The sun., 1897-11-07

and Lisbon and for seventeen years was super
intendent Of the art collections Of South Ken
sngton Museum. And yet Sir John. quoting
from a report of the late Mr.. Middleton, tells
the select committee that many articles have
been bought for the museum by Sir Charles
Robinson which were either worthless In them
selves, or else worth much less than the sum
which he caused the museum to pay for them"
1t is very unfortunate, too, that some of these
objets dart were purchased for the museum
not only by Sir Charles, but from Sir Charles.
This was the with a certai1 ancient
" Palissy plate" 1t was Q painful story that
Sir John unfolded.
According to Sir John, q museum attendant
had his suspicious reused as to the authenticity
Of this plate. And. sure enough, after carefully
examining 1t, breaking the seal, and removing a
piece Of linen that had been fixed on the back
over breakage. he found the name of modern
French pottery maker in Paris. Sir Charles
could only lament that he had been imposed
upon. But he Indignantly denied that a mere
caretaker knew more about Palissy plates than
himself. The caretaker had accidentally broken
the plate, otherwise there could never have
been any suspicion Of its authenticity" he said.
Moreover, Sir Charles said that owing to the
ever-increasing scientific. artistic. and indus
trial resources at the service Of artistic and
unscrupulous persons. oven the most expert
oonnoisseur must. from time to time. be de-
ceived. He could only express his deep regret.
refund $3.50 to her Majestys treasury, and de-
Stroy the plate.
Not content with the Palissy plate story the
unkind Sir John insnuated that Sir Charles
was an "art referee." and also told how tho
latter had strongly recommended the Edinburgh
Museum to buy some ancient armor from Mr..
Wilson, otherwise he would buy 1t himself.
n al hp w hA raaI
OF the armor. This. however, was q mere trifie
compared with being called an art referee.
which. cried poor Sir Charles. was malicious
misstatement." Then he proceeded to enighten
the committee as to what an art referee really
is. 1t sounds respectable enough occupation,
but, according to Sir Charles, the museum fre-
quently makes a blunder in its purchases.
When this happens, and any purchase is called
In question, the first thing to do is to look
around for an art referee, who will father
the object. When this accommodating sponsor
has been found. at fec varying from $40 to
$50. tho object 10 pronounced all right. and
every ono is satisfied.
After the malicious Sir John had finished, II
was the cruelty treated Sir Charles's turn, He
started in with an Italian doorway. The art
director and Sir John gave 83. 900 for a marble
doorway In Milan. though they ought to have
known quito well that 1t had been offered to the
museum before and refused. Another S2,OOC
was spe in bringing the doorway to England
and setting 1t up at South Kensington. and Sir
| Charles describes IT as IAN overt fraud. such
indeed, as no person having oven the most rudi
mentary knowledge OF Italian fifteenth century
| sculpture would have failed TO perceive, The
doorway is In fact spurious modern make VI
by an ornamental sculptor who was living Al
Brescia." At this point Sir Charles produced
his trump card in the shape OF letter from tn,
ornamental sculptor" in which that ingeni
GUS artist declares that, with the exception of a
! few small portions. the doorway Is entirely hi
own work. And in case this should not be reck
oned TO outweigh tho PalsSy plate and the ole
armor, Sir Charles throws into the scale few
1 more trihes; for instance, somo Cardinal VOL
sey chairs" which were made only hundreS