Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-23
MARLBOROUGH Jewel Sale DepIored.
(London Letter.


Nrarlborough's collection Of gems that
David Bromilow bought in 1910, in It's en-
tirety. for $4,000. was scattered TO IN"
four winds of vanity, indifference curl
ositv and dilettanteism By its auction
sale here last week. The British Museum
did not get the cameo Of cupid ana
Psyche" for which the treasury oHefed
$50 600. 1t has gone 10 the Boston Museum
the wise say ..,-,
The collection was offered &c the Brush
Museum in 1868 for $4,000 and reused
one gem in 1t was worth more IMAM thdI
In mineralogical interest the Dlolus
Julian" is almost as valuable as the
Agate de Ia Sainte Chapelle,. Which -
in Paris, and the "Gemma AugusIea'
which is in the Imperial Museum aI
Vienna. 1t brought only Si0oyo.
The "Didiu5 Julian was almost UNI
known to the world. At Blenheim IT was
inaccessible; in Bromilow's c1olnet II was
relocated into a corner. Perhaps lHele
we're doubts of historians about the au-
thenticity of the gems portraits Inc
sexagenarian usurper reigned only sixty
five days and the work or the ensi"'eI
must have occupied him for months ana
months constantly.
But the work is admirable. 1t pre-
sents the ccpfronted busts or roman
emperor M empress; the former IN
vested with The horn of Ammon ana the
oak wreath Of Dodonean Jove; the lat
ter crowned with a similar wreath, IN
terwoyen with the wheat ears and pop
pies Of Ceres The face of the man re-
scmbles that of COmmodus, the Iace OF
the woman is not that of his wiie. Crls-
pina-unlcss the engraVer ualteIed Hel-
Jut of his fayOrite Marcia.
But even If the portraits may not re
traced TO their originals, the WORK Is
admirable. The sardonyx exhibits lour
distinct strata, one Of which IS Iich
purple that has never before been seen
in a sardonyx. The artist mas mace
clever use OF the contrasted colors 10
render the different tints of flesh.
drapery, and decorations.
The slab. an irregular ellipse, has been
cracked. but IL was ski.fully mended and
mounted in chased frame Of silver Sllt'
with a backing. The Duke OF MARI
borough obtained this gem In l1ZO' from
the Marquis de Fuentes, who was Portu-
guese Ambassador at the Papat Court
then. The Duke of Orleans, grandson or
the Regent OF France, was the Dukes
most active rival in the collection OF
gems, and they went 10 great lengths in
their anxiety 10 srrpass one another.
They made extensive excursions, they paid
fabulous prices.
The Duke of Devonshire paid 5000 for
the Cow" OF Apo!lonides and 5000 for
the "Diomede with the Palladium" and
the Duke O.. Marlborough obtained both
from him by paying an enormous proht
The Duke OF Marlborough paid 5000 FOR
the "Phocion" Of Alessandro H. Greco
the "Horatius Coolies" the Anti
nous" ard the 'Matidea." which brought
at the auction last week less than 5000
Every art lover here supports the old
Dukes judgment against the moderns.
The gems are inimitable. The Dukes
taste was exquisite. George Ill, jealous
OF IL. bought Consul Smiths extrava-
gantly praised collection and caused IT
70 be catalogued in the "Dactylotheca
Smithiana," published in Venice In 1901
Then Josephine, the Empress. caused the
learned Baron Yiyant-Deno TO make .