The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-01-01


to stick it into the latest and most
unctuously pasted part OF the picture.
IF it sticks in." the dealer said. ut
/ is new paint. but try it on real
Guardi, and you might as well try to
force pin into a china plate" The
moment that hint was remembered it
!, 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 notice
! abandoning the sale.
The history OF the forgeries leaked
out afterward. They had belonged to
rich and eccentric collector. Joseph
elliott, millionaire manufacturer of
steel pens of Birmingham, who after
ward left the London National gallery
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 needy but exceedingly clever
artist and then sold to the aged and
credulous amateur for $4,000. When
later some doubts were cast upon their
genuineness elliott was greatly trou-
bled and resolved to give them the pub
lie test of auction at Christie's. After
the dramatic fiasco their owner con-
temptuously packed them of into q
warehouse which three months later
was burned to the ground. and then.
strangely enough. 1t turned out that
elliott had insured his masterpiece"
for the entire sum he had paid for
them, so by a curious turn of the wheel
Of fortune he was not penny the
loser.
But there have not been half dozen
such cases at Christie's during CEN
fury of sales.
And. by the way, just inside the su-
perb pillars portico on King street.
st. James. one will see picture OF
the courtly old dandy. Christie himself,
tail and distinguished. In silk knee
brooches. with low shoes and buckles.
blue silk coat and delicate lace ruffles,
with full wig and horn spectacles. as
befitted his association with aristo-
cratic cognoscenti
Chesterfield was his patron then, as
he had been DIR. Johnson's. The great
arbiter of elegance, although retired
from public life. was renowned all over
Europe as a connoisseur. and when old
Christie pleaded with him to lend his
aegis to great sale the stately coach
and six emblazoned with the Chester
field arms would soon be at the door.
The rooms were then In Pail Mall
Liveried servants cleared a way for
Chesterfield and escorted him to a
thronelike seat on a dais. where nod
of commentator might be seen of
all and have its due effect on the bids
The French revolution was the Ill
wind that blew fortune toward Chris
ties In 1892 many fugitives from
France. Italy and Holland made their
way to London and on arrival found
their fight had been so precipitate that
they were actually embarrassed for
ready money. And that meant sale
of pictures and curios, furniture, jew
els and plate. 1t was in this way that
the British aristocracy became pos
sessed Of some of the loveliest works
Of art the world holds.
During the London season, from
April to the end of June, Christie's
palatial staircase and salons are
thronged with men and women Of rank
and fashion from half dozen nations
Tx1.1 1000 hn al 81. n%4
rebuilt both inside and out. The prin-s
cipal sales room. lofty and elegant oc-
tagonal apartment, is a copy of one
built in the Adelphi by Adam. And
the auctioneer's rostrum Is one he used
over century and half ago In the
old rooms. In itself q work OF art OF
great value. it is a superb specimen Of
Chippendale's own work.
The old Christie family has quite
died out of the house. which at present
Is run by men of high social rank and
vast experience. Sales are held three
or four times week. From the earli-
est days Saturday has been reserved
for great pictures. Viewing the gal
leries before sale begins one win see
ACa0AA6 LdCu IA otdtCCIdAt uuO 6OC4GIy.
princes and princesses of royal blood.
merchants of great wealth and infiu-
ence and visiting Americans as well as
agents acting for cultured countrymen.
Each. sale furnishes some little ro-
nance Of the art world. Every picture
seems to have history. Here. hung
in grand light In the big salon, is
the Family of Darius" which Paul
veronese painted during his GONZALES
cence from an illness In an Italian villa
and left behind as a graceful token Of
favors and kindnesses received from
his host. More than $68.OO0 was paid
for this picture in Christie's rooms one
Saturday afternoon as It hung in. the
midst of other paintings from ancient
country houses and faded palaces Of
many lands