Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-08
ANSWERS HIS CRITICS |ART FROM EUROPE
Secretary BaInger Defends Free Admission Stimulates the
Conservation Policy. Purchase of Fine Pictures.
POWER SITES PROTECTED CONCERN is FELT ABROAD
Needed Aerward Re- and Other Countries Taking
stored to Settlement Steps to Expectation
NO FILINGS DURING INTERIM AFRAID OF AMERICAN DOLLAR
of
CARTEL Would aveD Done Same Works to This
Country.
Free Admission Stimulates the
Purchase of Fine Pictures.
CONCERN is FELT ABROAD
Italy and Other Countries Taking
Steps to Prevent Expectation.
AFRAID OF AMERICAN DOLLAR
Victor C. Fischer Tells Of Important
Works Brought to This
Country.
BY WILLIAM +. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
AS everybody who is interested in the
subject knows. the Aldrich tarif act
passed by Congress last summer provides
for the free admission of works OF art,
including paintings In oil. mineral, water
or other colors: pastels. original drawings
and sketches. etchings. and engravings
and sculptures. which are proven to the
satisfaction of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury, under rules prescribed by him, to
have been in. existence more than twenty
wears prior to the date Of their importa-
ton" Other works of art Except rugs
and carpets, and objects of ornamental
character or educational value which
shall have been produced more than
100 years prior to the date OF importa-
ton are also admitted free. subject
to such regulations as to proof Of an
tiauity as the Secretary Of the Treasury
shall prescribe.
There have been many entries of works
of art under this provision since the
tariff act was passed. both by collectors
and by dealers. and the newspapers
have taken the trouble to warn the public
against frauds and forgertes. But Victor
G. Fischer, the well known art expert
and dealer in Washington, says there Is
no such danger.
The regulations of the Treasury under
the new tariff" he said, the other day,
require the name of the artist TO be
given, the years in which he lived. where
and when his picture was painted,
and, so far as possible. chronological
ownership That is, the importer must
show a pedigree of the picture since its
origin and by all means the last seller
and his address as guaranty That IL
is at least twenty years old Tnls VIII
not be a hardship in the importation
of works of the old masters. but Will
make it difficult to import forgeries of
modern paintings, with which the coun-
try Is flooded.
But a very simple method of protec-
ton can be pursued All important pic,
lures are known and have been passed
upon by competent judges. Nothing is
so certain a a good picture. The works
Of great artists are as well known as
the writings of great authors. NO buyer
need suffer from fraud. He can protect
himself against forgeries by consulting
the proper authorities, and 1t is quite as
necessary to do SO in purchasing val
liable painting as it Is to consult law
yer when you are Undertaking an I'M
portant enterprise that has legal compli-
cations; or a competent authority when
you are buying real estate or anything
else which may be of doubtful value. The
difficulty always is that people want to
nine times out of ten they will deserve
to be fooled. If q buyer expects to get
a great picture for nothing or for less
than it's value. he exposes his own as
honesty and is At subject for the for
ger. II he expects to get Corot for
5000 when it is worth $4,000. he is SUI
borning fraud and has no right to COM
plain II he is himself defrauded.
Raid on Foreign Art.
I'VE are on the eve OF getting some of
the most important pictures in the entire
world into this country. so that a genuine
panic has been excited among museum
directors and collectors Ia Europe. The
italian government was the first to see
the danger from American buyers and
several years ago made a law absolutely
the expectation of important
works OF art and antiquity. But the ope-
ration of the law proved futile; 1t was
evaded continually. Antiquities were
smuggled out OF the country in automo-
biles: packed i'm furniture and in the most
common sort of merchandise. 1t Is very
easy to cut a canvas out of frame and
roll il up in a small parcel, and some or
the most precious gems of art are so
small that any one could carry them In
a parcel under his arm.
''The prohibitory law in Italy was Sd
ineffective that IL has recently
been amended. and the government now
private as we'll as public collections.
churches, museums. Libraries. universe
ties. monasteries and other institutions
to be registered and. IL 1t changes own
ers. the fact must be reported imme-
diately to the authorities. II has also
nut a heavy export duty. 30 per cent.
upon all works OF art sent out of the
country, with a provision that when
picture a piece of marble or anything
of the sort Is offered for sale the govern
ment shall have an option for the pur-
chase at an appraisement by competent
judges.
Purchase of Van Dycks.
Under this act. pivlng the government
the right of preference. it has bought
between three and four million lire worth
Of pictures. while the great sale Of the
six famous Cattanao Van Dycks, be-
longing to the family Brignole Sala OF
Genoa. was permitted under payment of
the export duty.
NO Mr.. Morgan was not the pur-
chaser, although he was reported to be
in the newspaper dispatches. These
wonderful pictures, whose sale was the
most important transaction In art Of late
years. were purchased by a syndicate OF
English and American dealers for more
than sl,OOO,OUO They are family por-
traits by Van Dyck in his best period,
painted for the ancestors OF those who