Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-01-19

THEFT OF a Mur1llO ana OF UalnsDoroushs
duchess of Devonshire"-Story of a Kiss
Given For a yote-Sharpers and Coun-
terfeit Etchings.
Ibid you ever hear Of the artistic
kleptomaniac?" asked well known
dealer in etchings during an after lunch
con harmony few days ago. well,
there is such 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
it is odd that in almost every instance
the stolen pieces of art could not be
traced.
1.-The most famous artistic theft OF
modern days was the stealing of the fig
ure of st. Anthony from the celebrated
picture by Murillo. 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 Spaniard
from the West Indies called in at the
establishment of Mr.. Schaus, the well
known picture dealer of this city. Tho
Spaniard told Mr.. Schaus that he would
like to sell him an unsigned painting by
Murillo. Mr. Schaus, being a 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.
1.-THE man was seized, and Mr.. Schaus
had the honor of returning the painting
to Spain.
1.-The theft of the celebrated portrait
of the Duchess of Devonshire, by Gains
borough, 5 years ago was doubtless the
work of al artistic kleptomaniac, for
the picture can do the thief no good but
excite his admiration. The portrait was
in the possession of the Messrs. Agnew,
the picture dealers of London. 1t had
been ON exhibition, and the Agnew gal
leries had been crowded. One morning
the frame stood empty. The painting
had been cut out, and no one knows to
this day where Gainsborough's Duchess
of Devonshire is.
''Some dishonest lover of art is gloat
ing over the picture in private. The por
trait is valued at $50, 600.
'"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 was 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:
&c Is there anything l can do for you
if you will vote for Fox?'
Yes, answered the butcher If
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 1t is
related that the Duchess of Devonshire
told the story to Gainsborough when she
was posing for her picture.
The collector of valuable etchings or
engravings must be as constantly on the
abort for tarfaits iS tho hanly
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 a
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 over 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
1,400 marks, or $3.50, for the etching.
Just after the sale well dressed gen.
tleman said in French to Mr. Keppel:
"Sir, presume you are a stranger in
Berlin. ! am a native of the city, and
/ am mortified to see you so badly cheat
ed today. wish to make you all the
restitution can. You paid 1, 400 marks
for that etching. The price is far too
high, but to compensate you for your
loss l will sell you a genuine etching
for 1000 marks "
Mr.. Keppel knew his etching to be
genuine. Mr.. Keppel saw that the man
was playing game of high comedy,
but he said he would like to see the
etching When Mr.. Keppel reviewed
the etching, he said:
II will give you marks for the etch-
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 afterward gave TO
the purchaser of his genuine etching
The counterfeit, which was made by
Solomon Savry, can only be told from
the original by the difference in the
drawing of one of the hands in the etch.
ing.
The only difference between the orig
inal and the counterfeit of Albert Du-
rer's celebrated etching "Melancholia"
is the form of ward on one of several
keys hanging from figures girdle
Though smaller than pinhead, the
flaw represents difference in price of
several hundred dollars. New York