New-York tribune., 1919-03-30
Art in London
Sensational Prices Recently
Paid at Christie's
Ne,U York Tribums
Foreign Press Bureau

foTe1gn PreSs Bureau
AT a recent sale Of pictures by old
masters at Christie's, London, sensa-
tlonal prices were paid for pictures by
artists whose works had not hitherto
commanded four figures. The sale con-
sisted of portion of the collection of
the late Earl of Camperdown, pictures
of Sir Ernest George, r. A., of the
late Countess Dowager of Lonsdale
and Of the late Miss Mary L. Rennell.
According to the report of the sale
in "The London Times" the Camper-
down pictures included two fine works
in oils by j. M. w. Turner, both So
inches by 4S inches, the more impor-
tant of which was the sunset view of
the old Palace of Linlithgow, which was
purchased for the artist and which
from an opening bid of 1000 guineas
reached 7,4O0 guineas, Messrs. Agnew
being the purchasers, with Messrs
Knoedler as the underbidders; the Sec
ond Turner, Bonneville, Savoy, with
: Mont Blanc, exhibited at the Royal
! Agncw at $500 guineas.
The fine examples Of Sir Joshua
Reynolds included a portrait of the
artist in the robes of D. c.. L., pur-
chased from J. Northcote, r. A., and
this from an opening bid of 500 guineas
reached the surprising figure Of $500
guncas (Abbey). A portrait Of lady,
said to represent Lady Diana Beau
clerc, was bought by Messrs. Knoedler
at $500 guneas; "The Piping Shep-
herd" from the Marchioness of Tho
mond's sale and engraved by Burney,
fell to Mr.. Walter Burns at 2,200
guneas, and an attractive forest scene.
IAN Opening in the Wood" engraved
by s. W. Reynolds, brought 420 guineas
(Pcacock).
Cainsborough's splendid "Coast
sccnc,' with numerous figures, acquired
nt Lord dc Tablcy's sale in 1927 for
200 guncas and etched by j. Young In
the 1921 catalogue OF Sir John Lciccs~
ter's Lord do Tabley) pictures, was
now started at 1000 guncas and fell
at $500 guineas to Mcssrs. Knoedlcr.
a beautiful little farm scene by Paul
Potter, signed and dated 1916, realized
2,4b0 guineas (H. e. J. Simmonds): a
signed and dated (1651) river scene by
j. Van Coyen brought 600 guineas
(Gooden & Fox); view of an island
near Venice, by +. Guardi, 1850
guineas (Dighton); and of the three
examples of W. Collins, r. A., "Rcd
Riding Rood" 1886, fetched a10
guineas (Sampson).
The chief picture in the property Of
the late Miss M. u. Rennell was Gains.
borough's portrait of Lady Blackstone,
the daughter Of James Clitherow, Of
Boston House, and the mother OF Dean
Rennell's wife, which sold for 1,AOo
guineas. This is hitherto unre-
corded example of the artist.
The sensation among the five pictures
which belonged to the late Countess
Dowager Of Lonsdale was provided by
signed and dated (1710) group by the
French artist j. +. dc Troy (1679-1752),
flno examples of whose work are rare
in the sale room. The Reading from
Moliere," an interior with group of
fine richly draped figures. was started
at 1000 guineas and fell at 5000
guineas to Messrs. Agnew. This little
picture has been universally admired
during the recent viewing days, and
the price paid is believed to be the ar
lists maximum ut auction.
The portrait which has attracted the
most attention during the week
was Sir j. Watson Gordon's striking
picture Of Sir Walter Scott, in green
coat, yellow vest and dark trousers,
seated, leaning his hands on his staff,
his staghound "Bran" by his side
and the peaks Of Eildon Hills in the
distance. This portrait was painted in
1880 for SCOTS friend and publisher,
Robert Cordell, in whose family it has
remained until now. 1t was engraved
for an edition Of the .Waverley novels
and was exhibited at the Scott Cente-
nary Exhibition at Edinburgh in 1871
and again at Glasgow in 1911. Bidding
yesterday started at 500 guineas and
at 4,200 guincas it fell to Messrs.
Agnew.
The miscellaneous properties in
cluded Raeburn portrait, said to be
Lady Elibank, in white dress and brown
cloak, which realized $40 guineas (Nch-
olson); David Teniers, interior Of the