The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-01
Millionaire Declines to Be Held
Up by European Deal
ers in Art.
OTHER AMERICANS WILL
FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS
Widespread Conspiracy to
Mulct Wealthy People Who
Buy Art Treasures.
BY CLEMENT J. BARRETT.

Special I1Dle 10 Inc lr1DUDcs
ROME. April 3o.-J. Pierpont Morgan
intended TO spend in Europe within the
next year or two not less than $40 200. 900
in art treasures TO take to the United
States, He has, according to close
friends here OF the great American
financier and art collector decided to
change his plans entirely aud will prob
ably spend practically nothing. This
change Of plan, / was told today by a
close friend OF Mr.. Morgan. is due to
what appears TO be widespread con-
spiracy on the part of European dealers
and owners OF art objects to put the price
OF their wares at absurdly high prices.
Mr.. Morgan does not count dollars when
IL comes TO getting anything he wants.
but he has fully developed the American
business mans object tlon to being held
up.
Others Will Follow.
or recent years a movement has been
growing IN Europe. headed by Germany,
to stop the alleged denudatlons Of the
public and private art collections by
American buyers and IL has resulted in
the placing of absurdly high values on
art objects when an American is the
prospective purchaser. Now that art, at
least art 100 years old, is admitted free
Of duty In tho United States 1t was an
ticipated that tho American drain
would be greater than ever. but in view
of The hold up" policy advocated by
Germany it is doubtful If this Will be
the case for n while at least. 1t is be-
licved here that other rich Americans
will follow Mr.. Morgau's lead, go out of
the market for A. while until art prices
reach reasonable level.
New Portrait of Christ.
A now portrait or ChrIst-new to the
modern world. though executed probably
in the second century OF the Christian
era. and buried all these eighteen hun
drod years past In the tornhs OF tho early
Roman founders of the faith-has been
brought TO light in Ravenna. We have
no really historical portrait of Christ or
OF his APOSTLES Otherwise the Oldest
which is far from being the case. The
portrait found in Ravcnna is plainly one
of the oldest known. Here arc traces
of the earliest type OF the ideal por
trait OF Christ Here we see the youth
full God without an aureole. seated upon
the royal throne at which an apostle
bows. lie is exalted as prince above
His servants. but the King is indicated
not only by the royal character OF Ills
post, but especially by the royal ilIet
upon his hair. This diadem is so marked
Il sign OF royalty that IL goes back even
10 the time oil Julius Caesar. The Christ
type OF the Roman sarcophag of which
tho stntuette Of the Good shepherd in
the L.aferGn may be cited as typical. has
countcnance as in the Christ of Raven
ma. almost n laughing boy. dear 10 the
hearts Of his worshipors. There can be
little doubt that this early portraiturc OF
Christ is due To gnostic Influence, at
lachCd TO an ideal of beauty which com
pcled the admiration OF all, even though
hcathenS.
Americans in France.
The Misses Etta and Nellie Sncad Of
Louisville. Ky. with their niece, Miss
Alice Marshall. are visiting at Florence.
other visitors are: Miss Mary Bryant.
Miss Williams. Mr. and Mrs. William
IIumason OF Portland, Or; Mr., and Mrs.
l.. #. Day OF Minneapolis arc at Pa
lcrmo.
Disgraceful Scene in Court.
During the trial for the murder Of
scene was witnessed. There
were nearly 400 witnesses. and evidence
was given 10 the effect that the MUIR
dcred pobleman had been carrying on an
Intrigue with a married woman living
near his estate. There is every reason
To suppose that his death was an act OF
family vengeance, pcTDetratcd by hired
assassns other than the actual prison-
crs. This revelation produced something
like pandemonium In court. One OF the
advocates for the defense Slgnor Sor
gente In a ut Of anger. seized big
inkpot and flung 1t with great force
against ~ group Of lawyers representing
Count viti's relatives This became thu
signal FOR a general free fight among the
lawyers, In which the prisoners took
part in the absence of the carabinlcrl.
who were engaged In clearing the court.
As a sequel to this incident numerous
duels are expected 10 take place.