The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-06
eighteenth Street, Nineteenth Street and Sixth Hvenue.

an event OF a twelvemonth. were com planning
that never before had buyers been so few or
prices low. When the doors OF tho
Academy opened it was obvious that this de-
plorabe state OF affairs had not spurred on
the average artist to any remarkable effort
By common consent the exhibition was the
weakest that has ever been displayed on the
walls OF Burlington House. And the para
dox comes in. for despite it's artistic insignin-
canoe. the present exhibition has been the most
popular and the greatest pecuniary success
for several years past. Last year the total sales
amounted to fl3. 13O. while this year no less
than f2l $40 has been received by the Acad-
envy authorities for the sale OF pictures. Nor
is this amount made up chiefly OF few i'm
portant pictures sold at very high prices. but
rather OF number OF comparatively I'M
important works the average prices of which
have been moderate
Mr. Napier Henry. whose name a few years
ago was practically unknown to the public. and
whose election to a vacant Associateship re-
Gently was surprise to all but his artist
friends. has been fortunate enough to obtain
the highest price OF the year for his marine
picture. "Smugglers." This sold for 81 800.
while the second price was obtained by
Mr.. Colin Hunter. also for seascape.
Signs Of Herring" Mr.. Hunter is also
an Associate Of the Academy. but it
cannot be said that either the Academicians
or the Associates have held their own as re-
CARDS public patronage against the outsiders
this year. Out OF the f2l $40. which was the
total sum received. only fS.77S must be put to
the credit OF Academcians and Associates.
And 300 ont Of this went to Mr.. Wyllie for his
Battle Of the Nile" which was purchased by
| his colleagues under the terms Of the Chantrey
| beIuest
The purchasing under this bequest is be-
| ginning to be something OF n scandal. and at
tention has already been called to the fact that
| the pictures which under it are bought every
| year by the Academicians for the benefit Of
| the public are paid for when the work Of
| Acadcmicians or Associates at prices far be-
| yond the market value. In the Tate Gal
lery. for instance. there hang two pictures by
Mr. BrIton Riviere :one is entitled Sympathy"
! the other Beyond Man Footsteps" and in the
! opinion OF most Judges the former 10 the better
! work Of the two But Sympathy" was pur-
; chased in the open market and cost f2T3. while
Beyond Mans Footsteps" was bought by tho
| Academlcians out OF the Chantrey funds and
cost IL 200. There Ia another instance OF the
| same sort OF thing In the case OF another Acad-
emician, Mr. Hilton. who has two pictures in
| the Tate Gallery. One was purchased at auc-
ton for fl7D. the other the Academ clans
| bought for 81 900
| not only that outsiders have secured the main
portion of the sales but IN this respect the
| Associates have outstrippcd the full Academi-
! clans. for this year the thirty Associates have
made between them G4,1GO. while the full
| Academcians. who number forty. have sold
| only f3.0lS worth Looking through the list
! OF sales one finds opportunity for several ran
dom reflections. One Is the fact that the
water colors have not been nearly so popular
! or brought such high prices MS they have in
| former years. though Mr.. Napier Henry again
| heads the list in this medium ~ well as in
! oils. his Plymouth Rockers" bringing 1850
and his Mill Pond" 1918. II is noticeable also
that Mr., sydney Cooper has disposed OF oil the
four pictures exhibited by him this year. afro
cious as they are from an artistic point OF view.
| for prices ranging from 5000 to 5000 Notice.
| able also, is the lamentable fact that the
sales in the sculpture gallery amount TO but
| a small part Of tho whole. OF tho GOA
| which went to sculptors in general. no
less than $3.50 was given by the Chantrey
trustees for one figure Tho Glrdle." The
amounts named include only the prices OF
pictures sold through the medium OF the
| Academy officials and do not include the re.
suits Of private sales or what has been paid for
works executed on commission. The Academy
receives no commission on sales, and vandal
rumor has it that some Academicans keep UP
their reputation for prices by tho convenien,
method Of a fictitious sale and the exchange Of
checks with well-tO.do friend. ii. H. C..