The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-22
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the centre for artistic taking of old
masters even as far back as the time
OF the old masters themselves. 1t Is
related of Andrea del Sarto that he
copied Raphaers portrait OF Leo X.
for Clement VIII. This picture was
later presented to the Duke of Mantua,
who. though he already owned sew
eral Raphaels. was for some time I'M
der, the pleased impression that this
was an original.
Royalty even in our own time has
Teen reported to have been duped by
skilful imitators. The delusion OF
owning priceless conceptions by the
worlds finest craftsmen has been
common among all classes Of society.
The late ]. P. Morgan for all his ac-
tivities as a collector, was said to be
among the fortunate few who could
outwit a willy dealer. largely through
his practice of accepting a painting
and then waiting six months before
actually paying for 1t. This allowed
plenty OF time in which the anthem
ITCHY Of the picture could be estab-
lished.
Though many collectors are feeced
| by fraudulent works the fact that more
of them do not air: their grievances in
court is generally due to their re-
luctance to admit that any one has
gpldbricked them. AS Mr.. johnson said
in his examination before trial In the
| Volpi case:
"I assigned the claim in this case to
! the person in whose name the suit was
7 first brought because didn't want to
| get the advertising and notoriety
knew I would gain here. Even an anna
teur does not like to pose as fool. you
know"
| Art circles are watching the progress
of the case closely, because of the
| prominence of the sale at which Mr..
johnson bought his pictures and the
| distinction of those who attended Il.
The pictures were included with the
contepts OF the Davanzati Palace Of
Florence and the Villa Pia, which Prof.
Yolpi brought here. and at the end Of
the six days bidding. in November.
1916, the total of $944,192 was reached,
making It the fourth largest sale ever
held in this city.
Among the purchasers at the sale
were Joseph e. widener, Mrs. Benja-
min Thaw. Henry G. Prick. Otto H.
Kahn, Louis c. Tiffany. the Metro
politan Museum Of Art. the Boston Art
Museum and the Minneapolis Art Mu-
scum.
His Doubts Aroused.
Mr.. Johnson, who had set about re-
placing a collection OF valuable paint
ings that had been destroyed in 1916
when his house was burned, purchased
what he believed was Portrait OF
Carolus de Mallery," by Peter Paul
Rubens, and a Portrait of Augustin
Lomellini." by Anthony Van Dyck
His doubts were first aroused by the
director OF the st. Louis Museum and
later strengthened by Martin Hofer an
expert OF London and New York. who
had acquired $4,000 worth of the
Volpi offerings, which he believed to be
genuine, but questioned whether the
same could be said OF Mr.. Johnson's
purchases.
Thereupon the manufacturer brought
suit for 81 800. although the purchase
price for the pictures had totalled only
$1,000. He declared, however, that the
value of a genuine Van Dyck and 9
Rubens OF this type would be $4,000
and that the real value OF the paint.
ings he held was only 5000, which he
subtracted. At the time the suit wal
started Cesare Guglielmetti. ther
Volprs agent in New York, said he
had been approached to settle the case
for the few thousand dollars involved
but that 1t was a matter of the vim
dication of his reputation with Prof
Volpi, and the latter would prove thai
the pictures were what they were rep
resented.
After dragging through the courts
, for two years the case has now beer
set down for trial in the Supreme
: Court in October.
when the German Expert Erred.
l Though the disputes that arise hav,
Y generally come from a purchaser whit
Y insisted that he had been misled. Their
has been one famous case where tn,
= buyer insisted on misleading himsel
( into believing that he had a prize o
I antiquity in the face of seemingl.
e Overwhelming evidence to the contrary
That was the spectacle presented b!
h DR.. Wilhelm Bode. for many year
$ curator of the Kaiser Friedrich MI
n scum Of Berlin and one OF the artist
4 pundits Of Europe. He bought a wa,
$, bust which he pronounced an authen
! tic product. entitled Flora" from tn
n hands OF the Renaissance sculptor an,
versatile genius. Leonardo da Vinci.
nj One Of tho men best qualified {,