New-York tribune., 1909-05-09
a GREAT HOLBEIN.
The "Christina of Denmark That
Hay Come to 4mcf3ca.


houses equally tenacious, that America may not
hope seriously to increase her store of i'm
portant" old masters. Nevertheless some daz-
cling prize swims into the ken of the collector
every now and then VeasqueZ's famous
-Venus" got into the market at last and might
perhaps, have come to this country if one of our
collectors had really given his mind to out1ank-
ing the patriots who to its purchase for the
National Gallery. The dispersal of the Kann
collection enriched more than one American
gallery; in fact, some of his most precious
pieces are now on this side of the Atlantic
notably Rembrandt's "Old Woman Cutting Her
Nails and Ghirlandajo's "Giovanna Degli Al
bizzL" And Holbein's Christina of Den
mark. Duchess of Milan" has been Ioosed from
its age-long moorings.
There is nothing surprising about the price of
$33O0GO which the Colnaghis are said to have
paid the Duke of Norfolk for this painting nor
would the millionaire who offered higher sum
for 1t show any more courage than is shown in
the purchase of a government bond at a rea-
sondble market price. OF Holbein like the
Christina" il may be said-if it be said of any
work of art-that it is worth its weight in gold
The National Gallery, it appears has an option
on the painting. may purchase it within a
month fer S330000. The government cannot
now afford this luxury, but it has offered 10
needed nd
strenuous effort will be made through pub
hc and private subscriptions to save the mas
terplece Tor England. OF course, there is talk
or Its finding a buyer in the ITnitad ctato. 7.
thls comes true may congratulate ourseIvos
on an acquisition Of extraordinary Significance
1hlS portrait. which is painted on panel is
tVe leet ten inches in height and two feet eight
t"cHes "lde Ihe inquire wears mourning robe
trimmed with sable over a black satin dress
Ihe head IS closely fitted with a blacl, hood
Inc background is blue color which HoIbein
seems 10 nave used for the purpose with special
enthusiasm since 1t appears again and again
IN ms WORKS The portrait dates from 153s
carly IN the period of Holbeins service as court
painter to Henry VIII MT Gera1d G -.
his definitive biographer thus refers To chris
una and the making Of her portrait:
The Girl had been married at thirteen - H.,
ceseo Maria, of Milan, and WIS na- rcen "a 10 fran-
niSen hEf Ihere had been much searchinrs nv the
SSithLy among those who had been su@p.cta6 tor t
she widowed Countess Of Egmond %efe Mary Of Gqse
$50 sni lIGuse OF Brederode Henry who had pro-
lcsStd himself somewhat coy neyerthelese ba5
slaoe the proposal TO Castiuon, the FTencb An
SS59IIi9 T tnat selection of French princesses
] nmSeeIniy proposal which CastIon met by a stiii
t a9 made so favorable the quail
kIiIs ktttis WIN FhIp Hobbe twho figures among the
w BihtsQr drawings TO Brussels. where on March
- a. Cioch III tHe aiternoon--it is rarely thai
we can GATE portrait so accurately as this-the
young duchess stood her portrait E2v oicIont,
Ihdt afternoon HOlben had coInDleted mo slgotch
so we must consider it-from which the wonderfuI
that Holben completed q preliminary sketch tTt
one may feel practically assured that ne ,iid CO
IL is most unlikely that he would have com
mcnced what he must have known was 10 he n
very very brlef sitting on panel Of the size which we
row see. At Windsor, indeed there is preserved
Il small panel which has been thought To hs this
ShttcI. Out II IL have any relationship with this
portrait of Christina it more probably an in
ltrlor version by another hand All that We are
dDIe 10 say IS that ii is probable that an
original sketch existed and of smaller size,
aAd that, according to his custom Holbein painted
the larger portrait from il. For We hear that
when Hutton saw the sketch that afternoon he
was SO delighted with its perfection that he at
once dispatched u messenger 10 recall a portrait
England, since adds Hutton. Iii Stub
bered in comparison" Now 10 suppose that a
panel OF the size of the Arundel portrait could
have been brought to this state Of perfection in
three hours Is, of course the question
The art of portraiture go further. The
young girl, bright, witty, fascinating and yet with
just the shade Of sorrow her stands full
length before uS-SHe exceeding al and
graceful" told-in her Widows weeds |
Hutton speaks with enthusiasm her srllIle, !
which, whenever she used IL. brought ;jiiIe
pits upon her cheeks and one upon her chin which |
became her exceedingly. But the smile has almost |
faced from her face she stands nerVousy play |,
ing with her glove between her slender fingers. |
The figure is gIr-like and womanly: the /
face grave for the moment and ready
sparkle into vivacity the 1t is living, this
young girls portrait that all SympatheS
Guickcned stand before it. She not
destined 10 add her name TO the list Of English |
knows happier, Duchess of Lorraine Some
thing wrong with the political situation and |
Charles turned his back upon the match Every |
knows the witty saying-evidently the after
q lfh hp