,900 francs. The father looked
with surprise at his son and exclaimed
''lasSo is great poet"
BEGINNING OF THE COLLECTION.
Dumas lils seriously began a collection
of pictures in 1868. After the death OF
Dldier de / PArege, the latter LETT him IN his
will 100000 francs, and Dumas spent it all
for pictures. lie bought first one of the
most exquisite MeIss0niers in existence
''The Painter at His Easel" and this is the
pearl Of his gallery. Then, the same yea,
he bought the Reclining Woman" of jules
Lefebvre. and FrOmentn's great work
''Centaurs ct Centauresses," for 10,0a
francs
Once Dumas fls wrote to his publisher
In the arts which are not mine | can Onl,
be guided by my sentiment, taste and til
experience acquired each day by attentlo.
good faith aud natural ability. But
never pretend to make a law for others
He had made large collection of vase
signed TasSaert and FOll0n. Dumas
hardly knew Tassaert-only saw him once
in fact, but the author says that in him he
finds all other artists combined. Michelet
said of Tassaert; ''he is great painter
the Correggio Of suffering" and Charles
Blanc called him "the Prud'hOn of the
poor" while Theophile GautieT said he
was the "CorreggiO of garTets." ] think
Dumas has at least 80 works by Tassaert,
because 1.-The public did lot appreciate this
great artist, as he was too sad aid too gay
True, in 1874 Tassaert committed suicide.
aud then his works became famous. When
Dumas heard of Tassaert's suicide he at
tended the funeral. and then bought all the
furniture of the dead artist for 3S francs.
Later, when Tassaerts bones would have
been thrown to the four winds, Dumas built
Il tomb, and beside the name of Tassaert he
caused his own name to be engraved.
Dumas loved mis- painters. aud they could
have said to him what was said by Henri
Heine to BerhoZ when the latter visited him
in his garrett, always original, you, for you
come to SEE me"
SOME CHOICE PICTURES.
Dumas possesses also many VollonS.
among them some renderingS of still lite,
and in the collection there are many Meis-
sonlers, among them water-c0lor painted
III 1855. MPIssonier was grea
| friend Of Dumas, and each week arts
and author d'ned together. After dnnei
| there was always game nf billiards, but
| MISSIONER was never successful in the
| game. Determined to surpass Dumas, he
went down to PoisSy, butt studio with Il
| biliiard-Ioom above. There he practicei
! one entire summer, and IN the winter in
| ylted Dumas TO play with him. One of
! MeiSsOniers pictures was hanging ON the
! wall and Dumas offered To make that the
| stake. OF course Dumas won, and then
! another picture was the stake and another,
| and another. until Dumas had won every
| thing, even the famous La RiXe." Natur-
| ally MeissSonier was very excited, for he
! thought the play was serious, but In the
end Dumas only accepted one picture.
This week the entire cole tiOn, with the
| exception of one or two personal gifts, are
| to DE sold at auction in the Hotel Dr0uOt.
! The highest priced and smallest sized piet-
ure goes to America. 1t is MeiSsonier's
Painter at His Easel" about Axe inches.
! sold for Sc, coo francs. 1t is a gem, and was
| bought by a Mr.. Mallet for an American,
| whose name is not given.
! Prud'ho "Amorita." tiny little draw
| ing not more than two inches long, was
| sold for 7000 francs. MeiSsonier's IL"
| Bretteur," a wrestler, with sword and cane,
and lie Mousquetaire," by the same artis
brought about $4,000 francs. A magni ifeent
| picture by Coret, called "Paysan a Cheya
! dams la Campagne,' brought 10000 franc,
and Lefebyre's Reclining Woman" Of
/ whom have already spoken, was sold for
| 26.o0Qfra Tr yon's "Paturage" brought
| 1850 francs, and Tassaerts Dessert" was
| sold for 1900 francs In all about 225
! pictures will be sold, and it is probable that
| Alexander Dumas fls will receive ter
times the price paid for his works of art.
Everywhere in Europe reople are puzzled
! to know why Dumas. who has spent life
time in collecting these works. should now
| dispose of them. Many. many are the rea-
sons given, but the most probable solutions
! of the mystery lies in the fact that Nine
| Dumas is an invalid, and that as the author
possesses q splendid bone at Marly-ie- Roi
| he wishes to leave his resideuc- In the Ave
nue de Villiers and give his wife the beneh'
| of country air.
BARoNEss ALTHEA SALVADOR