New-York tribune., 1921-11-07
Beauty Marks
Soul1an1ii's Art
On Exhibition
Collection at American Cal.
leries Represents Stock
Here With Additions
From His French House
Ensemble Il Harmonious
Tapestries in Ascendant,
With Furniture Pressing
Close in Display Scheme
BY Royal Cortissoz

A dealers collection seldom has the
unity which belongs to the mass Of OBJ
lects just placed on exhibition ut the
American Art Galleries. These things
are the property of NJ. Henri s. de
Soutami, of Paris and New York. Most
of them represent his stock here, but
there are additions brought from his
French establishment. They make
harmonious ensemble - and one of
great beauty-because they illustrate
on the whole, one broad European ira
dltlon. Tapestries are in the ascend
ant, with furniture closely pressing
them. The sale il set for next Thurs
day. Friday and Saturday afternoons.
The tapestries are OF Flemish and
French origin, dating from the six
teenth to the eighteenth centuries.
Many of them are highly pictorial in
motive, notably the set Of seventeenth
century Gobelins pieces No. 327). illus
trating the history of the children OF
Niobe- This is noble group. and of
the same imposing character is the ex-
ample G Flemish Renaissance NO,
32S) which celebrates an episode in the
life of Judas Maccabeus. Two Flemish
tapestries based on cartoons by Teniers
Nos. $50 and 33t) may also be cited in
this category But we fancy that col
lectors will turn with almost greater
eagerNes TO the specimens of verdure
and III one respect NJ. de Souhami
makes particularly strong appeal To
those VINO are looking for purely deco
ratlve material of both an artistic and
a practical nature. We refer to his nu-
merous borders and similar pieces Of
essentially adaptable stuff. The old
Elem sh or French "cantonnier" is
ideally designed to enrich a doorway or
window frame in almost any house em-
helhshed with antiques This collec-
tion IS gloriously rich in it.
NeedIework Ia Shown
Needlewark in various forms is pres
ent in abundance. There are numerous
panels suitable for this or that decora-
tive purpose. and, above all. there is a
great array OF chairs with needlework
covers. The arc beautiful objects.
Ihe choice kcre is among Enthusiastically
authentic ana fine examples, and the
range is wide English as we'll as
French craftsmen OF the historic
periods are represented There are
other types of furniture also, certain
French Renaissance ana regence pieces
CT singular perfection, and, among the
productions in wood, several striking
Gothic souvenirs.
The glass. after the Lawrence sulen-
doris OF last season, is a little disap-
point ng. But It is not by any means
negligible, and n few of the exhibits
reach high plane This is especially
the case with the superb panel from
Evreux No. 359), an illustration Of the
legend OF st. Christopher. dating from
ne fifteenth century. There are some
ruby notes in it. but these are suhordi-
nate to passages of blue and green.
FOR KIND Of sober meliowness this il
one OF the most beguiling pieces of
glass we have ever seen. There ara M
particularly impressive canvases in the
group Of paintings, though the eight
panels No $500 from the school of
boucher have a pleasing decorative
quailty. and there Is merit in the ver
sion no. 3o4) of one Of the most-famil-
lar and charming OF Rubens's comnosi-
tons. the Infant Saviour and St.
John"
Metal and Stone Display
Architects and decorators will find
their account in the departments of
metal and stone. The old Gothic man
telplece from the Gontaut Biron collec-
tion NO. 361) Is gem Of its kind. All
1ne wrought iron is good. including the
49, nc atultoAs ana tne candle
SUCKS. Scattered through the gather
ing OF tapestries and furniture there
are numbers OF miscellaneous objects
ea the exquisite Fabriz silk c>rpet No.
"Ss) which hangs at the end Of one of
ene upper rooms. the few reliefs in
marble and stucco and the sixteenth
century French horse. in bronze INc
~, wbicA is one OF W. de Sou
hami's chief treasures He is claarl7y q
dealer or taste and iudgment-and Of
good fortune. His belongings maintain
a remarkably sound average Of EXCEL