Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-04-19
A PATRON OF ART.
HE WAS NOT MUCH OF A JUDGE OF
PICTURES, BUT BOUGHT THEM.

And When All Was Said and Done Ii
Had to he Acknowledged by the
Painters Themselves That He Was
"A Real Patron.
There is a story you can hear if you
want in Paris concerning two men of
Cincinnati. Who the two men are, in
the words Of the poet, II know, but
may not tell" If l could tell-ah, that
would be a seven days scandal!
Both Of them were supposed to be
patrons of art. They were men of note
and they had money galore. They did
not know anything about pictures. They
could not tell, unaided, a Rembrandt
from a Autograph; but that is a trifle.
They were patrons of art.
AS to their names, I shall call one
Smith and the other Jones. Well,
Smith bought a picture and presented
it to the Art museum. Then Jones went
abroad and visited Paris, and there an
artist whom I knew ran across him.
II want" said Jones, "to give a
picture to the museum. Smith has done
SO. Imustn't let him get ahead of me. "
"My dear Mr.. JONES'" said the artist
aforesaid, II know exactly the picture
for you. 1t was painted by Constant.
It is now in Constants studio. Let me
take you there tomorrow and you shall
see it. You will not get anything love-
lier in all Paris"
The next day they went to Constants
studio. They were shown the picture.
Constant himself shook hands with the
great American patron of art. The 9TH
er artist, the n who had taken Jones
to the studio, praised the picture inor-
dinately. 1t was indeed lovely, and it
deserved the praise. The American was
visibly impressed. He almost said he
would buy it.
"And it is not a dear picture, all
things considered, said his conductor.
"How much?' said the patron.
Twenty thousand francs-$4, 000."
"Oh"
From that moment the interest of the
patron began to cool. He did not say
again that he liked the picture. He took
leave of the famous Constant almost
CURLY. He did not encourage his con-
ductor to talk, and he would not him
self say anything more about the pic
ture.
Naturally the conducting artist
thought it was all over. He made a
feeble attempt to reopen the subject,
but the patron of art said grufly:
"No, no. That picture doesn't suit
me-"
Picturesque and severe things were
said about that patron by that artist.
He declared that the patron knew no
more Of art than a COW did. What bust
ness had such a man to an opinion about
a picture?
"Of course" he would conclude at
the end Of each ~harangue, "the trouble
was in the price. He is worth millions
and he wouldn't pay 81, 900 for a beau
tiful picture-the barbarianr'
Suddenly the artist was astonished.
The patron had bought a picture, and,
behold, it was one which cost double
the price of Constants. What could it
all mean?
The artist was a point blank man,
and the next time he saw the patron he
went at him bluntly.
CHOW, Mr.. JONES'" said he, II want
you to tell me why you didn't buy Con-
stant's picture. I suppose the price was
too steep. But the n you bought at
least cost twice as much, and you got
sold in buying it."
"Why, look here" said the brilliant
Jones, cold Smith gave the museum a
picture that cost S., 000-$5, 900, you
understand. Do you suppose l can give
it one that cost only 81, 900? What do
you take me for?'
But he lisa patron of art .-Cincinnati
Commercial.