Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-12-09

d
lea. Mr.. Seligman's home is In Paris.
He goes to New York city for short
visits.
"Art Center Of the World"
"New York today Is just beginning"
he said, what promises to be an art
conquest OF the old world. Your COL
lectors of art objects are increasing
go rapidly and are Offering so much
gold that the time will come when
this city will be the art center OF the
world. It will swallow up nearly all
the finest works Of Europe that are
not already locked up In the great
civic museums.
ALREADY American wealth has prov
ed such a powerful lure that such
a time honored institution as the
Louvre finds it extremely difficult to
add really valuable art objects to its
present. collection. The Metropolitan
museums acquisition Of three tapes
tries formerly owned by Sigismund
Bor1ac is the most striking illustra-
ton of this westward drift of art.
1T happened this way. l speak
frankly. for although this is news to
Americans. most Of the facts are
known to the art circles Of Paris.
After we had purchased these tapes
tries some of the patriotic people of
France started an agitation to prevent
their expectation to America. The
tapestries were of the time Of Charles
VII, historical documents of rare
value, because they illustrated with
such undoubted accuracy the costumes
and customs of that remote period.
Morgan Was Eager to Buy.
"A director Of the Louvre according
~ called upon me and inquired the
price. He asked If the Louvre might
have an option on the tapestries until
July q, when it was hoped the minis
ter Of fine arts would give his sanction
to the purchase. The option was
granted. but meantime Mr.. Morgan
heard of the pending transaction. He
also came to me and said:
"'If France decides not to buy those
tapestries at that figure. will
'"The day before the expiration Of
the option we were asked by a Louvre
director to extend it another week He
explained it was hoped that by that
time the minister of fine arts would
give his sanction. replied:
"'Mr. Morgan has offered to buy the
tapestries tomorrow If the Louvre does
not take them
1.-THE director was so persevering
that asked Mr.. Morgan if he would
stand aside, so France might have an
other chance. His answer was:
att is not the habit of the MetropoI-
itan museum nor is it my habit to
prevent such an institution as the
Louvre from obtaining what it de.
sires Of the art works Of its own coun.
try. will most gladly consent to the
extension of the Louvre's option
AT the end Of another week the
minister Of fine arts still delayed his
sanction. He contended the price was
too high. Mr.. Morgan bought the tap
estries. Ten days later the Louvre d..
rectors made overtures to Mr.. Morgan
to buy back just one Of the fabrics,
which one MIR. Morgan himself might
decide. Mr.. Morgan said he was very
sorry, but it was too late.
Ninety per cent OF all the works
Of art bought in Europe with Ameri-
can money comes to New York city.
Americans are especially DESTROYS OF
getting hold Of the older things"
AS the Partisan antiquarian talked
he was frequently interrupted by ca
Diagrams from representatives of his
firm stationed in various art centers
OF Europe. r5@s IA = + .ssE,sst "