The San Francisco call., 1906-09-30
Rare Old Master Is Sold for 1910

friend of Sir John Millais Without hesitation, he
pronounced it genuine Old Master in the finest
State of preservation He admired the way in which
the pigment" was laid on and paid the highest
tribute to the drawing of the hands.
The next art expert of prominence to see it was
the secretary of the National Gallery Hawes Turner
who confirmed Strahans opinion, pronouncing it a
genuine Guido Reni 1t was also inspected by Mar
tin Colnaghi of Pail Mall Messrs. Agnews of Bond
street and others. They all pronounced it genuine
production of the fourteenth century in marvellous
state of preservation.
AS wished to identify my painting as strongly
as possible, applied to Prince Rospigos of Rome
for permission to inspect his Guidos-as it is in the
Rospigliosi 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 of the artist who produced my painting,
while the coloring treatment and even the actual
model OF the ST. Sebastian in the Louvre furnished
the strongest confirmation of this opinion
It was at this juncture that came in contact with
the wles OF the London art dealer, than whom there
is no more tricky individual known One of these
dealers IN Shattesbury offered to exhibit nv
painting. He praised it highly, and finally, agreed
to let him take it 1t will be recalled that Charles
M. Schwab, the steel magnate, recently had some
transactions with of these dealers who tried to
make him pay $4,000 for painting which he could
have bought for $5000 In that case the dealer had
made the owner agree take $4,000; while he offered
the painting to Sehwab for $1oOoO-at the same time
informing the owner that he could only get $4,000
at the outside"
MY dealer took such a strong liking to the Guido
that when wished to get it back, he fatty refused
10 part with IT. trumpng up charge for storage and
other items Finally, action had to be brought
for the recovery of the painting
he case came up before Lord Chief Justice Alver-
stone, who gave the dealer in question seven days
IN winch TO restore the painting to its rghtfu owner
to pay the. costs of the action-amountng to about
Sz9o-and damages for detention. Even then, my
friend the enemy refused relnquish the painting
and 1t was only when facing commitment to prison
tor twelve months for contempt in disobeying the
Lord Chief Justices order that he finally '1et 60"
Tracing back the history of my painting before it
found Its way to the obscure aucton-rooms where
purchased 1t, was able to CLEAN little information
by diigent research. 1t seems that the original
owner OF the painting travelled great deal in South
ern Europe between 1885 and l845. While in Rome
ne PICKED up number of paintings among them this
Guido he painting originally belonged to the large
collection OF Cardinal Fesch
Alter the Cardinals death it slowed away in
the vaults of the Falconier Palace for some years
ana IN 1913, quite number of them were disposed
OF 10 various art dealers. Some sold at public
auction IN Rome during this year. 1t was bought
and sent to London and fnaly-after being hung
lorty years IN the hall of country mansion-was
deposited in warehouse
= ne original owner having died, his family knew
nothing OF the value of number of his paintings,
ana among Others this Guido was finally sent by the
warehouse people to the salesrooms to fetch what
ever was offered. The auctioneer who sold it in
formed me that, his instructions were to sell It
WITHOUT reserve; and, as my bid was the highest
onered on the night in question, he had to accept it
Undoubtedly, there are, in little out-of-the-way
places IN Engand-especialy in some of the country
mansions Of old English famies-uauy specimens