The Washington herald., 1908-05-15

New York. May 14-wnliam T. Evans,
chairman Of the art committee Of the
Lotus Club. and known extensively as an
able and discriminating collector Of paint
ings. stated to-day that he VIII start a
civil suit tomorrow against William
Clauseu, an art dealer who is one OF
the most prominent in the business.
Mr. Evans viii bring suit TO recover the
money which he paid Clausen for two
pictures alleged by the dealer to be the
work of the later Homer Martin. the
American painter but which Mr.. Evans,
after he had presented them with NUM-
Der Of other paintings to the National
Gallery Of Art, declares 70 be forgerles.
There were three pictures which Mr.
Evans was obliged 10 recall from the
Corcoran Gallery of Art at Washington,
where they were on exhibition awaiting
the time that Congress would provide a
suitable building for the National Gal
lery OF Art One was entitled "Old Mil
Near st. Cloud" another Near New
port" and the third. Late Afternoon at
Medheld Tie last mentioned was sold
by Clausen as from the brush of George
Inness. the elder. The others were al
legged by the dealer TO be the work Of
Homer Martin. All ;he pictures were
signed.
Mr.. Evans said to-day that invesuga-
ton had convinced him that Inness can
vas was no more authentic than the
others. Before giving them 10 the ma
tion, Mr. Evans had the pictures in his
own collection several years. where they
were admired by many expert critics and
skilled judges of art. No one suspected
that they were not genuine.
Art Circles Agitated.
Some days ago. however. when rumors
began to be circulated persistently that
the works OF several famous American
painters were being Initiated successfully, +
and art circles here were agitated by the
discovery that unfinished works Of the
same painters were being completed and
put on the market as the finished paint
.ings Of recognized masters. Mr.. Evans
took alarm and started an investigation
His own experience he made public to-day
in formal statement:
Among the first fifty paintings by
American artists which formed a part of
my gift 10 the National Gallery of Art,
and which. pending Congressional action
for the establishment Of suitable build
ing. are now on exhibition IN the Corco-
ran Gallery at Washington. were two
pictures. one called "Old Mil Near st.
Cloud the other Near Newport. both
bearing the name Of the late Homer D.
Martin, and third picture called Late
Afternoon at Medfield bearing the name
Of the late George 4. Inness. They had
been IN my possession several years and
had been repeatedly exhibited in recent
years. They had received the praises of
the most accomplished critics and there
was no reason to doubt that they we're
the works % the artists named.
''Rumors however. obtained circulation
a few months ago. which east such doubt
on the authenticity of these pictures that
instituted an investigation to learn their
history. As a result of that investigation
felt it incumbent upon me to recall the
three pictures referred to Fortunately,
had attached 10 my gift the condition
that / might withdraw any of the pic
lures which might not stand the test Of
time and substitute others in their places
The three pictures referred to I have ac-
.cordingly withdrawn from the National
Gallery of Art, and they are now in my
possession. I have already purchased and
sent to Washington In place OF those
withdrawn. two excellent examples un-
questionably genuine Of the work OF the
later 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 TO him. and which
has been withdrawn, will have my atten-
ton in due season. Several examples of
his work are among my gift 10 the ma
ton, which now amounts TO sixty-nine
pictures in all. and 20 which I am adding
from time 20 time.
Purchased -Four Years Ago.
THE three pictures which have been
withdrawn were purchased, by me about
1903 froms Mr.. William Clausen. an art
dealer lately at Sd Fifth avenue. but
now Of East Thirty-hfth street. The
subject is in the hands Of my counsel
Mr.. Frank R. Lawrence. for advice and
action. Any steps which 1 may take win
be purely for the purpose Of elieiting the
truth
Mr. Evans said to-day that he had
acted after thorough investigation which
had convinced him that be was made
victim of fraud. and that it was no secret
among collectors OF pictures and men in
terested IN arr generally that exceedingly
clever eounterfeits Of American masters
had been marketed successfully in recent
years