The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-20
MARCY HAD REAL TREASURES.
PLANNED TO OFFER REAL ART
AND SPURIOUS FOR SALE HERE.
story OF His Negotiations for an Auction
THIS Year OF the EscOsura Collection,
Hills Disclosure as the Anarchist Par
mlggiani Cut That ScheIue Short.


A little longer delay by the accomplished
police Of Paris in the apprehension of the
anarchist art collector Marcy, or Parmig-
giani, and the extraordinary Escosura
collection Of ancient art objects, with what
ever the collection contains OF spurious
productions, would have been offered for
competition to American buyers at public
auction in New York.
In the estimation OF competent Judges
here treasures of art would have been
obtained at such sale, notwithstanding
the forged productions in which the COL
lection appears 10 abound.
Louis Marcy, or Parmiggiani, which
over his name may be, brought to New York
not only letter OF introduction from Nine
Escosura to her deceased husbands friend,
Gen l.. p. di Cesnola, but also letter to
Samuel p. Avery, commencing the smooth
and able Marcy to Mr. Avery's good offices.
But Marcy was in no wise dependent upon
introductory epistes,
Without letters he called upon Thomas
r. Kirby Of the American Art Association.
and showing to Mr.. Kirby photographs
which he had previously shown to Gen
Cesnoa and Mr.. Avery, Of various objects
in the Escosura collection in the Rue de
Londres, he began preliminary negotiations
for the public sale of the collection at the
American Art Galleries in this city next
season.
The photographs, in an album, were in
teresting reproductions of most attractive
subjects. Some Of them were splendid"
said Gen. Cesnola. Il wanted them my
self. would have been glad to buy the
objects il they were as the photographs
represented them, with my own money,
10 say nothing OF the Museums require
ments. They appeared to be very good,
and the specimens from the collection which
were brought TO the Museum appeared to
be genuine products of ancient art.
To Mr.. Kirby the photographs also seemed
to be representations Of interesting pro-
auctions Of ancient artists and craftsmen.
and he listened to the tentative proposals
which NJ. Marcy had to make to him looking
to the sale OF the collection at the American
Art Galleries.
Marcy did not fail to tell Mr.. Kirby that
several articles from the collection were at
the Metropolitan Museum. Mr.. Kirby had
known Mr.. Escosura well during that artists
visits In New York and he knew Mr., Escosura
to be an appreciativo collector, ever pick
ing up objects of art which pleased him.
As Marcy did not attempt to impress
him with the monetary value of the col &C.
ton held in the Rue de Londres under
Escos,iras name, Mr.. Kirby had no con-
spicuous provocatiOn to doubt that the
collection was one which Mr.. Escosura
had brought together in the course of
lifetime of collecting.
The Henry G. Marquand sale was on at
the American Art Galleries at the time,
and Marcy attended several Of the sessions,
but only to see how these public art sales
went in New York. and not as buyer or
bidder. 1t developed later that the reason
Marcy and Nine. Escosura wished to sell
the collection in this country. according TO
their own account, was that they feared
Jealous Pans dealers wouici damn the sale
II held in the worlds art capital.
Mr.. Kirby decided to spend a part of his
summer vacation in Europe, some time
after Marcy had returned 10 his home,
and when he was in Paris he sent word to
Marcy and Nine. EsCosura THAT he would
nav n visit to their Rue de Londrcs museum.
Marcy acknowledged the letter, on paper
with the deep mourning border which
Nine Fscosura might be expected 10 use.
and bacie he American welcome during mis-
visiting hours.
Mr. Kirby was not received by any elab-
ovatply accoutred attendant, but met d-
rectly Mme Escosura and Marcy, and these
only They explained 10 him that their
reason for wishing TO sell the collection
in America was that Ne local dealers would
prevent Il successful Ere in Paris
"Why do YOU wish to sell this collection
out of the counrry?" Mr. Kirby asked
An" said they've hnv,' offered 1t to
Paris dealers who have offered to buy
sections of it, but not the whole. Failing
to get the parts that they wanted separately,
they have undertaken TO decry the whole
collection, and should we put II on the
market here, where tho de7 'Nrs are 40
potent the sale would he spoiled, 30 We
would prefer TO have It. offered in New
York"
Nine. Escosura dilated on the proficiency
Of Marcy az Judge of such art produc-
tions as the collection of her late husband
contained, and Mr.. Kirby, who IN the most
serious moments rclishcs n Joke, sug-
gested that NJ Marcy should have been
called upon by the Louvre to pronounce
upon the famous tiara of Satapharnes,
so lately set down as the work of the living
Russian, Rouchomowski,
All" sighed Nine. Escosura so think
of IT, Several GEARS ago he told the an
thoriti-s Of the Louvre that the tiara was
spurious work. but they believed him
not Now they know that what he tried
TO tell them was truth. All! the great
expert that he is
ii wonder what connection he had with
RouChOmowski, exclaimed one of Mr.
Kirbys hearers.
Mr. Kirby however. was in no wise pre-
pared 10 acknowledge that all of the Es-
cosura collection was fraudulent.
al am unwilling to believed cannot
believe he said, that all Of the articles
in the museum al 20 Rue de Londres are
spurious examples. There were articles
there Of which / should not presume to
Judge But there were others which | am
sure were genuine old works of art.
"ro take the lowest practical view, ii
we're scarcely worth while to manufacture
In fine and costly workmanship such things
az iron locks and keys, in which the collec-
ton abounds nor In the textiles OF which it
has numerous fine specimens.
"Io take, for instance, the Hispano-
Mauresque plaques. lam not ready to be-
lcve that they are not genuine and Of fine
quality, | think that those will prove to
be- mistaken who have declared that the
whole collection is one of fraudulent works.
whatever may be determined of some of
the articles In it.
81 told Nine. Fscosura and Marcy that
| if they sent the collection 10 this city much
would depend upon the history which they
could supply with some OF the articles rs
| to their reception here
| Mr. Kirby said that among the other
things that to him appeared good, in the
| collection, was an iron helmet which was
| in better condition than the iron helmet
| in the Wallace collection in London, which
| ia n noted piece.