The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-07-26
SOLD HIS PICTURE TWELVE TIMES.
An Artists Story OF the PossibiIitie
In Forging Paintings.

Am Artists Story OF the Possibilities
In Forging Paintings.
1--WE sometimes come across queer de-
velopments concerning the forgery Of
paintings" said landscape artist in the
course Of conversation with a party Of
friends. by forgery of course l mean
the painting of picture over some other
artists name.
I'll tell you a true story which shows
how safe the business Is considered when
carried on in the right way. The dealer
who worked this scheme had a genuine
work by a great French landscape paint
err exhibited in his store. One day a
westerner bought it for q good round
sum.
1.-The art man closed the deal with rel
ish. but began to feel opposed to parting
with his treasure as soon as the customer
was outside the door. The painting was
not to be delivered until three or four
days later. He quickly had it taken out
of its frame and sent to clever potboiler
who had served him before. In three
days the potboiler had copy which. con-
sdering time and circumstances, was q
marvel. This copy went west. and the
dealer kept his treasure.
1.-The trick came off so prettily that the
dealer decided to try it over again. 1t
sounds like fairy tale. and yet it is true
that he sold that same landscape to II
different persons and delivered it to all of
them, and yet he has the original in his
own private collection. He decided that
the latter plan would prove safer in the
long run than the store, as one Of the Il
customers might return for another bar.
gain"
What did the potboiler make out OF
that?" asked one of his hearers.
Not much" the artist said. "He
struck for q raise each time the original
came back to him. but don't suppose he
got more than $12 or SIS for the first
copy"
Ever heard of Snakes?" inquired m,
other artist in the party.
1.-THE king of potboilers" asked the
first.
That's the one. He wound up In a
lunatic asylum. It's queer story. The
man began to think that he was some
body. His fakes were so clever that he
lost his equilibrium and stiffened the
prices more than the dealer fancied. The
latter said nit and quit giving orders, al
though the step caused him regret.
"Snakes threatened and actually went
so far as to tell his story to several inter.
ested persons. Evidence was the one
thing they all demanded. Had they only
been able to get that. the dealer would
have had hot time Of 1t. But there was
only the word of Snakes to go by, and be
wasn't always quite sober when he told
his discriminating tale. Besides. he had
never signed any Of the copies he made.
THE art dealer had been cunning
enough to let another man put in that fin
ish;ng touch. Why. there are men who
do nothing else but put signatures to
spurious masterpieces. either imported OF
homemade and who get from S. to $40
for each job. That's an art, too, and
some of them are very good at 1t, and
to have the right twist to the signature Il
considered so important by the dealers
that those who arc clever in that way get
more than the potboilers who make the
pictures"
"And how about Snakes"
"Oh. nothing came out of his squeal
but hard times to himself Other dealers
heard Of the story and turned him down.
He had shirked too long to be able ia
make a living by legitimate work, and
he was too proud TO try. strange to say,
even when in his cups: results. slow star
walton, wandering mind, still less money,
whisky and cigarettes substituted for
food, complete bughouse, arrest and
transportation to Wards island."-New
York Sun.