Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06

'VftE NUMBER OF WOIlQ famous -
naturally very limited, and 1t IS hardly
too much to say that there is not one OF them
without some more or less noteworthy history
associated with lt-romantlc, tragic, or humor-
1t may be some episode OF the ARTIST
himself. some peculiar conditions attaching
to the actual undertaking of the work, or else
strange vicissitudes after many years.
The superb portrait of his daughter Catharlne
by Rembrandt now in the great Prado Gallery
at Madrid, was painted to extricate the master
from oddly embarrassing predicament. One
morning, week or two before Cathar1nes
seventeenth birthday, Rembrandt went into
his studio as usual to take up the day work.
To his establishment he saw before him IN fan
tastlC garb his two most promising pupils,
Philip koningk and Gerbrand van den Eeck-
bout. The one was respondent in the velvets
and silks of a Spanish grandee, while the other
was triCked out in the laces and armor OF
noble of ancient Venice.
Whether to be angry amused, the great
painter hardly knew; for neither of the young
men would explain his fancy dress. But sud-
eenly the door opened and showed coquettlsh
Catharines smiling. face She withdrew as
quickly, however leaving the two students
confused than ever before the piercing
ewes of their master.
Rembrandt determined to have an explana-
ton, and soon made the pair confess that his
laughter was their common inspiration. This
scene. they told him further, had been arranged
as a kind of artistic duel for each had painted
a portrait OF Catharine. declaring with boylsh
enthusiasm that its like had never before been
seen. Would Rembrandt himself decide which
was the greater work, since upon his decision
hung the fate of the successful sutton?
Now, the cautious father had no idea of
penness artist as son IN law, having long ago
> fixed upon rich Amsterdam merchant
likely husband for his daughter. 1t must be
remembered that there little sentiment in
Rembrandt, who self taught boor
with social manners of the very worst, and
little to recommend him beyond his marvellous
teChnC and direct study OF nature.
In this dilemma he set to work on what
proved his masterpiece,-this magnificent pOr
trait of Catharine which he unveiled in the
studio on the morning OF the girls birthday,
and before the two sultors, whose pictures
were ranged on either side 1t dramatic
moment. even a cruel one; for the young
men were passionately devoted to art, and
the moment they beheld this superb work,
fresh from the hand of master. they shrank
back abashed and tried to hide their own
portraits of the girl.
The rivals hastily acknowledged that they
had nearly everything in the wide domain OF
art TO conquer before thinking of love, and ac
cordinglv withdrew their claims to fair Cath
arlneS hand.
The Duchess of Devonshire"
THE stolen Duchess of Devonshire," by
Gainsborough, IS a familiar story. The
bidding for this beautiful portrait, when put
up for auction at Christies famous rooms in
who was in Paris at the time, telegraphed one
bid of fifty thousand dollars; but Agnew the
dealer secured the prize at sixty-two thousand
I'VE hundred dollars.
1t was kept view in Agnews gallery on
Bond-st.; but one morning only an empty
frame yawned from the silk hung wall. The
famous picture had been stolen. The thief,
however, must have realized how useless the
property was to him: certain it is no attempts
were made to negotiate it. And so the por-
traits whereabouts remained matter of con-
lecture for over twenty years. 1t was recov-
cred only in DOL through information given
by the noted New Yorker, Pat Sheedy; and then
the Duchess" returned from America, where
II had been taken by the actual thief, Adam
Worth However, it is now in possession OF =.
Pierpont Morgan.
The Spanish Altar Piece
! A MOTHER great painting that met some
what similar fate was one OF the gorgeous
altar pieces by Murillo, from the Cathedral OF
Seville. This too was cut out of its frame, and
! ike the Gainsborough taken across the
Atlantic to New York, where it remained for
sometime in hiding. The robbery created a
| stir throughout the whole civilized world; for
this altar piece acknowledged to be the
masterpiece of the great Spanish artist
At last the thieves in need OF money. sold
it to William Schaus, who promptly refused
the reward of ten thousand dollars that had
f~,& of