Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-26

HOLLAND is RIPE
For an Art Harvest, Pieces Are Prom.
erty Of Dutch People.

merely as a pleasant and wholly Sc
date diversion. Raising slightly. odor-
less flowers and, at last, paying good.
round prices for them simply as a
sporting chance among themselves.
the Dutch after a while had England
and Europe crazy over the handsome
blooms. Then they made their kill
inG, at prices which more than paid
for all their trouble and expense, and
they had the fun in the bargain
SO with porcelain. The old Dutch
shippers saw 1t in China, liked it.
bought it. brought it home and stood
it on their quaint Dutch shelves.
They never bought anything that
was commonplace. About every pieces
some peculiar values elung-speeiai
glaze. unique design, fame tof period,
repute of school--so that a gift OF
imported china. for long while in
expensive, carried. nevertheless, the
merit of rarity, until Dutch home
steads because so full of ii that there
was no distinction in owning it.
Then. when England discovered the
splendors of porcelain and induiged
in its wild fevers over kind and quail
| tiles. Holland had the goods More
millions poured in as her exquisite
I plates and vases were reluctantly let
| out.
! She has never crowded saie-she
| Just waits. The time is at hand in
| the view of Frederick CORTLAND Pen
| field, the connoisseur and diplomat.
when her patience with her art is to
be rewarded. Few masterpieces re-
main to be looted from England. The
talk about American millionaires and
| their eagerness has let the world know
only half the truth. While our buy
ers were hunting with brass bands,
! the immensely wealthy Austrians and
| the shrewd Germans were purchasing
right and left. Between them all,
| the great English mansions are vir-
tlally bare of their ancient treasures.
| Holland remains as the next store
| house 10 be looted
| The famous Dutch painters. when
| their works come into the market,
and even those who aren't famous,
have risen in value on scale almost
| incredible. When, recently, the coll
| lections of Sir William Abby and
| Charles Butler, two quiet amateurs,
wore disposed of in London, a Van
| der weyden which was bought for
/ 5000 went at $4,000; Mostaert at s22oo
which was acquired for $3.50: TDa-
| vid and Goliath" simply of the Durer
! school, at 1895 which cost Mr.. Butler
$3.50.
And Holland has the goods. She
has always had them. About her art
there has ever been a distinction to
which other nations either bowed or
4 looked with unfailing respect
4 Her modern painters, women or
men, need ask Indulgence of no one.
| Among the most famous of them
/ during the last half century has been
Theresa Schwartz. to whom such
| subject as her "Fatherless'' becomes
q magnificent inspiration. If animals
! are the theme, the canvases of Hen
| rietta Bonner whose work for years
has been accounted among modern
| masterpieces. appeal to the most ex-
acting of critics as well as to- the pop
ular taste.
Such painters as Rubens and his
pupils, Van Dyck and Jordaens;
| Rembrandt,N a. mere etching from
whose hand has sold for $4,000;
Franz Halls, Teniers the younger.
Adrian van Ostade. Gerard Dou.
Pieter de Hooghe and Jan van der
| Meer-these bear names that are iden-
| titled at sight with the greatness in
art of the Netherlands schools of
/ painting; and retentive Holland is
believed to possess examples of not
few which the lure of foreign gold
will bring out into the light.
Portraiture and genre painting were
no more the glory of the Netherlands
I than landscape and animals, and the
cupiditys of collectors for canvases by
| Ruysdael and Hobbema, and by Wou-
verman, Paul Potter, Adrian van de
Velde and Aelbert Cuyp has been d.
vided between them and the works of
marine artists like Backhuisen and
1 William van de Velde the younger.
Holland the collectors believe. re-
| mains the land of unknown riches.
| Bit, as they may know from her his
tory OF usury in other realms Of art.
she will take the highest toll that
comes to a rising market-Pittsburg
Dispatch.