The sun., 1919-09-14
H. G. FRICK BUYS
A FAMOUS VERMEER
Purchases "Painter in His
Studio" From England for
Sum in Six Figures.
PORTRAIT is OF ARTIST
Two of This Noted Dutch
Genius's Works Are in
Metropolitan.

An event Of International interest In
art circles Is the recent acquisition by
Henry Clay Frick of the celebrated
painting by Jan vermeer of Delft en-
titled Painter in His Studio" which was
formerly In the collection of Count Ger
min, Vienna.
The picture is widely known among
connoisseurs and critics, and It will form
most valuable addition TO the famous
Music Lesson" by Vermeer, now In the
possession of Mr.. Frick and which he
loaned TO the Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston. several years ago.
Although no price has been mentioned
in regard. to the transfer of this i'm
portant masterpiece from Europe to
America, It is believed that the sum
represented in the transaction will easily
Approximate six figures.
1t is rarely that a Vermeer finds its
way across the Atlantic, for authorities
concede that only a limited number OF
masterpieces by the Dutch artist. who
was a contemporary of Rembrandt. are
in existence. The picture now in the
possession of Mr.. Frick Is considered by
critics to be the finest example of YER
meer's subtle art.
In a work on Vermeer written by
Frank Jewett Matter. Marquand Profee-
ton University, the writer says: "Ver-
meer's honorable IL short and unpros-
porous career is represented to-day by
half a dozen civic dates and by some
thirty-seven magnificent pictures.
His two figure compositions include
only two undoubted MASTERPIECES, the
bizarre yet wholly lovely Painter In
His Studio and the subtly complicated.
but very intimate Music Lesson" at
Windsor Castle (the royal collection
Of England).
''Vermeer's figure composition is high
ly conventional. He builds his pattern
out of rectangles, easements and floor
tiles. cunningly assembled. against which
the human figure serves either as an
axis or as a contrasting arabesque.
""The Painter in His Studio" says
Prof. Mather. (which Philip Hale re-
CARDS as technically the finest Vermeer.
shows a great variety of rectangles
densely set about the map on the wall,
with the flures arranged in piquant dis
sonantal relations to the general pat
tern"
vermeers subjects are usually young
women, often introduced as figures in
Interior scenes.
Vermeer whose paintings were almost
forgotten for more than century and
by his charming The Lacenaker" in
the Metropolitan Museum of Art by
THE Lady in the Easement" in the
Altman collection. Metropolitan Museum,
by "A Girl Asleep; in the Widener col
lection, Philadelphia. by "A Young
Woman Weighing Pears in the ]. Pier
pont Morgan collection by "A Young
Woman Writing; in the johnson col
lection, Philadelphia, by a figure OF a
young woman. and In Mrs. Jack Gard
ner's collection. Fenway Court. Boston,
by THE Concert"
1.-THE Painter in His Studio is said
10 be a portrait of the artist himself.
II is said that Duveens, New York and
London, and Stevenson Scott of Scott s
Fowles, New York. were identified with
the pictures transfer.
It will be recalled that recently II
was announced that Mr.. Frick had Sc
Hcured a portion of the Morgan art col
lection of bronZes and limoges enamels
for the reported figure of S1,500,000.
His last notable purchase Of single
work Of art was the beautiful full length
portrait OF the Countess Of Ctinbrasil. by
Sir Anthony Van Dyck, from the Lord
Denbeigh collection. for the reported sun
o: $3.50, 900.