Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-10-23
PICTURE THIEVES.
q DEALER WHO SAYS THERE ARE
ARTISTIC KLsProMAklAcs.
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"Did you ever hear Of the artist,
kleptomanisci' asked . well known
dealer In etchings during an after lunch
con harmony q few days ago well,
there IL such q person. Tho artistic klep
tomaniac IL insanely fond Of valuabl,
art In the form Of etchinss or paintings.
lie steals through the admiration and
love Of art There are many famous In
stances where old and almost pricelcs'
masterpieces of tho painters art have
becn taken by prrsons of this Kind. and
10 IL odd that In almost every instanc'
the stolen pieces Of art could not b.
traced.
"Thc most famous artistic theft oi
modern days was the stealing pf the ng'
ure of 81 Anthony from the celebrated
picture by Murillo The painting. which
was on exhibition In the cathedral Al
Seville. represented st Anthony sur
rounded Ivy angela One morning about
seven years ago u was discovered that
the figure Of St Anthony had been cut
from the canvsA
"Ali Europe VIA. notified Of the theft.
but tho police never found the thief
About two years Afierward . spaniar,l
from the West Indie. called In Mt ihs
establishment of Mr.. Schsus, the well
known picture dealer Of this city. Thc
spaniard told Mr.. Schaus that he would
like % cell him an unsigned painting by
Murilio Mr.. Schaus. being o man oi
large intelligence regarding works of
the masters. recognised Immediately y
tho figure Of II Anthony cut from the
painting In the cathedral at Seville
"The man was seised. and Mr.. Schau-
had the honor Of returning the painting
a. Spain.
"Thc theft of the celebrated portrait
Of the Duchess Of Dcvonshirr. by Gains.
borough. Is year. ago was doubtless the
work of an artistic kleptomaniac. for
the pictur. can do the thief no good but
excite his admiration. The portrait Wa.
In the possession of the Me~-rx Agnew.
the picture dealers of London. IL had
been On exhibition. and the Agnew gal.
leries had been crowded one morning
tho frame stood empty. The painting
hal l.~n cut out, and no one knows 10
this day where Gainsborough's Duchess
Of Dcvonshirr Ia
'Some dishonest lover of art is sloat.
Ing over the picture In private The por'
trait IL valued at t5o.o0o.
THAT painting by uainsborough. L..
aides tsing IN artistic relic. II also his
toric. as the painting was made just
when the beautiful Duchess Of Devon
shire had b-en the means Of turning
the political tide Of England Pitt and
Fox werc rival candidates for parlia.
ment 10 Was demonstrated that the
election would b. narrowed down to the
vote % an elderly fat butcher. The
butcher intended 10 vote for Pitt Tho
Duke of Devon.hire tried every means,
including q brite. 20 infucnoe the fat
butcher 20 vote for Fox. but the butcher
was obduraie Then the beautiful duch'
es- said to himi
"'Is ther. anythin. I can do for you
n you will vote for foxy
"'Yc-.' answered the hatcher II
you will kiss me. will vote for fox.
"Thc duchess Kissed the fat butcher.
Fox was elected. and the political com.
plexion of England was changed. II IL
relaissi that the Duchess Of D-vonsbirc
told the story TO Gainsboroush when she
was posing for her picture
The collector ~ valuable etchinss or
engrayings must In ~ constantly on the
alert for counterfeits as l. the hank
cashier for forg,si checks or counterfeit
bills or the jeweler for false diamonds
Some dealers have suffered heavy los-'~
because Of their inability TO distinguish
between nh original and counterfeit
etching or engraving Quick wit and n
wide knowledge II the history IL etch'
ingS recently saved Frederick Keppel.
the art dealer Of this city and Paris.
nearly 1000 marks In Berlin. The col.
lection Of otchingr Of the late Baron OPP
psrInan wa. sold mt auction. and dealers
from all over tho world attended the
sale at Berlin.
Mr. Keppel bought IN impression of
Rembrandt's Christ before Plate, Gu
titled the "Great Ecce Homo. paying
I. 400 marks, or $3.50. for the etching.
Just after the sale well drcsscd gen
tieman said In French to Mr. Keppel:
"Sir. I presume you arc stranger In
Berlin. I am o native of the city. and
am mortified 10 ssc you 30 badly cheat
ed today. Iwish to make you oil the
restitution lean You paid I. 400 marks
for that etching. The price IL far too
high. but TO compensate you for yonr
los I will sell you genuine etching
Cor 1000 marks"
Mr.. Keppsl knew his etching 10 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;
"i will give you marks for tho rtch.
ing" When the man found he had been
caught In his game. he simply said;
"Prenez le." and Mr.. Keppel took the
counterfeit. which he afterwar,i gavcio
the purchaser of his genuine etching.
The counterfeit. which was made by
Solomon Savry. can only be told from
the original by tho difference In the
drawing of ono of the hands In the etch.
Ing.
The only difference between the orig.
inal and the counterfeit Of Albert Du.
rer's celebrated etching "Melancbolia"
Ii the form Of ward on ono OF several
keys hanging from . figures girdle.
Though smaller than q pinhead. the
flaw represents difference In Trlce OF
several hundred dollarA New York
Sun.
rAs yirss VIII Mshs WORK rss Mssy.
"what is the probable los from the
fire ON pine stumpage throughout the
statei' was asked Of leading logger.
"The loss is In ono sense nominal" :"
replied he "You understand. nrc docs
not burn tho body Of . pine tree. II only
burns OF the bark AMI foliage. The
trunk Of tho burned tree ID ~ good ~
ever 10 was, with this exception-the
tree, after Il IL burned. must be cut the
Succeeding winter. else II will become
worm eaten and worthless