The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-05-30
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geous 'caIfTases. five feet wide and higu
in proportion. The four Consta bles
formed a series of superb English land
scapes, while the two Turner's were
classical subjects, said to be Of the
middle period" of the master. But
about them all there was a certain Il
know not what" as the French say.
that baffled the keen critics. Round
all six appeared to hover a curious
kinship. certain peculiarities of touch
and coloring. las if" in the words of
a Paris dealer. Turner had worked on
Constables pictures and Constable on
Turner's"
The faces Of the experts were a droll
study as their first admiration gave
place to helpless bewilderment. One
or two they might have swallowed, but
six, Before long Viennese artist
made himself heard above the hubbub
by pointing out that the pictures were
largely painted with very modern pig
ments - fashionable. newly invented
colors unknown in the days OF Turner
and Constable. The excitement grew
greater. This was surely an unlucky
slip If the collection were forgeries.
There was yet another test, however.
\ cunning Venetian dealer Years DIE
Siously had given the art world hint
In testing an authentic example OF
Guardi. He would take a pin and try
to stick it into the latest and most
unctuously pasted part of the picture
IF it sticks in" the dealer said. 1T
is new paint. but try it on a real
Guardi, and you might as well try to
force a pin into a china plate" The
moment that hint was remembered 1t
was acted upon. One of the Consta-
bles was tested and proved to be a
veritable pincushion.
The authorities of Christie's at once
closed their doors and posted a notice
abandoning the sale.
The history of the forgeries leaked
out afterward. They had belonged to
a rich and eccentric collector. Joseph
elliott, millionaire manufacturer of
steel pens of Birmingham. who after
ward left the London National gallery
a magnificent series of real treasures.
In his latter years. however. the old
man had fallen into the clutches of an
INSCRIPTIONS dealer whose exploits
had long been notorious. Both the
Turner's and the Constables had been
manufactured under this mans direc-
ton by a needy but exceedingly clever
artist and then sold TO the aged and
credulous amateur for $500. 900. When
genuineness elliott was greatly trou-
a. %I1r, tI,, p
lie test Of auction at Christie's. After
the dramatic fasco their owner con-
temptuously packed them OF into a
warehouse, which three months later
was burned to the ground, and then.
strangely enough. Ii turned out that
elliott had insured his masterpieces
for the entire sum he had paid for
them so by a curious turn of the wheel
of fortune he was not a penny the
loser
But there have not been half a dozen
such cases at Christie's during a cen
fury of sales.
And. by the way. jEst inside the su
perb pillared portico on King street
St James, one will see a picture OF
the courtly old dandy. Christie himself
tall and distinguished, in silk knee
breeches, with low shoes and buckles
blue silk coat and delicate lace rufies
with full wig and horn spectacles, as
befitted his association with aristo
cratic cognoscenti
Chesterfield was his patron then, as
he had been DR. Johnsons. The great
arbiter of elegance, although retired
from IL
Europe as a connoisseur. and when Ole
Christie pleaded with him TO lend h!
aegis to a great sale the stately coec
and six emblazoDed with the ChesteF
field arms would soon be ar the doc
The rooms were then in Pail Ma
Liveried servants cleared a way
Chesterfield and escorted him 70
thronelike seat on dais. where
Of communication might be seen
all and have its due effect on the b
The French revolution was the
wind that blew fortune toward Chr
ties. In 1892 many fugitives fr
France, Italy and Holland made n
way TO London and on arrival fou
their fight had been so precipirate L
they were actually emba ira ssed
ready money. And that meant 81
of pictures and curios. furniture. jeH
els and plate Il was'in this way tn.
the British aristocraey became pc
sessed Of some OF the loveliest wora
OF art the world holds
During the London season. froc
April to the end of June. Christie
palatial staircase and salons ar
thronged with men and women Of ran
and fashion from half dozen nation.
In 1893 the Old place was practical
rebuilt both inside and out. The pr.r
cipal sales room. lofty and elegant o.
tagonal apartment. is a copy OF on
built in the Adefpas oy Adam An