Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-06
sLuM AND GARRETT.

However, that IL the way with oil
masters so often given to these fail
ings, seeking the slum and the garrett
Just as the men OF genius who painted
them are often afflicted with similal
disreputabe traits.
The figure on the canvas represented
glorlously beautiful young woman
standing by stone table. her left arm
chained and manacled. Her right hand
--exqulsltely drawn, and one OF the
most beautiful | had ever seen in any
painting--was raised. modestly holding
some drapeTy over the breast. The eyes
were upturned. the whole expression on
the fact strongly reminding me OF Gut
dos "Magdalen,'
The beauties OF the picture were
however, lost on the motley crowd. A
voice behind grumbled, "Wot's the use
o. putin up that bloomln pitcher; wot
wants is a kitchen table"
The auctioneer called for bids: but
evidently Guidos were not wanted. Not
soul appeared even willing TO start
the bidding. At the merest venture,
and Just TO get things going | said
Five shlllngs to start" Hl.2j in Amer
lean money!
Certain dealers In the back OF the
room, recognizing me as a stranger
and, what they considered an interlo-
per, began to bid against me, but I
held on until the painting had reached
the colossal sum OF $40, at which the
auctioneer's hammer fell,
II was mlne
The next day / took the painting TO
my home and one OF the first TO see 1t
was Strahan of Ravenscourt park,
well known artist who had been the in
innate friend Of Sir John Millals With
out hesitation he pronounced Il genu-
Inc old master in the finest state Of
preservation. He admired the way IN
which the pigment was laid on and
paid the highest tribute 10 the drawing
Of the hands.
NEXT ART EXPERT.
The next art expert OF prominence TO
see IL was the secretary OF the Nation
al Gallery, Hawos Turner, who con-
firmed Mr.. Strahan's opinion, pronounce
ing Il a genuine Guido REM II was
also Inspected by Martin Colnaghi OF
Pail Mall, Messrs, Agnews OF Bond
street, and others They all pro-
nounced IL a genuine production OF the
fourteenth century I'm marvellous state
OF preservation. As wished to identl-
~ my painting as strongly as possible,
| applied to Prince Rospgliosi OF Rome
for permission to inspect his Guid0s-as
II il In the RIOS pigliosi palace that
GuidO's famous Aurora Is placed.
Comparison OF my Guido with some OF
the figures In the Aurora" removed all
doubt as TO the identity " the artist
who produced my painting. while the
coloring. treatment and even the actual
model ~ the 81. Sebastian in the Lou
vre furnished the strongest condrm0-
ton OF this opinion.
lt was az this 1uncture that ! came
I'm contact with the wiles Of the London
art dealer than whom there Is no more
tricky individual known. One OF these
dealers In shaftesbnry avenue offered
to exhibit my painting, lie praised It
highly. and finally 1 agreed 10 let him
take II. II viii be recalled that Mr..
Schwab. the steel magnate, recently
had some transactions with one OF
these dealers who tried 20 make bin
pay $4,000 for a painting which he
could have bought for $4,000. In that
case, the dealer had made the owner
agree 20 take $4,000, while he offered
the painting 10 SchWab for $1,000, 40
the same time informiug the owner
that he could only geJ $500 at the
outside"
MY dealer took such a strong liking
TO the Guido that when | wished to get
II back. he natly refused 10 part with 70.
trumplng UP a charge for storage, ana
other items. Finally. an action had %
be brought for the recovery Of the
painting. The case came up before
Lord CHIEF Justice Alverstone, who
gave the dealer In question seven days
In which 20 restore the painting TO its
rightful owner Ia nav the costs ~ tho
damages for detention. Even then.
my friend the enemy refused 20 re-
ilnqulsh the painting; and Il was only
Continued nm paae eighteenl