The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11
REYNOLDS HELPED TO
SMUGGLE PAINTINGS
Method scd to Get Master
pieces From Rome Re-
vcalcd in Letters.
ITALIAN LAW VIOLATED
Copies Were Substituted for
Originals With the Con-
sent Of Owners.
SPECIAL Correspondence 10 TRg suS

been lying FOR nearly twenty years IN the
British Museum, AFFORD few intimate
eiimpses OF the methods employed to az
Quire from Italy the masterpieces which
adorn the walls OF many OF the historic
mansions Of England.
There was no scruple In the eighteenth
century at breaking the Italian law which
forbade the transportation Of works OF art
to foreign lands without the sanction OF
the authorities. Lord COwper, when Brit
ish Minister at Florence, carried out OF
the Tuscan city Raphaers beautiful paint
ing known as the "Nicolin Madonna"
which he hid in the lining OF his carriage.
as told In "a recent cable letter In TIE Sun.
The picutrc Is now in the National Loan
Exhibition AT the Grosvenor Gallery. and
Its companion. the smaller Cowper Ma
donna" doubtless smuggled to England
In somewhat similar fashion. has been
sold recently for an enormous sum. This
traffic In Old Masters aroused the indigna-
tion OF the Papal Government. and they
tried every expedient to prevent the de-
spoliation. But they generally failed in
their efforts The British agents. aided
and abetted by native owners and men like
Sir Joshua Reynolds, James Byres and
Gavin Hamilton. upset all their plans by
tricks as peculiar as those OF Bret Harte's
Heather Chinee.
Copies In Place Of Original
These British Museum letters form part
OF the correspondence OF the fourth Duke
OF Rutland. who was an enthusiastic col
lector. He had several agents and ad-
visers through whom he obtained most Of
the fine PAINTINGS that still hang In Bel
voir Castle. One OF his transactions can
he followed step by step in these British
Museum letters.
The pictures concerned were in the
Bonapaduli Palace at Rome being q
series OF the Seven Sacramento" painted
In 1886 by Nicholas poussin. One of the
Dukes agents, "a James Byres, wrote to
him in 1855 from Rome saying that he
had Unexpectedly obtained the "Sacra-
ments" by means OF substituting copies
for the originals" this. of course. with
the consent of the owner in order to de
ceive the Italian Government.
Byres implores the Duke to maintain
the greatest secrecy" until the pictures
are In his possession, for at Rome we
live under a despotic Government. who
are more Jealous than ever of fine things
going out Of Rome
Sir Joshua Told Him "a Accept.
The Duke consulted Sir Joshua Rey-
nolds. who advised him to accept the
offer. II have not the least scruple.
wrote Sir Joshua to the Duke, about
substituting copies for the originals" In
any scruples about 1t that he commends
the deal to the Duke as "a real national
object"
The price was to be $4,000. which
Reynolds admitted To he "a great sum-.
but pointed out "a great object Of art
is procured by 1t. perhaps a greater than
any We have at present In this nation.
Poussin certainly ranks amongst the first
Of the first rank OF painters and to have
such a set Of pictures of such an artist
will really and truly enrich the nation"
BY September, 1856. the pictures were
safely In Sir Joshuas studio in Leicester
Fields. and he writes to the Duke:
II hang over them all day. and have
examined every picture with the greatest
accuracy. | think. upon the whole. that
this must be considered as the greatest
work of Poussin. who was certainly
one of the greatest painters that ever
lived.
"I must mention. at the same time,
that Except to the eye Of an artist. who
has the habit of seeing through dirp
they have a most unpromising appearance,
being incrusted with dirt There are like
wise two or three holes. which may be
easily mended when the pictures are lined.
Excepting this. which Is scarce worth
mentioning, they are in perfect condition.
They are just as Pouss!n left them.
believe they have never been washed or
vanished since his time. 1t is very rare to
see picture Of Poussn, or indeed OF
any great painter, that has not been de-
faced in some part or rather (sc), and
mended by picture cleaners. and have been
reduced by that means to half their
value
"All Danger IL Over"
In addition TO the series Of seven pic
lures representing the "Sacraments"
there was an eighth, which Sir Joshua
said does not seem TO belong to the set,
though equally excellent with the rest"
Its subject was "St, John Baptizing the
Multitude"
BY October 4 Sir Joshua wrote to the
Duke:
Everything relating 10 the pictures has
hitherto turned out most prosperously,
They have past through the operations OF
lining and cleaning, all which has been
performed in my own house under my
own eye, ] was strongly recommended to
a Seopolitan as having an extraordi-
nary secret for cleaning pictures which,
though ! declined listening to at first,
was at length persuaded TO send for the
man. and tried him by putting into his
hands couple of what ! thought the
most difficult pictures 90 clean OF any In
my house. The success was so complete
that thought might securely trust him
with the Sacrments, taking care to be
always present when he was at work He
possesses liquid which he applies with a
soft sponge only, and without any violence
OF friction. takes off all the dirt and var
nish without touching or in the least az
fecting the colours. With all my expe-
rience In picture cleaning, he really
amazed me. The pictures are now lust as
they came from the easel. ] may now
safely congratulate your Grace on being
relieved from all anxiety. We are safely
landed all danger Is over.'
The Duke of Rutland was gracious,v
satisfied with his bargain, writing to a cor.
respondent: "Sir Joshua. who has them
IN his care. offers me 1000 for my bar
gain After certain time they will be
sent to Belvoir. there to remain, hope.
~ long as the name Of Manuers and its
splendOr endures"
Not His First Attempt.
This WAS not the first time that Rev
nolds connived at smuggling pictures out
OF ITALY Tho Alfred Morrison MSS.
include a letter. not published In any
geography OF the artist. In which he dis
cusses a project for the purchasing for
$500 Of two damaged paintings by
Rubens and restoring them ito their
original beauty" He proposed to re-
place the originals with copies, writing: