El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-05


such great growth of interest in
- art matters as In the United States
During 1909 the value Of importationS
OF art works into this country amount
ed to more than $40.OOO,0O0. Add TO
this the amount spent for American
art, as well as the cost of art educa-
ton, and it is likely that the United
| States Is paying s1OO,0OO.OOO a year for
the art its people enjoy.
OF the s11.5OO.0OO which America pays
each year for the study of art, $1,000
600 goes to the schools, divided about
equally between elementary and finish
ing schools Another 100000 Is
counted for subscriptions to art maya
zines and text books. The municipalf-
ties of the country spend $4,5O0,O00 a
year for art for popular 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 decade will put US abreast of
the leading cities of that continent in
respect TO municipal expenditures for
art purposes.
MOrgan's Art Purchases.
]. Pierpont Morgan mas become the
greatest buyer of art in America. 1t
is reliably stated that his collection
Of pictures, bricabrac, antiques, rugs
and other works of art have cost him
at least S30,00O,0OO- 1t is rumored
abroad that Mr.. Morgan intends to be-
queath all his collections 10 the govern
ment for the creation of national gal
lery that will rival the best in Europe.
Napoleon ransacked the world to
make the Louvre what it is, and those
who have information as TO Mr.. Nor
gan's Intentions believe that he is am
bilious to do as much for the art of his
0fNT
France He has agents abroad who are
continuously looking for famous paint
ings. He makes it a rule to pay for no
work OF art he buys until after one
year, thus affording himself an oppor-
tunity of being certain that the pur-
chase IS genuine.
Europe does not relish the COMPETE
ton Of Americans in her art centers.
Only recently a petition was taken to
the emperor OF Germany. begging him
to have all art expectation from that
country prohibited. While Americans
have bought many valuable 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 100000. The buyer was
e Russian Jew, who got his start in /
the world at blacksmith's anvil Next
Of imported art. Italy ranking third and |
Germany fourth.
Many Masterpieces Lost.
1t often happens that paintings and |
other works of art of rare merit and |
value become lost to sight IN the mu- |
tations OF time, and when someone re- |
discovers them he strikes a piece of |
rare good luck for himself and for the |
world OF art as well.
Not long ago an ,employe of the immi-
grafton service in New York was trav-
cling in Italy. He was a Judge of art |
and utilized his spare time in search
ing for unlisted masterpieces. In one,
OF the cities he visited he found a whole
collection Of such works. He fastened |
back 10 America. arranged for financial
backing. and hopes to bring them all
to this country.
One of the most remarkable finds
ever made in art circles was when an
American traveller visited a second hand |
store in Brussels and bought an old
trunk. When he took il 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 re-
stored was sold for $4,000.
In another instance a French citizen
bought canvas for s1.25 at an auction
and cleaned It up he found he had
bought a genuine Vatican. valued at
$4,000. 1t had been stored away in rub
bish and was so dust begrimed that
those in attendance at the auction little
thought they were Witnessing the sale
Of fine old masterpiece.
Many MIIiionaireS BuncOed.
Often pictures of struggling artists
are bought by people who are quick
aided In this way pictures may be
bought for song that later, when the
artist becomes famous. greatly increase
IN value Not long ago a New York
sold a lot of pictures for more
than 100000. which he afterwards con-
fessed 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
-hey nave paid vast sums for works |
that were next to worthless. In Europe
many art dealers look upon the aver
lge American millionaire as simplv a
nan with more money than brains. and
10 not hesitate to sell him anv damn I
nat he may be foolish enough to buv. {
Many artists whose talents are {
worthy better cause are CONSTANTLY
Employed in retouching and restoring
I'D canvasses and making them appear /
o be genuine works of art.
IN hundredS OF instances art forperies T
ave deceived even the best experts
1any objects that have been veneratad :
or scores of years have been fonpd =
fterwards to be fragrant forgeries )
Tot less than than so pieces. some of :
Which had been acquired at great COST .
rere removed from tn. Iri.s.r-