The Washington times., 1903-03-29
John MacWhirter Writes
That the Manufacture of
Spurious Pictures Is In
creasiEg on the Continent.
The Famous Tiara of Saita-
pharnes, Formerly in the
Louvre, Said to Be the
Work of an Odessa Gold
chaser.

LONDON. March 2S.-T'he controversy
over the genuineness OF the Tiara of
Saitapharnes. The tyraut OF Olbia which
was sold some years ago TO the Louvre,
has aroused interest in tho whole ques-
tion OF the antique market and is causing
a sensation among enthusiastic amateurs
whose enthusiasts is more fully deveI-
oped than their judgment. John Mac
Whirter. r. A.. writes as follows to the
Grimes" today in regard to paragraphs
thai have been printed about the alleged
hrt forgcries I'm Paris.
1T has been suggested 10 me that it is
time to expose certain art frauds in
London ami England generally. / VIII
speak OF landscapes only. For years
have known that there must exist a sort
OF mandatory 0: spurious pictures.
myself have seen dozens. but there are
hundreds of copies or limitations OF
works by Turner. Constable. Corot,
Muller. and others sold as genuine. and
many OF them are in well-known colIec-
lions in London. Glasgow. and other
cities
Difficult to Initiate.
THE Corot and Constable frauds are
landscape painters. is not easily imi-
tated. His subtle qualities Of refine
ment and exquisiteIy suggested detail
are far beyond the reach OF imitators
Nevertheless there have been plenty Of
attempts made 10 copy them. Corots
early works are thorough. highly fin
ished. and precise. az the early works
Of all artists should be. His later works
are always charming. graceful. fluent.
and full OF light Nevertheless he can
easily be initiated in a fippant way
The copies. OF course. have not the
light touch and silvery light. The for
geries OF this master are extremely
numerous. Constable. especially in his
later works. used the palette knife free
y. and glazed over broken color This
sort Of thing is easily mimicked by a
ciever rogue. These things are some
times clever, and sometimes clumsy. but
in all cases the fraud can be detected
By lover Of nature
Alleged Art Experts,
The obvious want Of knowledge OF
tree growth. ana plant life gives them a
coarse. ignorant look. in contrast to
Constable's mastery way of making
trees grow and plants live. It is likely
that. in spite of this warning. and more
that I could add. collectors well con
tinue TO buy as real works OF dead mas
tiers limitations. with closed eyes. so
long as IL is the fashion. and sO-called
art experts Will advise them"
Meanwhile. the uch-discussed tiara
has been Withdrawn from exhibition at
the Lou1re until a committee of investi-
cation. which has been appointed makes
fits report NJ. Elina. who first brought
the matter 10 public notice by declaring
that he himself designed IT, now says the
statement was only a joke. He knew It
was forgery. and only claimed 20 be
the designer I'm order 10 insure atten-
tiOn being called 10 the spuriousness or
the tara
Made in Odessa.
The Odessa goldchaser. Ramonchow-
sky. claims that he made it, and friends
OF his. who are seemingly worthy OF
credit. and who are now in Paris. de-
clare that they saw him al work on the
articles NOthiag that has thus far ap-
peared in regard TO the tiara seems 20
connect Shis clever Russian artist with
participation In the fraud. he Was or
dered 70 do certain work. the gold was
supplied. be was paid IN advance. and
executed the task There his connec-
ton with Hhe tiara appears to have end
ed He may even benefit from the con-
tsoyersy. which viii bring him from OBJ
security and give his real talent more
favorable field then he has yet found.