New-York tribune., 1919-12-28

STlLLMAN
les at the Willow Brook Gallerv)
- ----------------- -
teenth century, designed the so-called
Chateau of Chatelherault." in the
great ducal park near Glasgow. pack
OF hounds had quarters provided for
it in the center of the building, which
hence came to be known by the rather
shabby title of "the Dogg Kennell.'
But the seemingly disparaging title
could easily be borne. This cast struc-
ture was only an episode in the archi-
tectural adventures Of the heads of
the house Of Hamilton. They were
building and rebuilding from the fif-
teenth century down to the nineteenth.
The last sessions of the recent sale
illustrate some noble rooms, adorned
with masterpieces Of Georgian wood
carving. Some Of these, we dare say,
with quantities of the beautiful period
furniture, will in due course find their
way to this country
The prizes among the paintings in
the sale were very rich. One of them,
as noted above, is to be regarded as
ultimately an American acquisition.
We would be glad to hear that certain
others were coming to the United
States. The catalogue reproduces some
Enthusiastically magnificent examples Of
the eighteenth century British schoo,
One Of Sir Joshua's is the full
length Of Elizabeth Cunning, who's
first marriage was with the sixth Duke
Of Hamilton. 1t is a portrait in the
grand style, perfect illustration OF
his courtliest manner. Less impressive
but more enchanting is "The Hon. Mrs.
Peter Beckford," in which one of the
stateliest figures he ever painted is
shown standing In Greek temple.
burning sacriticial incense. There never
was any one like Reynolds, even in
France, for a fusion Of natural grace
with the machinery OF a semi-symbol-
ical portrait. The British school dom
mated in what was left of the Hamilton
Palace collection of paintings, portraits
by Reynolds, Romney and others. Rae
burn, by the way, was conspicuous in
the company. His portrait of the tenth
Duke. standing in military dress beside
an Arab charger, is an example Of his
occasional deviation into kind of ma
jestic formality. The study he made
Of Douglas, the eighth Duke, is
simple bust portrait, and clearly mas
terly piece Of painting. Rubens and
Van Dyck led the foreign contingent.
the latter with a superb full length OF
William Fielding, the first Earl Of Den
bigh, who was father-in-law to the first
Duke Of Hamilton. This Van Dyck is
a stirring picture, far removed from
the measured atmosphere of the por-
traits by which we usually know him
The earl is shown in red striped hunt
ing garb, standing in landscape
accompanied by an Indian page who is
clothed in yellow. The color scheme
as the catalogue describes it would ap-
pear to be sumptuous, and the illus
tration indicates Van Dyck's puissant
brush in its freest, most sweeping vein
few Italian things are recorded, nota-
bly, a couple of religious subjects BY
Tiepolo.
This is busy period in the London
salesroom. Other catalogues received
from Christie's disclose momentous nc
tivities. The property of Captain B. c.
Fernon-Wentworth, lately disposed Of,
included some glorious Flemish tapes
tries, and among his miscellaneous OBJ
jects there was a wonderful Illuminated
manuscript. This sale was followed.
late in November, by one Of objects
of art, porcelains and tapestries be-
longing to Sir Philip Sasscon and the
Countess of Rocksavage. Tho cata-
logue reveals some particularly inter-
esting examples of eighteenth century
French sculpture. The latest Christie
catalogue we have in hand enumerates
the pictures in several collections
which were sold on December 12. One
of these paintings is a military full
length by Raeburn, portrait Of Lieu
tenant General Hay Macdowall, which
even In the small reproduction shows
the artist at the top Of his powers.
From the Hope estate came fine
Romney, "The Hon. Mrs. Trevor" A
striking feature of this sale was
group of old masters from the collec-
ton of the late Edward r. Bacon, Of
New York. Bronzino, Cuyp. Guardi,
Halls, Tintoretto and LargiViere are
in the list. The passing Of these pic
lures across the Atlantic is a pointed
reminder that London has lost nothing
of it's potency as an art market. In
fact, since the war, the prestige Of
Christie's had been markedly reaf-
firmed.