The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-18


changes in ownership of world famous
paintings AMI other art treasures.
from European to American hands. at
huge prices. since the world war. has
caused a perfect flood of alleged an
tique art to inundate the markets of
New York, Boston, and other eastern
cities.
Most everybody in Europe and
many persons in the United States, in
possession of work believed to have
been painted by some famous master,
have been offering the same for sale,
or Fostering an expert at some art
museum to pass judgment on the gen.
uineness of the treasure. in order that
"a pecuniary benefit may be reaped
thru its sale.
During the last two or three years
there has been about one story
month concerning some wonderful
painting. lost % the world for genera
tions, coming to light from a peasants
hut. or being found amongst the attic
rubbish in the house of some mid
western hotel keeper. The closing of
saloons and taverns in our large cities
has also caused a shower of Dianas,
Fenuses az the Bath. Baccuses. etc
purpOrting TO be the work of this
great artist or that, to descend upon
the picture market
And that is not all: thousands of
Ola masters and antiques have been
deliberately manufactured and sent to
America, to fool the Ignorant rich
There are enough COrots floating
round the United States today to fill
several freight cars. and in like pro-
portions the alleged works of other |
men.
But it has been convincingly demon /
strated that American art patrons are \
neither fools nor ignoramuses. By |
far the greater part of the trash i'm |
ported from Europe during the last
three years, as well as much which Is |
better than trash. has found no buy
ers- 1t is Just so much miserable
junk in the stores and warehouses of
New York dealers.
Furthermore. experts on the an
tiquity and genuineness OF paintings
are declining to pass judgment on the
authenticity of works submitted TO
them. They have other things to 90
besides making decisions to benetlt
the pocketboOks of private persons
Then. too, adverse decisions frequently
get the judges into trouble There
have been several expensive damage
suits brought against experts that
have decided against the genuineness
of paintings submitted to them n
The paiatings of the signing of the
peacO treaty. 1919. by the Danish
American, artist, John c. Johansen,
and the portrait of Marshal Foch by
Edmund Z. Tarbell, both of which got
separated in transit from the e3h. .p
of World war portraits. arrived the
middle of this week and are now :
hanging in the Memorial building
with the rest of the pictures. Il
of Edmund c. TarbeIl with Topeka {
people. that the portrait OF Marshal (
Foch has arrived, because prior 10 It's
arrival the exhibition contained put
one creditable painting by Mr.. Tar
hell. who ranks as one of our country !
foremost portrait painters me other
GOOD picture by the artist among those
nj the Memorial building is the por-
trait of. General Leman- The por- 1
traits of Herbert Hoover and OF Wood
row Wilson were both painted from !
photographs and consequently do not
reveal the true characteristics OF the i
subjects as life portraits would have /
done. Both of these pictures are to
be replaced with life portraits as soon t
as sittings can be conveniently ar '
Interest in the exhibition steadily !
continues. and there is constant
stream of visitors going and coming ,
all the time The resolution 10 Keep +
il open Monday. Wednesday and Fri \
day evenings, from 1880 until 10 7
o clock has met with public approval
The attendance on "Wednesday evening
Among the visitors were many vet I
Grams of the world war !
The World of Art page of the New
York Times magazine for November 2
u. tells most Interestingly of Walter .
Ufer's collection of paintings on eX- I
hfbitiou at the Mich galleries in New :
York As most people know. Walter a
Tier is a member of the Taos art Z
colony. and as one would presume, the I
pictures composing his exhibition are c
Taos pictures
According to the critic who reviews :
the exhibition. the pictures are not a
mere accurate delineations of In t
dams. dwellings, and natural scenery Z
round and about Taos. which would b
attract the beholder thru the extreme V
novelty of the subject matter much G
as would the appearance of PRINT t
tive Indian or a buffalo on Broadway, A
but they are true pictures. in which
men. women. animals, scenery. color, f
and composition are all blended 50 5
as to tell a charming story possessing
human interest They are character II
istic stories of the home town. so 81
to speak. The Indians are laughing. tV
chatting. making love, engaged in
household duties. working in the gar Ii
den or going on a journey, just as a
MIR. Ufer sees them every day at Taos Il
and the pictures are painted without V
any sacrifice of accuracy or perversion e
of fact a
hibitions which the Topeka Art Guild
has on its schedule for this season is N
that from the Taos Art Colony, this 81
notice of Mr.. Ufer's latest work Il
seemed timely preparation for e,
coming event. Il
The American Magazine of Art for al
y November contains a fine biographi- in
cal sketch of the late Scion Borglum. Sc
lum and. by the way. the friends and
associates of this great sculptor. II
whose death occurred last January. sc
are raising a memorial fund TO COM t
memorate his life and influence p'
The form the memorial will take is fu
a window. designed by Putnam Brin- te
lev. to be placed in the porch of st. ct
Marks church, at New Canaan. Conn.,. bi
" hich Mr.. Borglum attended. and also W
the publishing of Scion Borglum's
book on sound Construction there lin
BY continuing his influence and teach Ell