New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-03
GREAT NAMES FOR SMALL FIGURES
SALE OF PAINTINGS At THE FIFTH AVE
NUE. ART GALLERIES

The Fifth Avenue Art Galleries. at Fifth-ave
md Thirtyfourth-st.. were the scene last evening
OF one OF the most remarkable picture sales ever
held there. At other and less well-known auction
rooms sales have frequently been held at which
reputed odd masters" have not received tho re-
spect that their age end reputation deserved. But
Il is seldom that the OF great artists have
been irreverently treated as they were last night
But as 70 who was responsible for the irreverenca
opinions were divided. The auctioneer thought
that the audience showed the want Of respect by
not Offering more for the pictures Some members
OF the audience were heard 10 express the convic-
ton that the fault lay elsewhere. That Is as 1t
may be. The fact remains that pictures were sold
last night for so and SIS EACH which, II genuine,
would easily bring 1900 each at Chrsties or tho
H6tel Drouet.
There was o certain discrepancy between tho
statement made in the advertisements OF the sac
and that printed in the catalogue under the head
Of the conditions Of sale. In the advertisements
II was stated that the Originality OF every paint
ing was guaranteed. The auctioneer, James 7.
So. also read a letter from the owner Of the COL
lection Edward W. Tlsdall. before the sale. which
repeated this assurance The catalogue however
specified that the sale of any article is not to be
set aside on account Of any error in the descrip-
ton . and no warranty whatever is made
Perhaps II was this which made the buyers so
shy. There is thing certain The pictures
may or may not have been Original" The Gaia
loEue Cert0nly was VI lHe l,tl4leII u OliN W.
was said that He was at first an engineer oiacer
His good breeding IS shown H. the rchhed
manner IN which this scene Is handed. ~ ~
other picture T. was said: "A picture or THIS sLc
brought 1880 at the Barring sale N 1877
The best price Of tho sale was 500 Tor a p9trdlt
described as that O. Miss Kitty Calcraf by George
Romney. The catalogue also stated th2t IL 10
" belonged 10 "Humphreys" Ward,the famous Lne-
Nsh art critic The next best figure was 500 ior
The Woman Taken in Adultery. a large WoIk
by Malta Freti The gloom which caar9 , ~
the sale broken in a curious way lust as ths
picture was knocked down. As the aucuoneer
cried Going going" the chair on which one or me
bidders cat suddenly collapsed. and at the word
Whether the Psychical Research society VIII eX-
anime this incident for the light which IL may
throw on the sympathy of inanlmate objects FOR
damage done 10 the feelings Of old masters cannot
yet be said. 49,,
A pastel Moonlight" by the Norwegian artist
Frits Thaulow was knocked down for S430, while
\ large landscape ascribed TO Herman Safueyen
went for $500. Another Dutch landscape by jan
the sale was one long slaughter OF the innocent or
nedirrees a landscape described az being by
Canaletto which several experts I'm this city nave
declared genuine and a valuable example or ne
Tisdall at OF the loan exhibitions or INC Lolos
Club Other great names Jared sul worse; a
small picture asoribcd TO Constable, ana declared
10 have come direct from the grandson OF the
painter brought $50 An immense 'lmma culato
Conception," said to be by Xurbaran evoked one
bid Of $50. a Gainsboroueh landscape brough
$685. and enormous work described as Houssn
was started at S23 and knocked down for $40 more
Lady with Letter" by Sir Thomas Law
renee brought $500 while q portrait said 70 be
that Of John Duke Of Marlborough. by Sir Godfrey
Kneller, knocked down for SliO Inc auc'
tioneer kept his temper well throughout the sale
bu could not repress a sarcastic remark when this
last lot was sold. Another Sir Godfrey. a portrait
OF a girl Jared still worse. going for $50