The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-02-23
PICTURE THIEVES.
= DEALER WHO SAYS 7ATsz .,s
ARTISTIC KLEpIoMANIAcs ~

'"e's OF Devonshirer- :
'''en For vote-sharpe.. - a MSS
terfeit Etchings. ana ooun-
:, Did you ever hear Of tho
siep'omaniacs" asked a ,s1,, aruSlo
son N etchings during an after 1 Irnon
sv harmony few days AGO . svrion-
."eio y such aperson. The artist -, ~
'o."ailac Is rnsanely fond of va1. ...sp-
ar III 'ne form Of etchines or na ;'.e.'plo
ne steals through the admirsti ius'nss;
rove OF art. There are many fama.,u anu s
stances where old and almost MUS IN
tp OF the painters Art baro
Deen taken by persons Of this kirS " ave
~ Is oud that in almost every insta s,.e
tne stolen pieces of art couid noa 20
traced. '"iu not be
The most famous artistic a,os.
modern days was the stealing ~ ~ u
ure OF st. Anthony from the co,e s,'o ny
picture by Murillo. The painting y v,,';oS
was on exhibition in the catbedraI =.
oeViile' represented st. ANTHONY sr.
rounded by angels One morninc oho,-.
seven years ago it was discovered 49, 49,
the figure Of St Anthony had been ', cnt
from the canvas. 01 0u'
All Europe was notified Of the theft
but the police never found the tbios
About two years afterward a snaniard
from the West Indies called in ar Tho
establishment Of Mr.. Schaus. the reII
known picture dealer Of this citv Tha
Spaniard told Mr.. Schaus that he worId
like to sell him an unsigned naint;,., ~.
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
The man was seized, and Mr.. scbaus
had the honor of returning the painting
to Spain.
1.-The theft of the celebrated portrait
Of the Duchess Of Devonshire, by Gains
borough, l . years ago was doubtless the
work OF an 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. It had
been ON exhibition, and the Agnew gal
leries had been crowded. One morning
the frame stood empty. The paipSug
had been cut out, and n 20 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. 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 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:
Is there anything can do for you
if you will vote for Fox?'
eyes, answered the butcher If
you will kiss me, l 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 Gainsboroush when she
was posing for her picture.
The collector Of valuable etchings or
engravings must be as constantly on the
alert for counterfeits rs 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 a
wide knowledge of the history Of etch-
ings recently saved Frederick Keppel,
the art dealer of this city and Paris,
nearly l, 900 marks in Berlin. The col
lection of etchings Of the late Baron Up
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 stranger IN
Berlin. | am native Of the city, and
| am mortified to see you so badly cheat
ed today. l wish to make you all the
restitution can. You paid l, 400 marks
for that etching. The price Is far TOO
high, but to compensate you for your
loss / will sell you genuine etchlns
for ], 900 marks. -
Mr.. Keppel knew his etching to 90
genuine. Mr.. Keppel saw that the man
was playing a game Of high comedy
but he said he would like to see inc
etching. When Mr.. Keppel reviewed
the etching, he said;
Il will give you marks for the e'cn-
ing" When the man found he had peen
caught in his game, he simply sand:
'Prenez lie, 4" and Mr. keppel took 'no
counterfeit, which he afterward gave 10
the purchaser of his genuine etchlns.
The counterfeit, which was made py
solomon Savry, can only be told rom
the original by the difference III 'h'
drawing of one of the hands IN the e''n'
ing.
-, ...,., tbo orig