The sun., 1908-05-15
CALLS PAINTINGS SPURIOUS
n. 7. EVANS ANNOUNCES SUIT
AGAINST ART DEALER CLAUSEN
To Recover the Price Paid for Two land.
,capes Sold ~ Homer Martins -Clausen
VIII Fight the Suit and a Scandal
OF the studios VIII he Ventilated.

VIII FiEht the Suit and a Scandal
Of the Studios VIII he Ventilated.
william T. Evans. chairman Of the art
committee OF the Lotos Club and known az
A collector Of paintings announced last
evening that he would begin a civil suit
to-day against William Clausen, the art
dealer, to recover the money which he paid
Clausen for two pictures represented to
he the work Of the late Homer Martin. the
American painter but which Mr.. Evans.
after he had presented them With number
Of other paintings to the National Gallery
Of Art. discovered he says, to be forgeries
There we're three pictures which Mr.,
Evans WAS led TO recall from the Corcoran
Gallery at Washington. where they we're on
exhibition awaiting the time that Congress
should provide a suitable building for the
National Gallery Of Art. One was entitled
'Old Mill near ST. Cloud, another Near
Newport and the third Late Afternoon
At Medheld' The last mentioned. Mr.
Evans says, was sold by Mr., Clausen as
from the brush OF George Inness the older,
The others we're sold as the work Of Homer
Martin. All the pictures we're signed
Mr.. Evans said yesterday that investiga-
ton had convinced him that the Inness
canvas was no more authentic than the
Others. Mr. Evans had the pictures in his
own collection several ySars. No one sus-
pected that they we're not genuine. Some
months ago. however, when nlmors began
10 be circulated persistently that the works
Of several famous American painters were
being initiated successfully and art circles
here we're agitated by the discovery that
unfinished works OF the same painters were
being completed and put on the market
as the finished paintings Of recognized
masters Mr. Evans took alarm and began
his investigation. His own experience he
made public yesterday afternoon in formal
statement;
Among the first fifty paintings by
American artists which formed a part Of
my gift to the National Gallery Of Art and
which, pending Congressional action for
.As establishment Of suitable building,
are now on exhibition in the Corcoran
Gallery in Washington we're two pictures,
one called Old Mill Near st. Cloud the
other Near Newport both bearing the
name Of the late Homer ID. Martin, and
third picture called Late Afternoon at
Medaeld, bearing the name Of the late
George Inness. They had been in my
possession several years and had been re-
reatedly exhibited in public, All three
we're intrinsically beautiful They had
received the praises OF the most accom-
plished critics and there was no reason TO
doubt that they were the genuine works
Of the artists named.
sRumors, however, obtained circulation
few mon tbs ago which cast such doubt
on the authenticity Of these pictures that |
instituted an investigation to learn their
history. As a result Of that investigation
| felt II incumbent upon me to recall the
three pictures referred TO. Fortunately
| had attached 10 my gift the condition
that I might withdraw any Of the pictures
which might not stand the test Of time and
subsuhite others In their .pldces. The
three pictures referred TO have accordingly
withdrawn from the National Gallery Of
Art aud they are now in my possession &.
have already purchased and sent to Wash
ington in place Of those withdrawn two
excellent examples unqueshonably genu-
inc Of the work OF the late Homer D. Martin,
and the matter OF a substitution Of an
authentic example Of the work Of the late
George Inness for the picture attributed
10 him and which has been withdrawn
will have my attebtion In due season,
Several examples Of his work are among
my gift TO the nation. which now amounts
TO sixty-nine pictures in all and TO which
am adding from time to time.
THE three pictures which have been with
drawn we're purchased by me about 1903
from william Clausen, an art dealer,
lately at SSl Fifth avenue. but now OF East
Thiry-fith street. The subject is in the
tapds Of my counsel, Frank r. Lawrence,
for advice and action. Any steps which !
may take will be purely for the purpose Of
eciting the truth
Mr.. Evans said yesterday that he had
acted after thorough investigation and
that II was no secret among collectors OF
LECTURES and men interested In art gen
orally that exceedingly clever counterfeits
Of American masters had been marketed
suocesSfully in recent years. Some OF the
most capable judges OF pictures had been
deceived completely and did not ascertain
until years after they purchased canvases
ALLEGED TO be by the most famous artists
that these pictures were forgeries or in
some cases wonderfully clever pictures
completed from half finished canvases.
william Clausen. the dealer, whose shop
il IN Tbirty.ffth street just east Of Fifth
avenue was not reluctant to discuss the
charges made by Mr.. Evans. He said that
he sold Mr. Evans the Martins and the
lnness believing that they were genuine
and that he still believed they we're authen-
tc examples Of Martin and Inness, He had
refused to take the pictures back when re-
cuested to do 30 by Mr.. Evans and by Frank
K lawrence, who was acting for Mr.. Evans.
and that he would fight to maintain his
own position IL il cost him every dollar ne
had.
Il bought the Martin picture Near New
port in this city in 1902 said Clausen. 'and
exhibited il in my galleries. Mr. Evans.
among hundreds Of other collectors and
critics, saw il and exclaimed upon its
beauty did not attempt 10 sell It to him
He insisted that permit him to buy 1t.
He paid 1880 for il, as / remember, The
other painting by Homer D, Martin Sc
cured out Of town and let Mr.. Evans have
in 1908 He put it on exhibition at the Lotos
Club. There was never a doubt as to its