The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-15
A FAMOUS ART AUCTIONEER.
The Late Thomas Hoade Woods OF Christie'
In London.

LONDON, April 6.-The death OF Thomas
Hoade Woods, who retired three years ago
from the firm of Christie, Manson d Woods,
the we'll known art au~ctioneers, has called
forth some interesting "reminiscences Of
the salesroom. At the time Of his retire.
ment he had been associated with the nrm
for hfty-seven years, and for more than
forty years he was doubtless the best known
auctionoer Of pictures in the world.
Probably 1t would not be correct to say
that in his time the firm was known more
widely, yet In certain respects 1t was per-
haps better known. Its authority stood
higher
Az his largest single deal, Mr.. Woods
remembered selling the Marlborough ool-
lection of antique gems for GSe, $50. An
other notable sale, by private CONTRACT
was that Of Raphael's 'Graoes' for the
Earl OF Dudley's representatives.
The sGraoes' had cost Lord Ward, Lord
Dudley's father, e5o0. Mr. Woods sold
the little picture for e2e,25o. In proper
ton to size this may be the highest price
on record, for the picture measured seven
inches square. The buyer was the Duo
d'Aumale, and the picture Is now at Cham
tilly.
One Of Rubens's pictures Of the same
subject, SThe Three Graces,' was sold to a
private buyer for q somewhat smaller sum,
e25,ooo, and Fra Angelico's Last Judg-
ment' was bought by the Berlin National
Gallery for E1O, 500. This was another OF
the Dudley pictures. 1t had cost Lord
Dudley el SIS at the Fesoh sale.
Some famous dispersals over which the
old auctioneer presided were those Of the
Hamilton Palace collection, In 1882, for o
total Of eSe7, 5e2; the elliott collection,
1872, e1e4, $3.50; the Albert Grant, 1877, s1oo,-
2e2; the Dudley, 1892, $1,000 the Magniac,
1892, clos, 900; and the Manley Hall, 1876,
e1O1 ,1s4.
MI. Woods was in the habit Of attending
to his business rather than Of writing or
talking about 1t, but some interesting com:
mente made by him have been preserved
BY the author of ~Redford's Art Sales
Though made as long G as 1885, they are
true Of to-day:
despite fluctuations, two great move
ments have been in foroe since the Straw
things have gone on increasing enormously
in value; the moderate have suffered con-
siderable depression; the inferior have
become almost valuelees.
For instance, great disappointment is
the majority Of the Italian pictures ao-
cumulated In country houses. Yet the
| reason Is plain. Buyers know much more
| about art than they did fifty years ago,
and the Italian pictures bought BY noble
men and gentlemen on the grand tour, as
they called 1.-THE Virgins, saints and
martyrs, with great names attached to
them-cannot find a purchaser
1T Is hard to make any n believe, what
I know to b. a fact, that some twenty-five
years ago a peer just dead offered a duke
G10, 600 for q Carlo Dolci and YVES refused.
To US now this seems impossible, 50 greatly
"When this has happened to pictures Of
%undoubted authenticity. Is 1t to be wondered
at that school pictures, copies n imita-
tons hardly tempt people to carry them
away2 And of this rubbish nan country
houses are full, with Sir Joshuas, Gains
admirable Dutch pictures to leaven the
mass"
For the instruction Of buyers, one remark
which Mr.. Woods made publicly at Christie's
ought to be displayed prominently In all
places where pictures are sold:
Il care more about pictures than ! do
about signatures
There is reason to suppose that most
buyers of old pictures feel differently.
Another comment is Of some interest as
relating to a picture which is now hanging
In Christie's rooms, forming part Of the
E. N, Denny COLLECTION, to be dispersed a
Oliver" It figured In the Goldsmid sale Of
1895. The lady Is depicted with her baby
in her arms, and when the picture was
offered at Christie's ten years ago Mr.. Woods
gave this brief history:
Gentlemen, this portrait was painted by
Romney when the lady was Miss Shake
spear. She then held a fan. When she be-
came Mrs. oliver Romney changed the fan
to O baby