Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-01-10


ficacious measures Of keeping Germany
safe for German art property. In order
to educate the people to the necessity Of
such measures, and also perhaps to make
use of its art treasures before they have
been gobbled up by foreigners, the muni--
cipality of Berlin not long ago, arranged
for a travelling exhibition of paintings
belonging to The city, which formerly
were practically buried in departmental
offices. The exhibit includes 65 paint
ngs. chosen without regard to propa-
ganda or politics. but for their art value
alone, which are to be transported all
about the proletarian districts of Berlin,
thus carrying art to the factories, the
homes of the working people, and to
the schools.
It is admitted by those opposed to the
triumph Of American money over Eu-
ropean art that it would not be SO bad
if Americans had stuck to their former
method of paying large prices for bogus
works Of art. That was different. Then
they obtained all the pleasure Of buying
great masterpieces without inconyenl-
encing Europe at all.
But now complained a prominent
member of a British art society recent
". they want the real thing: Your
American collectors have learned. Ihey
are now very astute collectors, VINO
know precisely what they want and can
afford to pay the price for it. They
are vastly different from those who used
to come to buy our pictures. just TO
decorate the blank spaces on their walls.
The days when whole factories in Eu.
rope were devoted to the manufacture OF
Reubens and Carrots 10 supply the demand
of American millions are gone, indeed
gone. 1t can't be done any more. Only
recently, a flood of paintings by Ce-
zanne attempted to deluge the art market
and was promptly checked after three
had been sold The Cezanne market
is dead for some time to come. An
American collector must be supplied with
absolute proof before he will buy one
of them.
In fact, American art dealers have be-
come so very astute that they will sac
rifice real art treasures before they VIII
take chance on them. A New York
art dealer who has just returned from
England tells. with some regret. for ex-
ample. of an opportunity he missed IN
London of securing a genuine Reuoens.
1t was one of several old masters re-
Gently discovered by British rector, he
said, in an old. unused room of his rec
tory. The rector. according to the deal
er's story. had come upon this remark
able room through an ancient sliding pan
ell, which accidentally yielded TO his touch,
revealing dark. dingy, room that he had
never suspected was a part Of his home.
Entering the room somewhat gingeriy.
he had found the paintings. which British
art critics have subsequently declared to
be genuine. One Of them was n four
oak plaque. covered with years OF dust,
which when brushed off, revealed per-
feet example of Reubens at his greatest
period
1T was a good story" remarked the
dealer dryly, but l have heard plenty
of that type before. Nevertheless. this
particular one happened to be true, and
if I'd believed it I'd have secured great
bargain. They re asking S15O.ooO fer 1t
now,
You know. that's what makes onr
business so fascinating continued the
dealer ruminatively. "The chance in a
hundred that well get something genuine
for little or nothing. That's why SO 50
many Of us are Rractlea.l;iyd .;Sd anTopean au1r enn
old master in lifetime, it's enough to
| double our fortune.
| Happen to know. The Red Cap one
| of the most important pictures Of the lat e
Mr. Frick's collection? he asked. We'll,
that picture was peddled through the
streets Of London only about ten years
| ago by some unknown tramp. who carried
Fit under his arm, wrapped in newspaper.
He asked fifty pounds for it and was
3laughed at. Finally. Sir Hugh Lane dis
lcovered it i'll dingy London auction
Groom, took it home and cleaned 1t. and
found it was Titan. Mr.. Frick bought
Lit from him at stiff price.
But there isn't so much of that any
more" he concluded sadly. If We
know what we're buying when we 60 to
| Europe now. the collectors over there
also know what they're selling us. And
they can howl about us going off with
all their masterpieces. but, believe me,
we pay for them"