The sun., 1902-03-09
AMONG TIE PAINTERS.

auction with an interesting bit Of informa-
ton as to the production Of one OF the
paintings 70 be sold. Mr.. Ranger was
strolling through the gallery where the
paintings were on exhibition when he
noticed a canvas by PAUL.. picturing
sweep Of the Kill Won Kull and It's border
ing bank.
i was with PAUL. the day he painted that
picture said Mr.. Ranger. And then he
told that the COWS standing at the waters
edge were painted by Horatio Walker.
The auctioneer made due announcement
Of this fact on the evening OF the sale and
It seemed TO help the bidding.
This practice Of painters collaborating
In picture is not an altogether uncommon
one, as the auctioneer observed In reciting
Mr.. Rangers incident. Sometimes, In
deed, O painting bears two signatures,
but more often the collaboration Is a silent
and friendly work on the part Of one OF
the painters.
An instance Of this method Of picture
making Of most unusual character attached
to the career Of J. II. Cafferty, although
few know OF 1t. Caffertys name Is little
remembered now, save by his old ssso-
ciates, yet he was OF the proud body Of
the Academicians.
were many, and at last he was without q
stud At this time John Barleycorn
wa .iis intimate, yet by a strange irony
he went TO radical opponent OF all or any
association with that character, l.. NJ.
Wiles. and asked Mr.. Wiles TO permit him
to use his studio to paint picture on a
theme which he wanted 10 work out.
He had selected the title for the canvas.
II was TO be, he said. THE Grave Digger.
Cafrerty's conception Of his gruesome
subject was that it should lie a scene by
moonlight aud he asked Mr.. Wiles, whose
moonlight work Is well known, II he would
paint in the moonlight for him, which Mr..
Wiles consented to do. The rest Of the
picture Cafferty had definitely in his mind
and he knew exactly how he was going to
paint It,
He completed it but It did not sell i'm
mediately, and he pledged it after time
at one of Barleycorn's rcfectories in Blocker
street, then a street much nearer both fash
Ion and art than il is to-day.
The sands Of Caffertys glass were run
ming out faster than he knew by this time.
He never called TO redeem his pledge. He
was taken III, and was too much broke n,
both in health and spirits, to rally. He
died, He was alone, and there was not
the wherewith TO bury him.
II was not the death Of the greatest artist
Of a nation. The city did not 20 into mourn
ing, nor the august Academy garb itself in
black. CaiIerty was d cad, that was all;
and he had been In hard enough case heaven
knew. Who should say that he was not
better of?
last work Of Cafferty The saloonkeeper
arran ged rai1le for the picture and an
nounced that the proceeds would go TO
defray the expenses of the artists burial
and they did. Cafferty had painted The
Grave Digger true enough.
The irony OF this close connection of Mr.
Wiles with a traffic which he abhors was
swallowed up, even in his thoughts, by
that Of Cafertys inspiration before his
strength left him TO paint a picture the
subject and title of which presented them
selves 40 definitely to him.
Ii may have been partly for this reason
that Mr.. Wies did not keep trace of the
painting. Where il has travelled might
make an interesting story, if its where-
abouts shall be developed.
Bruce Crane likes wheatfeld. and many
other felds, as everybody knows. but he
doesn't like all the farmers that tread them.
Neither is it guaranteed safe 10 address
Mr.. Crane az Doctor" although he is
certainly a man of varied accomplish
ments.
Crane was doing a drawing out In a field
one day and had his watercolor pans spread
out conveniently, so that he might dip
daintily into them at his pleasure and IN
spiration or the dictates Of scientific art,
and the farmer whose unbidden guest he
was came and looked at him for a while.
The farmer seemed 10 be more impressed
with the pans than with the picture some-
way or other-possibly there was a more
personal suggestion in them-and after a
time he murmured 'Homeopath. by gosh"
and strode away.
The ever curious fuctuation in the prices
OF master works Of painting is brought 10
notice afresh at almost every important
public sale. The Jacque, shepherd and
Flock" which at the recent dispersal OF
the Boussod yaladon 4 Co stock, at auction
in Mendelssohn Hall. fetched IS 100, was
sold at previous auction in this city for
little more than an eighth OF that sum.
The painting formed part Of the George
/. Seney collection. which vas sold by Mr..
Kirby In the assembly hall Of Madison
Square Garden in 1891. IL brought at that
time 81 100. 1t was taken TO Paris by the
purchaser and renovated, and eventually
came into the hands OF Boussod, Naladon
Kirby's hands as auctioneer at the greatly
enhanced valuation. The picture cost Mr..
Seney 81 500.
There is a novel art exhibition at present
In the museum. Charterhouse, Godalming,
which the notices in the London papers
pronounce most interesting. 1t consists
OF loan collection Of peasant art. There
are more than FIVE hundred articles which
were made by peasants for their own use
in Iceland, Sweden. Norway. Denmark,
Russia and other countries in the last five
centuries II is said that fine designing Is
among them.
The memorial 10 Lord leighton In 81.
Paups Cathedral has been unveiled. The
was by the President OF tho
Royal Academy, Sir Edward Poynter, in
the presence Of a large number of per-
sons. The monument, executed by T.
Brock, r. A., il placed in one OF the bays
on the north side OF the cathedral II is in
the form Of sarcophagus on which lies tho
recumbent figure of Lord Leighton in
bronze. The base is of black polished
marble, and al the head and foot are figures
in bronze representing painting and
sculpture.