Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-07-30
FRAMPTON'S
GODSEND

In the pages OF that colossal work of
reference, the Universal, Royal and
Imperial Art Dictionary. may be found
the following interesting paragraph:
| Knoophuysen. Johannes usoa-eD, COM
monty called Van Dordreoht from the
place OF his birth. A pupn Of the elder
Cuyp and fellow student Of the younger
and more famous member OF that family.
/ ~ excsls In the depletion OF cattle grazing
and reposing.
All Of which reads ordinarily enough
until one looks up Johannes Knoop-
huysen. called Van Dordrecht." and
finds that such an artist never existed.
1t all began In the conference room
OF the Philadelphia Daily Dissent
nator. We were discussing the fea-
lures for the coming week when
Frampton strobe In. Now, Jack Tramp
ton was an Englishman, something of
an art critic on The Dissemination. He
conducted column as intermittent as
malaria and nearly as sweeping. As
regards art, he honestly held that the
only living writer at all worthy of at
tention was John sedley Frampton.
Jim Chufey. our Sunday supplement
editor. loved nothing better than to pre-
pare pitfalls FOR the feet OF the self
confident Frampton. But a magnifi-
cent trait of the latter. national trait
\ indeed, was that be never knew when
he was beaten and often succeeded in
| turning the tables on the funmakers.
| On this particular afternoon Tramp
discussion and smiled superciliously.
Jim Chuffey turned toward him with
an appealing air.
"oh, Framptonw he exclaimed.
Here's Stephenson claiming that the
elder Cuyp was better artist than
Knoophuysen."
| "KnoophuysenT repeated the critic.
| Eyes. Johannes Knoophuysen, the
cattle painter. OF course you know all
| about him.
| The expression OF doubt on Tramp
| toms face was only momentary. IL he
never owned to defeat, neither did he
confess to ignorance.
''oh. Knoophuysen" he said. Eyes.
OF course know all about the old fell
/ iow-fine painter. very fine. His work
| In many respects equals that of Claude
Lorraine. He Is particularly good in the
treatment of golden sunshine, and his
| cattle approach Paul Potter's."
"Knoophuysen has been shamefully
neglected" said Chuney earnestly.
'You ought TO write a screed about him
/ for your column. Jack"
"H'mr observed Frampton. his brow
1 cioudlng again. II haven't much time
| to look him up. Suppose you write me
a brief biography. and I'll run over 1t
and use II for next Sundays paper
! II think Knoophuysen's masterpiece
/ Is The Cow and Calf In a High
/ Wind yentured Stephenson at this
/ Juncture.
/ NONSENSE snapped Frampton.
"'The Cattle Fair on the Canal is
| Infinitely superior. Lord st. Mungo
bought 1t in 60 for $1,000"
/ Down went "The Cattle Fair" and
1.-THE Cow and Calf" on Jim Chufey's
memoir OF Knoophuysen. Next Sun
I day The Dissemination gave to the
world an appreciative account of this
master. with a glowing eulogy of his
| work. the whole signed John Sedley
| Frampton."
| Not long after that notable pub
/ fishing house of the metropolis COM
menced the compilation Of the Univer-
sal. Royal and Imperial Art Dictionary.
| IL was destined 10 eclipse all other
works OF the kind in scope and thor
oughness. Frampton took 1t as a mat
ter Of course when he was chosen ed
1 itor OF the publication.
In course OF time the great dictionary
/ appeared, and there, to his intense de
| light, Chuffey found the foregoing BIZ
| ography OF Johannes knoephuysen
| van Dordrecht.
This was the ingenious Chuffey's OPP
portunity. He seized pen and ink and
straightway indicted a stirring letter
10 The Easel, a famous organ of inter
national art The letter called atteu-
ton to the name Of Knoophuysen In
! the new dictionary and roundly de-
| clared that no such person had ever
l existed.
Frampton could not let that pass.
Next week he appeared in print with
defense of Knoophuysen's identity.
BY n curious coincidence he had actual
ly lighted upon the name among a list
OF obscure Dutch painters in the seven
teenth century, and this iimsy fact his
vigorous Imagination expanded into
case which really sounded plausible
enough.
Chuffey replied under several differ
ent aliases, sometimes supporting.
sometimes combating. the hnoophuy-
sen theory. Several well known art
critics took part in the controversy,
which spread to England and even to
the continent Matters looked bad for
Frampton's side of the question at first.
Then London dealer produced two
genuine Knoophuysens. When Paris
collector displayed the original Cow
and Calf OF Knoophuysen van Dor
D ssaafr