The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-29

/ 70 Agnew's and the chances are that
/ never before has their winter exhibition
made such substantial sum for the ar
fists general benevolent association. "a
which the profits are always devoted
Mr.. Pierpont Morgan may have the salts
faction of knowing that he is the owner
of the most talked about picture of the
day
The Chigi Botticelli however. comes in
q good second. If thieves have not lent
it distinction. at least it can claim the
glory Of having been struggled out Of
Italy; and feats Of smuggling always
DO appeal to the public. The main facts
here again are fairly familiar. The
picture belonged to Prince Chigi but was
SO little appreciated that il remained
hidden away in one of the lower halls of
his Roman palace for years before il was
discovered by Morelli had declared by him
to be, except for the frescoes in the Sis
tine chapel, the only authentic BotticellI
i'm Rome. This. OF course. was enough
to send every well-trained Morellian post
haste to the palace in the Piazza Colon
ua and almost every one OF them has
had q word to say on the subject. But
the great public does not hear with the
same thrill the news OF the critics latest
attribution. and. the Chigi palace not
being open TO every tourist. who knocks
at the door. the picture mad it STAYED
there would have been comparatively IN
known.
Prince Chigi. however. determined TO
part with it. as many an italian prince
has parted with his treaures before now.
seven thousand pounds was offered for SC
by a foreign dealer upou which "a kind
Of auction was held among other compe-
titors According TO the rumor. i was
knocked down to one Of the RothschnGs
for El2.6t1. But the one thing certain was
that while. after the declaration Of pur-
chase had been made. as the Italian law
requires, 10 the minister Of uuhlic in
scrnc;ion. and he was deliberltinE uDon
It.. the picture disappeared froa Rome
Just as the Gainsborough had disappeared
from London. The prince was aaed by
one court the sum BE had receives. ~
another coart the iilc was reduced q
trivial eSs. third court. that AZ caSsa-
tion Cancelled borh decisions ana the
case has heeen sent for hearing 10 q
fourth court Those who are eot intimate
- acquainted with the sntucacies ~ ltal-
ian law begin ID sou1er into new u-ars-
more Il can 30 dragged before a fl4l de-
cision j. reached- Upon its disanlear-
ance fresh rumors were scattered troaG-
east, the purchaser Was not Roth
schiid but a London dei1er. tbs ucsare
was in Paris in Boston IN the collection
~ Mrs John l.. tfarGuer- u WIS here
there ana everywhere ta- r1her
day AIessgs Celuagm calmly prpduced .t
in their Pax 9isn gallery exhlhi-si hy
siss5 permission 81 3lrs- John J. Gar1-
ner. and admitted IA ar accomEsr sirs
pamphlet. taas i was boeght ~ Primes
Chigi az Rome By their represents 5lve-
in june. 1s9
oue Noal abant ihe picture before 7
posrt est The serinus eject wh.ea its
manner u transport rsay have It
very EARNING HostieelH. The Asaeasa
ana laSaut cl.rizt an4 AEgel ia the
English catalogue. -l-s Aaaans AK f-fls
in lhe rressea. hat pre1afls sestfrsl AZ
vays - ~ krnen fsre 4lger as The
Chigi Bo1ticein- Eae Aagel very g.