Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-17
A R T N O T ES.

The sale of no single private collection
has probably caused more discussion or
given rise to as much conjecture as that of
the late Rudolph Kann which is said to be
one of the finest in all Europe. Instead OF
being dispersed in the usual fashion it was
stipulated by the will of the collector that
it be sold en- bloc and not for two years
after his death. This. of course made 1t the
greater prize, but lessened the number of
its possible purchasers. Several of the great
museums have striven to obtain it; again
and again it has been reported that Mr.. J.
Pierpont Morgan had made an offer for It,
which had been accepted; but at length II
is learned that Duveen BrotherS-the we'll
known art dealers of New York and Paris
are the actual purchasers. The price paid
is declared to be S5,OOO,0O0 and the transfer
will be made in the early fall. This col
lection contains no less than $50 splendid
paintings by the great masters of the
Italian, Dutch, Flemish and French schools;
works of unquestoned authenticity, but
which valuable aside from signatures
or names. 1t also includes many remarka-
BILE carvings, much fine furniture porce-
lains, enamels and the like, which have In
estmable value as examples of the best
known work. The great question now is.
will this rich collection be brought to
America and its treasures eventually md
their way into American homes? But for
the tarin on art, undoubtedly the answer
WOULD De yes, ana possibly IL MAY ne III
spite of the impeachment. In January the
collection will be exhibited in Paris, then
it will be taken to London and later ii
may be brought here. Even SO. however,
the French and English collectors will have
had the first chance to make selections and
the best opportunity to make purchases. Be
cause of our art tariff the prices will of
necessity be advanced here. And yet these
are the very things which, from a purely
educational standpoint, we are most in need
the possessions which yearly tempt Ameri-
art students to leave their native
schools and travel abroad. 1t is not of
course, an Isolated instance. but 1t is a pc
culiarly notable one. America never
compete with Europe in the possession of
antiqu!ties-in collections Of paintings by
the old masters, or art works by the great
craftsmen of the old world--for the better
part are permanently lodged, canny
English writer recently reassuringly pointed
out in national museums beyond the reach
of American greed and gold. But it is not
reasonable or right to prevent America
from obtaining what she may-from gath
ering up the comparatively few unappro-
priated masterpieces which are to be found
in private collections across the sea, and to
tax heavily those who in enrichng them
selves would UNNECESSARILY enrich the ma
ton. Such indeed, from the economic
standpoint alone must be declared a mar
row, short-sighted policy.
Paterson, N j., is more associated with
nihiists than with art, In the average mind
but with due respect to the bomb throwers
it may be said to possets definite interest
on the latter account. 1t is, to be sure
city of factOries-some Of the best silk in
the world Is made there-but 1t can boast
at least one notable art collection and one
good statue. The collection is that assem-
bled by Mr.. Catholina Lambert the statue
portrait Of Alexander Hamilton, modelled
by Franklin Simmons Mr.. Lambert is a
silk manufacturer, but for many years he
has given much time and thought to the
collection of paintings, and many of real in
terest and considerable worth have found
his collection is to be seen in long clois-
ter-like gallery adjoining his residence
which crowns the summit of hill and over
looks the town. The walls of this gallery
are of gray stone roughly finished and the
floor on one side Is raised few inches to
form a platform OF wide step. Carved
chests and embroidered hangings are to be