New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-03

collector Of this city. 1t was considerably IN
excess Of 100000, the amount Mr.. Hunting
ton paid Lewis & Simmons, antique dealers,
of this city and London, for the picture.
The picture-a portrait--was purchased by
Mr.. Huntington in 1912. 1t was represented
as a Romney, and the art dealers gave Mr..
Huntington written guarantee. Eighteen
months later Mr.. Huntington began to have
his doubts. SO he went to Lewis Sim
monds and asked for his money back. They
refused, and when the suit was started last
fall the firm issued statement expressing
satisfaction that the suit was brought, as they
would prove in court that it was genuine
Romney.
They produced experts who swore 1t was
Romney, and Mr.. Huntington produced experts
who swore otherwise, and in addition produced
drawing from which the portrait was worked
up, with the initials o. II. in the corner. And
then the defence admitted that this proved
the portrait to be by Ozias Humphrey, the
miniature painter contemporary of Romney.
Just now pending in the Supreme Court OF
this state is another of the so-called bogus
picture cases. They come up from time to
time. but for every one that gets into the courts
there are hundreds never heard of, as the COL
lector of old masters, always wealthy and
generally unwilling to let the public know ne
was fooled, buries the fake picture IN his attic
or cellar and says no more about 1t.
This case was brought by Jackson johnson,
a resident of St. Louis. Mr.. Johnson was one
of the purchasers at the sale of-to quote from
the catalogue-the exceedingly rare and valua-
bic art treasures and antiquities formerly con-
tanned in the famous Davanzat Palace, Flor
ence. Italy. which, together with the contents
of his Villa Pia. were brought to America by
their owner. Professore Commentators Ella
Volpi the recognized European expert and
connoisseur. This sale, held at the American
Art Associations galleries, in this city, where
some of the most important art sales IN TINS
country have been conducted, attracted art
dealers and collectors from all parts OF the
country. The sale started on November 70,
and six DAYS later, when the last lot was sold,
the auctioneer proudly announced, and well ne
might, that the 1913 numbers in the catalogue
had brought s944192, putting the sale among
the big ones of auction room history. And the
catalogues, published at So, were at pre-
MUM before the sale was fairly started.
Henry C. Prick, Otto H. Kahn Louis c. Tiff
fanv and other art collectors were among the
purchasers. And Jackson Johnson, of st.
Iouis. also was one of the purchasers, as has
already been observed, and Mr.. johnson so
deposes and says in the moving papers of the
suit.
Mr.. Johnson declares that painting alleged
by Professore Commentators Nolpi to be by
Rubens and another canvas alleged by the
same gentleman to be a Van Dyck, are not old
masters, as represented, but forgeries. And nc
sues to recover S11,S00 of the S944,l92 that
Signor Volpi obtained for these two pictures
and 1.041 other objects of art.
In the moving papers Mr.. Jackson johnson,
of Missouri, frankly admits that he is not an
expert Judge of paintings. And he, with equal
frankness, admits parting with So,4Oo Oh MS
rood money for what he swears now are
pseudo old masters. And he turther swears
that, since obtaining the putative forged Kuoens
and Van Dyck, he has obtained the expert
opinions of Martin Hofer and other authorl-
ties on art, and that they have Informed nm
that the outside values of the two pictures are
500 each. and that had they been what the
Nfissourian bought them for they would be
worth 5000 each. And for the reason that
s11 500 represents the difference between $500,
the alleged actual value of the paintings, and
$4,000. their value if real, Mr.. Jackson john
son asks for damages in that sum.
The suit caused buzz in art circles. And
it naturally started afresh among makers of
art. and buyers of art, and sellers OF art, and
those who are mere gazers on art, the ages-oid
subject of art forgeries.
Now be it understood that what follows has
nothing 70 do with the two pictures in ques-
ton. Something similar might have been
written in the Stone Age, long before Rubens
and Van Dycl; were on earth and something
similar will be written when the Pyramids
shall have crumbled and the Sphinx shall have
long ceased to worry solvers of riddles. What
follows is what is known in general way to
all those familiar with paintings, and some OF
it is new. And for that which is old the plea
is made which is made for last years suit OF
clothes: it can be made to serve.
The extent to which old masters are forged
and the degree of excellence impaired to these
forgeries are beyond the knowledge of the I'M
initiated. But an idea OF both can be had
when it is known that when it came to APP
praise the estate Of Lusitania victim, resi-
dent of New York City, experts called in by
both the family Of the deceased and the Tax
Appraisal Department Of the State Controller
Of New York found that of the scores of
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