The New York herald., 1921-11-27
Striking Gothic
Tapestry in Hess
Art Collection
Antique Furniture, Ancient
Chinese Portraits and Marine
Drawings Also on View.

Three separate art collections OF inn
portance. extensive enough TO fill the
galleries OF the American Art Associa-
ton. opened there yesterday and at
tracted many visitors. The art include ed
antique and modern furniture from the
ancient Chinese paintings owned by x.
Il. Wong of Shanghai and Emil HarteI
Of coswig. Saxony. and original draw
ings of naval and marine subjects owned
by V. Winthrop Newman.
Ths auction of the highly interesting
Hess collection of furniture is re-
organization sale, since the well known
firm OF d. S. Hess & Co. has no inten-
ton of disseminating their business. 1t
reaches the standard that would be ex-
p,cted of It by connoisseurs. and Is
throughout replete with examples of the
skillful workmanship and ingenious
fancy of the craftsman of medieval
Europe. 1t has many textiles. and in
deed. reaches its highest point in ths
textiles. and in addition there are carv-
ings In walnut. astonishing bronzes and
decorative objects for many uses.
First interest. however. must be al
lowed to one of the tapestries 1t is an
example of Flemish Gothic work. and
since connoisseurs willingly will travel
miles 70 see Gothic tapestry. they will
be further melted TO make the most OF
the present occasion for study because
OF the little document that accompapi as
it-a letter from the expert, DR. Bode
Of Berlin. attributing the design to be
the work Of Maitre Philippe. who made
80 many tapestry cartoons for the EN-
peror Max.milian during the early years
of the sixteenth century.
Entitled 'The Triumph of Peace. -
The Emperor Maximilian obtained
sovereignty over the Netherlands where
this tapestry was woven, by his mar
iage with May of Burgundy. and il Is
thought to be one Of the series woven
for him to present TO various churches
and fraternities The subject is an aIle-
cory that, with a curious appropriate
ness to the present era, Is entitled "The
Triumph Of Peace" There is a full
length figure of Christ syrnbolizing the
Prince of Peace,
Another striking textile Is a needle
work hanging, OF eighteenth century
French work, portraying the Triumph
of Alexander" It portrays an anina ted
and attendants bearing rich trophies. 1t
Is said to be tho largest example of these
needlework hangings In America. Other
textiles include n Beauvais tapestry
otter design by Oudry petit and gros-
point needlework chairs, and many
chairs in rich damasks.
There Is a pair Of italian carved.
painted and gilded columns Of the kind
made famous In the Gates Beautiful
cartoon Of Raphael; gothic bishops
throne of French sixteenth century
work: an elaborate and beautiful chest
Of drawers. with ornamental carvings
In relief. coming from the italian seven
teenth century: pair of tall Italian
bronze torcheres. with figures OF the
muses. and nymphs an eighteenth cen-
tury Dutch escritore; a set of Italian
gilt armchalrs from the Marquis Castel
Delfino collection, and many cabinets
mirrors and tables. The sale of the Hess
collection occurs on December and 8
Collection of Chinese Paintings.
The Wong and Hartel collection OF
Chinese paintings covers n period ex-
tending from the Tang Dynasty. to the
Ch'ien-lurg time; that is TO say, from
6lS to 1885. Among them are n number
Of the full length portraits on kake-
monos. which have only begun to come
here from China within recent years
For a long time the assiduous foreign
collectors were unaware of their ex-
istence. as these paintings being inti-
ately collected with the eastern cui,
for ancestor worship were kept hidden
md never sold. Once discovered, how
ever. the foreigners made irresistible
Inducements and now some OF these
portraits figure in all of the great west
ern collections. The colors are applied
In fiat tones, and the drawing of the
faces has the subtlety and strength OF
Holbein.
There are a number OF long pictorial
scrolls IN this collection, Of the kind
that are represented in many familiar
Chinese and Japanese prints. Thes,
portray with amazing skill the legends
Of the poets and events of history, ano
incidentally not only give valuable side.
lights upon Oriental customs, but In.
stance the superlative aptitude these
artists have for the artistic use of flow.
ers and birds
The Winthrop Newman collection
comes at time when, In spite of ths
Armament Conference. there seems to b,
more interest In old naval affairs thar
ever. The recent exhibitions OF shiI
models have spread an enthusiasm fol
everything connected with seafaring life
but especially with the historical aspects
Of IT, Mr. Newmans drawings are tbs
original drawings, from which many OF
the old. sought-for prints were made. ant
in many cases arc the work of wei
known artists
For instance, Thomas Rowlandsor
signs group OF them. Rowlandsor
was. in the opinion OF Cruikshank, second
only to vandevelde in the directness and
simplicity of style. and these drawings
clearly show what Cruikshank meant
They seem to have been produced with.
out effort, and the first touch was always
the right one.
They are to be sold on November 80