New-York tribune., 1903-02-01
TIE N4ROUAND COLLECTION.

The exhibition and sale of the paintings and
other works of art brought together by the late
Henry g. MarQuand have excited public inter
est to an extent unusual even in these days
when events of the sort are appreciated at
their full value. For a parallel to the atten-
ton with which the bidding at the American
Art Galleries has been followed one must go
back TO the sales in this city of the Stewart
and Morgan collections To seek an explana-
ton of this general concern with matters often
assumed TO be exclusively the property of con-
noisseurs and professional commentators is to
develop several points having a direct bearing
upon the broad question of taste and education
in matters OF art.
This widespread public interest has not, we
believe. been a manifestation of curiosity
alone. 1t has testified first and last to an in
telligent recognition of the firm basis of Mr..
Marquand's repute as a collector. Before the
sale began one frequently heard the surmise
that merely because of his name high prices
would rule. This was only another way of say
ing that every one was aware Of the patience,
care and judgment with which Mr.. Marquand
was accustomed to pursue the objects of his
desire. The character of his library, empha-
sized in The Tribune at the time the exhibition
opened, must have been widely noticed as
indirect ratification of this point, Weak in fine
bindings and in examples Of mere rarity. it was
strong in the literature from which the eOnnois-
seur must draw some of his chief weapons in
the practical treatises which illuminate the
field of art and bring knowledge TO the support
of taste. This collector loved beauty in all its
forms. His researches only made him the more
critical, and the treasures with which his house
filled at the time of his deatll-despite the
numerous gifts he had made to the Metropoi-
tom A5YFsat tod
together, memorable lesson to those whose
privilege IT is to adOrn their dwellings with
costly objects but vino TOO often rest satisfied
with costlineSs alone. Notable evidence of the
respect in which Mr.. Marquand has been held
wherever works of art are bought and sold was
provided at the sale by the presence of pnore
than one dealer from abroad amply prepared,
as the records have shown, to pay large sums
for things we'll known i'm Europe and eagerly
desired there. This is not the first time that
foreign competition has been bIoucht heavily
TO bear in the New-Yoriz market But the range
that 1t covered at the Marquand sale, embrac-
ing not pictures alone, but practically every
department in the collection. indicated that af
falIs OF the sort here are being watched from
the other side more closely than ever before.
The American and the foreign contingents
between them carried many an object In the
sale 10 rather spectacular figures. Excesses Of
the sort were inevitable. They are bound to
occur at every auction of importance. and par
ticularly at time when the building of many
mansions creates a demand for luxurious deco
ratons TO be obtained with the least possible
delay. But close analysis of the catalogue
with the prices affixed, shows that examples
of enlightened conservatism were not lacking;
and one especially of very instructive import. is
10 be derived from the policy practised by the
Metropolitan Museum of Art With the public
knowledge of the great increase brought to the
museums resources by the Rogers bequest
there has not unnaturally gone desire to see
it making generous purchases. and indeed ex-
pectation Of such purchases has been keen in
many quarters While the museum may have
disappointed some, who looked for unyieidng
resistance to all competitors, it has deeply graft