The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-12-18
PICTURE THIEVES.
A DEALER WHO SAYS THERE ARE
ARTISTIC KLEPToMANlAcs.

ARTISTIC kLEPToMANlACS.
Theft of . Murilo and of G~ainsOorough'
Duchess Of Devonshire"-Story of q kiss
Given For o yote-sharpers and Coun-
terfeit Etchings.
Did you ever hear of the artistic
kleptomaniao?'' asked q well known
dealeri p etchings during an after lunch
con harmony o few days ago. well,
there is such a person. The artistic KEEP
tomaniac is insanely fond of valuable
art In the form of etchings or paintings.
He steals through the admiration and
love Of art. There are many famous in
stances where old and almost priceless
masterpieces OF the painters art have
been taken by persons of this kind, and
1t is odd that in almost every instance
the stolen pieces of art could not be
traced.
"The most famous artistic theft of
modern days was the stealing OF the fig
ure of st. Anthony from the celebrated
picture by Mnrillo. The painting, which
was On exhibition in the cathedral at
Seville, represented st. Anthony sur
rounded by angels. One morning about
seven years ago it was discovered that
the figure of St Anthony had been cut
from the canvas.
"All Europe was notified of the theft,
but the police never found the thief.
About two years afterward a .Spaniard
from the West Indies called in at the
establishment of Mr.. Schaus, the we'll
known picture dealer of this city. The
Spaniard told MIR. Schaus that he would
like to sell him IN unsigned painting by
Murillo. MIR. Schaus. being q man of
large intelligence regarding works of
the masters, recognized Immediately
the figure of st. Anthony cut from the
painting in the cathedral at Seville.
"The man was seized, and MIR. Sohaus
had the honor of returning the painting
TO Spain.
THE theft of the celebrated portrait
of the Duchess of Devonshire, by Gains
borough, Id years ago was doubtless the
work Of an artistic kleptomaniac, for
the picture car do the thief nogood but
excite his admiration. The portrait was
in the possession of the Messrs. Agnew,
the picture dealers OF London. It had
been ON exhibition, and the Agnew gal
leries had been crowded. Dne morning
the frame stood empty. The painting
had been cut ont, and no one knows to
this day where Gainsborough's Duchess
of Devonshire is.
Some dishonest lover of art ID gloat-
ing over the picture in private. Thepor-
trait is valued at $50, 900.
THAT painting by ~Gainsborough, be-
sides being an artistic relic, is also his
toric, as the painting was made Just
when the beautiful Duchess Of Devon
shire had been the means Of turning
the political tide of England. Pitt and
Fox were rival candidates for parlia-
ment. 1t wa demonstrated that the
election would be narrowed down. TO the
vote of an elderly fat butcher. The
butcher intended to vote for Pitt The
Duke of Devonshire tried every means,
including a bride, to influence the fat
butcher to vote for Fox, but the butcher
was obdurate. Then the beautiful duch-
ess said to him:
g. " Is there anything I can do for you
if you will vote for Fox?'
Yes answered the butcher. 'f
You will kiss me, / will vote for Fox.
1.-The duchess kissed the fat butcher. |
Fox was elected, and the political com
plexion of England was changed. tit is
related that the Duchess of Devonshire
told the story to Gainsborongh when she
was posing for her picture.
8 The collector of valuable etchings or
engravings must be as constantly on the
alert for counterfeits as is the bank
cashier for forged checks or counterfeit
bills or the jeweler for false diamonds.
Some dealers have suffered heavy losses
because of their inability TO distinguish
between an original and a counterfeit
etching or engraving. Quick wit and q
wide knowledge of the history OF etch~
ings recently saved Frederick Keppel,
the art dealer of this city and Paris,
nearly 1000 marks in Berlin. The col
lection of etchings of the late Baron OPP
perman was sold at auction, and dealers
from all oven the world attended the
sale at Berlin.
Mr.. Keppel bought an impression OF
Rembrandt's Christ before PLATE, en-
titled the Great Ecce Homo, = paying
], 400 marks, or $500. for the etching.
Just after the sale a well dressed gen
tleman said in Frepch to Mr.. Keppel:
"Sir, / presume you are q stranger i'm
Berlin. j am a native of the city, and
I am mortified tosee yon so badly cheat
ed today. / wish to make You all the
restitution Tcan. You paid i, 400 marks
for that etching. The price is far too
high, but 10 compensate you for your
lossI will sell you q genuine etching
for /, 900 marks"
Mr.. Keppel knew his etching To be
genuine. Mr.. Keppel saw that the man
was playing q game OF high comedy,
but he said he would like to see the
etching. When Mr.. Keppel reviewed
the etching, he said:
II win give you 8 marks for the etch-
ing" When the mar found ne had been
caught in his game, he simply said:
"Prenez 10, = and MI. Keppef took the
sosrs+arfaik whirh ho aftarUard rravn ~ |