The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
A MUCH-SoLD PICTURE.
The story Told by n Painter of Land.
scape.

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 / mean
the painting of a picture over some other
artists name.
I'm tell you 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
er exhibited in his store. one day a WeS-
terner bought 1t for a good round sum.
The art man closed the deal with rel
ish but again began to feel opposed to
parting with the 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
II taken out of its frame and sent to
clever pot-boiler who had served him be-
fore. In three days the pot-boiler had
copy which considering time and circum-
stances. was marvel. This copy went
West and the dealer kept his treasure.
THE trick came off so prettily that the
dealer decided to try it over again. IL
sounds like fairy tale, and yet 1t is
true that he sold that same landscape to
twelve different persons and delivered ii
to all OF them. and yet he has the orig
inal in his own private collection-he de-
cided that the latter plan would prove
safer in the long run than the store. as
one of the twelve customers might re-
turn fer another bargain.
What did the pOtboiler make out of
that" asked one of his hearers
Not much" the artist said. He struck
for a raise each time the original came
back to him. but | don't suppose he got
more than $l2 or SO for the first copy"
Ever heard of Snakes?" enquired an
other artist in the party.
The king of potbollers?' asked the
first
That's the one He's in a Iunatic asy-
lum now. It's a queer story. The man
began to think that he was somebody.
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, although 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 it. But there was
only the word of Snakes to go by-and
he 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
finishing touch. Why, there are men who
do nothing else but put signatures to spu-
riOus masterpieces. either imported or
homemade. and who get from s. TO $50
for each job. That's an art. too. and some
of them are very good at il. And to have
the right twist to the signature is consid-
cred so important by the dealers that
those who are 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 shirkcd too long to be able to
make n living by legitimate work And
he was too proud to try. strange to say.
even when in his cups Results: slow
starvation. wandering mind, still less
money: whisky and cigarettes substituted
for food, complete bughouse, arrest and
transportation to Wards Island.