The San Francisco call., 1907-02-24
Artists Differ Upon Painting
Alleged to Be a Bonheur
Sold by Portuguese
to a Portland
Millionaire

Whether or not Rosa Bonheur, the
famous painter of animals, was re-
sponsible for "A Young Cow Coming
! Through or Out of a CornfeldH is a
question that has caused Johann Poul
sen, the Portland millionaire, TO grow
exceedingly weary. has brought EN-
barrassment and mental anguish to
Menin Soares. a Portuguese nobleman.
/ who formerly lived here. and has cast
smudges OF dark green upon the usual
ly sunny skies OF the art worlds of
Portland and San Francisco.
Had not a pest infested the vine
yards OF Albergaria, III Portugal Lord
Soares might not nave been pressed for
money and the COW would still be COM
Ing peacefully through or out of the
cornield, but the insects sapped the
life OF the vines, there was no wine to
make and sell TO the Portuguese con-
noisseurs and Soares round that it was
eKpedient to dispose of some Of his art
treasures.
Last November Soares left San Fran
cisco, where he had lived for several
years. and established headquarters In
a fashionable hotel in Portland. He
registered as DR.. de Albergaria and in
a few weeks was beginning to be
known by that name as q nobleman
who owned vast estates in Portugal
but whose purse was temporarily de-
pleted by misfortune. 1t was rumored
that he had saved his valuable collec-
tion of paintings from the fire in San
Francisco and might be induced to
part with some of them for cash
Poulsen heard that there was Bonheur
and asked Soares to set price upon it.
Two thousand was about right, his
lordship thought, and it was arranged
for Poulsen to make a deposit of $500
and send the painting to prominent
artists for exporting.
SPLENDID WORK OF ART
e. Tojetti OF this city was the first
to look over the canvas, and, accord
ing to De Albergaria, his report was as
follows:
San Francisco. Cal, Jan. IA, 1907.
This is to certify that have today examined
the painting by Rosa Bonheur, property of DR..
de Albergsria, Portland Hotel. Portland, Ore,
subject, "A Young Cow Coming Through or Out
of the Cornheld." &" ! will say It is genuine and
splendid work of art, showing the mastery
technique of the artist It Is beautiful thing
and the best Rosa Bonheur ! ever saw
witness:
n. CROSBY,
J. MARTINI, Artist
The COW and the cornheld were in
the hands of Colonel Andrews, the we'll
known diamond dealer here, while the
examination was being made, but soon
after. Tojetd declared it genuine the
work was returned to De Albergaria
with a note from Poulsen stating that
other artists had pronounced 1t bogus
and therefore he would be pleased to
have his $500 returned to him. He left
the matter at this point in the hands
of his son-in-law, DR.. G. T. Trommald
The nobleman did not pay back the
deposit because, he said, he was tenn
porarily embarrassed, but at the re-
quest of Trommald gave his note for the
amount, due in thirty days. February
10 the note expired unpaid and a re-
quest was sent to De Albergaria to
have the picture in Trommald's office
at certain hour of the day TO avoid
legal proceedings. Trommald now has
the picture and the nobleman is think
Ing seriously of removing to Pasadena.
bitterly complaining about the lack Of
appreciation Of true art shown in Port
land.
HE BLAMEs LOCAL DEALERS
He said that when he asked Pouisen
to give him the names OF the artists
who had declared the COW and the
cornfeld spurious the millionaire re-
fused to do so, but he was convinced
that the painting was adversely criti-
cised by well-known San Francisco
art firm which wanted to buy 1t.
Il didn't want the painting to go to
thefn," fe explained, because 1 knew
they would run it down so as to dis
courage Mr.. Poulsen from taking 1t.
He was told that the painting was not
good and that he had better have moth
ing to DO with it,
De Albergeria created profound
impression in the northern city when
he first established himself there. 1t
was said that In addition to being the