The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-07

try as young this in point OF the higher
mental development needs all the education in
art which be obtained from centuries Of
culture and achievement abroad On the side
Of fact, it may be quite as eloquently urged
that there is dancer OF harming native
industry by this competition of the old
ters- AS a matter of common sense. art should
be as free and welcome sunshine and air.
a tax on art is an absurdity. we'll as an
injustice. which reflects on the intelligence OF
our lawmakers who impose it and on the peo-
pie at large who submit to it.
4 monograph on Millet by Arthur Tomson. an
English writer, throws somewhat different
light upon the Barbizon painter than that given
by Snesier's Life. According TO Mr.. Tomson,
Millet was by no means as poverty-pinched as
is usually supposed In regard to this alleged
poverty, Mr. Tomson quotes Millets own letter
in reference 70 the sale of Delacroixs paintings
and drawings Writing 10 Sensier he says:
Gould I. like Lazarus. pick up few crumbs
under the table Of your banquet at the Della
croix sale?" He picked up fifty crumbs. buy
ing no less than fifty sketches by Delacroix.
At the same time he collecting pictures and
curios from Japan. and a little later he had
plans for buying house. man who
could spend money on such things could not
be in want. Probably the simplicity Of Millet's
life was mistaken for poverty.
THE TRANSPORTATION attributed to Raphael
sold at auction in London recently for $40.
Either there has been tremendous shrinkage
in the market price of Raphaels. says Hyde's
Art News, else British collectors very
skeptical about auction room attributions.
Early last week the director OF the New York
Public Library announced that a small oil
painting by David Wikie, valued at $500. had
been stolen from the Lenox Libary building.
ia mai TING he i1fp toh Of ort
of the "Blindman's Buff" 1t contained five
figures and measured five by seven and one-half
inches. Later in the week the picture was
turned by a Forty -second-street art dealer to
whom it had been sold for $3.50. The dealers
clerk, who made the purchase, did not think
very highly of the picture but considered the
frame to be worth $3.50.
new book of recoections. that of Mr..
Plowden the London magistrate. contains this
story about whistler: whistler was the only
man l have met in whom personal conceit.
whether real assumed, not only gave Of
fense but was a positive charm. The greater
his self-assurance the less ii offended-the more
it amused and gratified. On the occasion to
which am referring there was private view
at the Grosvenor Gallery Almost the first
friend I met was Whistler and he very good
naturedly took up a full length portrait
which he was exhibiting Of Lady Archibald
Campbell. After had done my best to express
my humble appreciation of beautiful picture,
/ asked him IL there any other pictures
which he would advise to look at. Other
pictures? said Whistler in tone OF horror.
Other pictures! There no other pictures! :"
Whistler exhibition which promises to be
an important one is that which is being
ranged by the Copley Society. of Boston. The
display which is to be held in Copley Hall, will
consist not only of paintings, but of etchings,
Autographs and drawings. and will include con-
tributions from London, Paris, Glasgow and
Montreal According to the announcement of
the Copley Society this exhibition will form
the largest collection of whistler's works ever
yet shown, and it is unlikely that so many
of the dead masters pictures will ever be
will be the canvases loaned by the Whistler
estate from Whistler's London studio. which
have never been seen in public.
This Whistler memorial exhibition will open
with a private view the evening of Feb.
g. Doubtless it will attract many Whistler
admirers from distant points to Boston.
The Evening Star, Washington, prints the fol-
lowing bit of interesting information: THE
collection of paintings. prints and objects of his
toric interest bequeathed TO the Corcoran Gal
lery by the late Mrs. Harriet Lane Johnston
was formally declined by the board of trustees
this week. By the terms of the testator's will
the gallery. in order to obtain possession of this
collection. would have been obliged to add for
1t wing TO the present building which should
not only afford ample protection from the heat
of summer. but should never be heated by any
artificial means; and it was stipulated, more
over. THAT if at any time national gallery
should be established, the entire collection was
TO be handed over to that institution With
these very stringent and somewhat remarkable
conditions the trustees were naturally unwilling
to comply, hence the refusal of a gift which.
under ordinary circumstances, would have been
fhan full