The New York herald., 1922-03-18
Paintings by Early
European Masters
on Exhibition Here
Two Martyrdoms by veronese
Among $50 Works at Ameri-
can Art Galleries.

One hundred and fifty paintings IS
early European masters fill many gal
leries at the American Art Association
and provide an exhibition that will prove
exhilarating to connoisseurs. The paint.
ings are by 'old masters" but some of
them are not stated, and the occasion is
one. therefore, for those with little
knowledge TO look into. The sale, which
occurs in the galleries on March 81 and
2. is one which undoubtedly would have
occurred in Europe rather than here but
for the prevailing after-war conditions.
The paintings are Italian. Dutch,
Flemish and French. and many OF them
are very large compositions. Many. too.
are religious in theme. and this. with the
rich subdued colors employed by the
ancients, gives an unwonted seriousness
to the atmosphere of the galleries.
Doubtless most of the attributions In the
catalogue to such artists as Michel
angelo da Caravaggio. Lionello Spada,
II Guercino. FEDERICO Barocci. francesca
Bigio, Alexis Baldovinetti. Dirck van
Deelen, Innocenza da 1mola, Christoph
Amberger and Gentle da Fabriano are
correctly given. but among the pictures
that are described as .'in the school of"
or attributed to" such and such paint.
ers are many that experts such as DR..
Berenson or DIR. valentiner, II given the
necessary time. could definitely place.
The possibilities that lie in this
section of the collection make the
chief charm of the event, for the de-
lights of little profitable speculation
never lose their effect upon your true
collector. 1t would seem as IL the COM
pelling mural qualities OF the two Dig
paintings by Paolo Veronese, depicting
the martyrdoms of two saints, would be
s-xr. rncvu n IENE~
of the authorship, but since Paolo ranks
among the immortal great it is impos-
sible to wholly brush the thought of
profit aside from the would-be profiteer.
Certainly no one living could invent such
a flowing, rhythmic composition as the
martyrdom of 'St Sebastian " or put
such g. stir of life into the scene. but IN
addition to these obvious merits the
pictures, which come from the Prince
Altieri collection, are said to be the
original studies for the frescoes in the
Church of the Jesuits at Venice.
Another work that may properly be
classed among the "lost arts" since ar
fists Of to-day seem to have lost the
secret of its manufacture. is the Wine
and Song of Da Caravaggio This pic
ture, in which three men with con-
veniences for music and drink, are
seated about small table, recalls the
work of the Spaniards. not only because
velasquez signed a somewhat similar
composition but because the shadows
are put in with such bold and Ribera-
like decision. A very different musical
piece is the est. Cecilia" by Lionella
Spada, in which the heads of the saint
and the accompanying angels are charm
ingly drawn.
The Madonnas are numerous and the
Child is seen In many engaging atti-
tudes. In that of Guercino the gesture
of the Child reaching out for the flower
Is depicted with singular grace and
feeling. and in the Baldovinetti the
Child clings to his mother while the in
fant st. John gazes at him in alteration.
In "A Saint at Prayer" by an unknown
artist, the hands and draperies show
some distinguished painting, and there
is an appealing quality in the Madonna
and Child" attributed to Francesca
Francia. Da Imola's "Betrotha! Of st.
Catharine" Is finely decorative.
The Portrait OF a Nobleman," from
the studio of Rubens. shows we'll fed,
prosperous knight. wearing armor and
a fine lace collar.