Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-07

In no other country has there been such
great growth OF interest in art matters
as In the United States. During 1909 the
value OF impOrtatons OF art works into
this country amounted to more than StO,-
100000. Add to this the amount spent FOR
American art, as we'll as the cost OF art
education, and Il is likely that the United
States is paying S10OOOO.OOo a year for the
art its people enjoy. or the 81. 500 600 which
America pays each year for the study Of
art S5,0OO,0oO goes to the schools. divided
about equally between elementary and fin
ishing schools Another million is counted
for subscriptions to art magazines and
text books. The municipalities OF the coun-
try spend $4,000 n year for art for popu-
lar exhibit While the outlay Of the cities
Of the country is not in keeping with that
Of European art centers, It is believed that
the prospective progress of the coming de-
cade will put us abreast OF the leading
cities Of that continent in respect to NUM-
cipal expenditures for art purposes.
J. Pierpont Morgan has become the
greatest buyer OF art in America 1t is
reliably stated that his collection of pic
lures, bric-a-brac. antiques, rugs and other
works Of art have cost him at least $50 %
100000 1t is rumored abroad that Mr. Nor
to the government for the creation of a ma
tional gallery that will rival the best in
Europe. Napoleon ransacked the world to
make tho Louvre what It is, and those who
have Information as to Mr.. Morgans in
tentions believes that he is ambitious to
do as much for the art OF his country as
Napoleon did for that Of France He has
agents abroad who are continuously look
ing for famous paintings. He makes it a
rule to pay for no work of art he buys
until after one year, thus affordlng him
self an opportunity OF being certain that
the purchase Is genuine.
Europe does not relish the competition Of
Americans In Its art centers Only re-
Gently petition was taken to the emperor
of Germany begging him to have all art
expectation from that country prohibited.
While Americans have bought many valua-
ble pieces from dealers of the Fatherland
their prime source Of supply is Paris,
where art flourishes as nowhere else In
the world. Only recently the Kanns sold
their gallery for $5,OO0,O0O The buyer was
Russian Jew who got his start in the
world at a blacksmith's anvil Next to
Paris, England is our greatest source of
imported art, Italy ranking third, and Ger
many fourth.
1t often happens that paintings and other
works of art of rare merit and value be-
come lost to sight in the mutations of
time, and when someone rediscovers them
he strikes a piece Of rare good luck for
himself and for the world of art as we'll
Not long ago an employe of the immigra-
ton service in New York was travelling in
Italy. He was a Judge of art and utilized
his spare tie in searching for unlisted mas
terpieces. In one of the cities he visited
he found whole collection Of such works.
He hastencd hack to America, arranged
for financial backing and hopes to bring
them all to this country.
One OF the most remarkable finds ever
can traveller visited a secondhand store
in Brussels and bought an old trunk. When
he took it home he found a beautiful
picture nailed to the lid with coffin tacks.
When examined by experts the piece was
pronounced a genuine Rubens, and upon
being restored, was sold for $751; ,0O0 In
another instance, "a French citizen bought
a canvas for SL26 at an auction at ebay
Ions. When, he took It home and cleaned
1t up he found he had bought a genuine
WatteAu, valued at 5000 1t had been
stored away IN, rubbish and was so dust
begFimed that those in attendance at the
auction little thought they were witness
ing the sale Of a fine old masterpiece.
Often pictures OF struggling artists are
bought by people who are quick to recog-
nize genius before 1t is heralded. In this
way pictures may be bought for a song
that later, when the artist becomes famous
greatly increase in value. Not long ago a
New York collector sold a lot Of pictures
for more than $2oo0OO which he afterwards
confessed did not cost him half as much
He had merely anticipated the verdict Of
the art world on the paintings of persons
who were yet unknown.
While there are many instances where men
have bought pictures for almost nothing,
which have afterwards proved of great
value, 1t is no less true that they have
paid vast sums for works that were next
to worthless. In Europe many art dealers
look upon the average American millionaire
as simply man with more money than
brains, and do not hesitate to sell him any