The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-01-14

nine Muses and that of Apollo, in- closed within Wreaths, ern5ellish the cover. Scrolls executed in bold relief in boxwood and ivory, with a variety of raised and channelled surface. decorate the top. In the center of each side is small ivory wrought design, with ber- ries of coral and shell, in losing a tri- pod altar. above which is spray of laurel i'll small pieces of sami-precious stones. The broad, massive front legs are elaborately carved into winged li- ons, with bold scholls of ivory filling in the spaces.
 The rectangular panel above the key board bears The Wandering Min strels," painted by Sir Edward J. Poyn- ter. The scene represented is the mar gin of the sea, with Q group of six girls dancing in 8 ring in the center; on ei- ther side are vine covered pergolas, one containing figures of musicians, the other group. There are two smaller panels one at either end of the lid, on which are painted trophies of musical Instruments. In writing about the in- strument Sir Edward J. Poynter, presi- dent of the Royal Academy. says
 "I have no hesitation in saying that it is the most beautiful piece of work, both for design and workmanship, that ever saw. In fact, I do not believe that anything has ever been done equal i to it''
 ] During the many years that G. H. Boughton, the English born, American raised artist, lived in England. he acted as MT. Marquand's art advised, Hun ! dreds of the paintings. engravings, ta- pestries rare china and tiles in the col lection were purchased by him or by , the bankers agents on the artists ad- vice Letters covering many years were found among MT. Marquand's pa pers, and few days ago Tribune re- i porter went through several hundred of them.
 i Almost every letter made some refer ence to the firm friendship between these men, who in different ways have done so much for American art. There is no doubt that it was a work of love on the part of the artist-love for art, his country and his friend. He attended scores of sales, examined crit ically dozens of private collections and
  gains Wherever possible he secured options and forwarded photographs of the article which was for sale. Some times he made rough marginal sketches of the painting in question.
 On the margin of one letter he has drawn, after one of Constant Troyon's s pastorals. "a brown and white bull in a marshy foreground with a brindle COW wading in the swamp to a rising fore ground" There was this comment: My scribble is a mere note of the dis position of the principal objects and not an attempt to emulate the drawing of Troyon."
 After a time it began to be known that MT. Boughton was buying for MT. arquand, the wealthy American, who had a reputation among European art agents of stopping at no price if he really wanted an object. From that time on the artist covered his bidding, otherwise ''the units added themselves marvelously."
 There is a letter written in 1892 which shows his position in these pur- chases. It was about ''rare Velas- quez portrait of Philip " when he was about twenty-three, and the painter about twenty eight or thirty, just in the transitional period when Velasquez was breaking away from his tight
 careful style into that dash and fire that has broken all painters hearts ever since" a Van Dyke lady and a Rembrandt Puritan" He states that
 they can be had for so many thousand pounds, and considers them a bargain
 because they have not been run up"
 "I will not go so far as to advise ol
 press you to invest. I only tell of the things to be had which, in my mind, is the best bargain for you and for oul
 country always bear in mind that
 am responsible for helping to send them and I don't want to be forever accurst for helping them to a pool |. thing; besides, have no other interest : at stake. No one can say I ever have | or would take sixpence in the shape } of commission from any one. In fact I think I am in hot water in a certain direction because I would not hell them to plant certain doubtful olC | master on you"
 MT. Boughton attended many sales il England and on the Continent in MT Marquand's behalf Here is a charac t teristic report under date of 1886: "The sale has passed and gont
 and though I had no special instruc tions from you I looked out for goot things for you. I could not manage t
 secure, however, any single one of tn
 six I left a price for. They all wen , for more than double what I, in m,
 careful mind, had put down as their ut t most value. There were some fin f things but in most instances they hac f been too much retouched and gumme
 up Some of the names did not belon f by right to the works, In one instanc il a picture attributed to a lesser nam turned out to be Giorgione and o f fourfold value. I had no luck. If vol | had bzeen there you would have car h ried off several, but I don't like to b rash"
 f In November. 1892, MT. Boughto d writes of an expedition after some We O natian marbles: II saw them as a Dir n ! of passage, but if Sir Charles Robin
 son had net been there I certainl S should have cabled you about buyin 1t something Of course I couldn't kno' # that you or the museum were not file e up with marble seats or fountains