The morning call., 1894-11-13

MERELY A COPY.
Coveted by Connoisseurs
as an Original.
AND THE ARTISTS SMILE.
An Amusing Incident of the
Johnson Sale.
JOSEPH GRANTS COSTLY PRIZE.
James D. PheIan and He Thought
They Were Bidding on a
Genuine Makart.
JOSEPH GRANTS COSTLY PRIZE.

The artists are ENJOYING with more or
less satisfaction an incident of the John
son art sale. That is. the artists who have
been through Europe and seen the picture
galleries of Munich, and who also saw a
painting numbered IS on the Johnson cata-
logue and styled "Autumn's Giits," by
Hans Makart.
They know that the ticketed picture
10 not an original. but mere copy. and an
Indifferent one at shat. And with this
knowledge 1t is no wonder the artists are
amused that TWO miIionRires should have
bid against each other on the copy until
the price ran up to $500.
"And that was SIl0O 100 much" re-
marked an artist who knew what similar
COPY could be bought for in Munich atany
time.
Everybody who knows anything about
art knows also that it is nearly impossible
to buy the works of Makart for any money.
and the sale Of one would create a sensa-
, tI0n in the artistic world. In this case,
however, the name of Makart was almost
entirely forgotten. though il appeared with
a brief biographical sketch for the benefit
OF purchasers. The name attracted the
attention of James D. PhelaD, who is a
sincere admirer of the beautiful in art. and
occupies the honorable position of pres-
dent of the San Francisco Art Associa-
ton. He saw by the catalogue that a
Makart would be offered for sale and he
determined to have it,
Joe Grant, another coDnoisseur, also
saw Makarts name and made like re-
solve.
Both saw the painting and admired 1t, to
he for
No. So to be put up under the hammer,
though neither knew the other was liter
ally hungering for that picture. The first
man to discover how matters stood was
the auctioneer whose Insight into human
nature on such occasions is marvellous.
And he used II with good effect on the
supposed Makart.
Grant made respectable bid. Presently
Pheian went higher and was raised another
$50. Phelan advanced his bid. whereupon
Grant snapped him up with the eagerness
of a gambler acce pting wagers. And so it
went, $50 or 500 at a time, until Phelan
stopped at $3.50.
Now it so happened that Phelan and
Grant are friends, clubmen in the same
clubs. and not at all disposed to enter a
contest where money alone counts. Mr..
Phelan thought that his friend had evil
IDENTIFY set his heart on possessing a
Makart and courteously let him have it
for $500.
Mr.. Phelan was asked whether he was
aware that the paintings genuineness had
been doubted by the most competent
critics, even positively denied.
THAT not genuine Makart! copyv'
was his only answer, and he opened his
eyes wide in establishment in conjunction
with a grimace that was eloquent of ex-
preston.
'NOt Makart?"
$50 it is claimed by artists who saw the
original" he was told.
"Well, of course. l saw the name on the
catalogue and presumed the picture was a
Makarf, and | went to the sale and bid on
II, But as Mr.. Grant desired 10 own it
let him have it.
81 mad great admiration for Makart
he died young you know, but left great
deal; aud | wanted to have one of his pic
lures. Pm surprised to hear it ia not an
original"
John Stanton. who saw much of Ma
karts work in Paris and Munich, declared
last night his belief that the painting in
Mrs. Johnson's collection is not genuine.
"From what l have seen of Makarrs
pictures I'm positive this one is not his"
he said. ut is not his in color nor in
method"
ut is merely a copy Of Makarts paint
ing that hangs in the new Pinacothek in
Munich" was Henry Raschen's assertion.
j. is but three years since Raschen re-
turned from Munich, and SO the memory
Of the greater pictures there is still fresh
IN his mind.
"The original hangs in the new Pima
cothek," he continued. cit is copied
every year at least twenty-five times by
professional copyists This picture that
Mrs. Johnson bought is not more than
four feet long. Makart never painted
such small pictures. He always worked
with wide brush and his paintings were
life size, very decorative and mostly allie
gorical frescoes. The original of the
$500 picture is fully twenty-four feet
long and the figures are life-size with
fruits, flowers and other subjects intro
duced to express tie gifts of harvest time.
It hangs with companion picture. also
an allegory of some season, and is copied
year after year by men who make copying
their business. The copies are sold 10
tEdNclcIo, duO VI IL lu6 traveller
does not know enough about art and
artists be or she is swindled frequently.
Another thing, Makart never duplicated
his pictures. He never made copy, much
less worked with small brush on small
canvas.
IT'S pity though that that beautiful
Dupre and that Munkacsy did not bring
over $1,000 al the johnson auc ioD."