Evening star., 1926-10-21
THE NORTH WINDOW
By Leila Mechlin.

royalty has occupied in the public eye
this week, attention may we'll be
called to a very remarkable series OF
portraits In miniature that have been
painted Of some Of the early kings
and queens Of Egypt by Winifred
Brunton, a. distinguished English
artist. This series Of portraits. painted
not hundreds but thousands Of years
since the subjects lived. has. curl
ously enough, the approval and com.
mendation of artists, historians ana
archeologists. They were done some
what in the same way that an arcni-
tect might reconstruct q ruined build
ing, and there Is an interesting anaI.
ogy between the reconstruction OF
these bodily temples of the soul py a
portrait painter and the reconstruc-
ton of the temples Of worship by the
archeologists and architects working
in union.
Mrs. Brunton, who, as q portrait
painter, has made a profound study OF
character as expressed in the face.
not only worked from the mummies
of the ancient kings and queens In
the Egyptian Museum, but studied
cotemporary portraits in sculpture
and historical records and. according
to Prof. Breasted Of Chicago. one
Of the greatest authorities on Egyptol-
ogy in the United States, II not in the
world, she has succeeded with anlaz-
ing historical accuracy in bringing
back to life through her painters art
these remarkable royal people.
In a handsome volume lately pub
.lished, reproducing the portraits In
color and with Interesting descriptive
text, historical and biographical,
Prof Breasted introduces and ex-
plains from his own scientific stand
point Mrs. Brunton's work, giving II
his heartiest Endorsement. The por-
traits are extremely vital works. each
Essentially personal and individual,
painted with breadth and at the same
time great fidelity to detail'-portraits
which bring those far-off days and
that little.known life really close to US.
It lis possible that this series OF
portraits will be later on exhibited IN
the several museums Of the United
States.
Evidenoing the fact that paintings
by cotemporary artists have sal
ability and market value is the fact
that they are being counterfeited to.
day. Not only does this refer to the
works Of deceased but Of living art
lists. For instance, II portrait oy d
very distinguished living American
portrait painter was sold to collector
in the Middle West recently. The
collector, prompted by u desire to 90
a courteous act and establish for all
time the authenticity of the work,
wrote the artist OF the acquisition
and sent two photographs. one 1of
the artist to keep. the other to De
autographed ana returned. Nhat ne
received was a telegram stating that
the work was spurious. the signature
n forgery.
Of course, for years the works of
the old masters have been copied and
sold as orfginals-in fact. so common
has this practice been that no col
lector today will buy a work by an
old master unless It's pedigree is
known. A travelling picture salesman
once remarked casually to an art
critic. with a shrug Of his shoulders,
that he himself had sold a million
dollars worth Of Corots. which, OF
course, meant that Corot himself had
not seen one of them.
* X \ X
About 20 years ago a case OF this
| kind was brought into court In New
York and attracted a great deal on
attention. a New York collector dis
covered that certain paintings which
he had purchased from a particular
dealer as works by Homer Martin
were not by that artist. and to punish
the dealer and to recover damages he
brought suit. Strangely enough. the
decision Of the jury was in favor or
the dealer, on the grounds that he
had himself been deceived, that he
had purchased and sold the works In
GOOD faith. 1t ruined the dealer, but
II also ruined the collector VINO
brought suit. The costs were tire.
mendously heavy. The dealer had
many friends. 1t was most un'
fortunate and futile effort to obtain
justice.
In the case of the work of living
artist authenticity can always pe
established. but in the case OF de'
ceased artist 1t is not so easy. IL is
said that the ajority of the spurious
works are marketed in the west De-
cause up to the present time tnose
who are buying pictures there are iess
we'll informed concerning the WORKS
| of cotemporary artists.
The only way to put a stop 10 thls
abominable business Is to be cautious
in buying and thus make the business
unprofitahlc But, of course, no one
forres that which Is not of intrinsic
,vorth. therefore again it may be re
| marked that 1t is quite evident that
| American paintings nav" dcquiio GU
commercial worth.
~ -
n Il encouraging to note the rap
| idly growing interest In art through
out the country. Atlantic City--which
nv the way, has not only the famous
boardwalk but public schools. pup
lie lecture course and a war memoria
| among the best in the country-is
about to open a permanent art gal
lery and to put on during the comine
| sea son a series of notable exnlpltlons
of cotemporary American paintings
sculpture, etc. This movement Ns
| sponsored by a local art ASSOCIATION
1t Is the result Of admirable co-opera
tior on the part of hotel keepers. the
| Chamber Of Commerce ana the ousl
! ness men Of our famous seaside re
cert The owners OF the Million Dol
lar Pier have offered the use of
| rallery on the pier opening on to the
boardwalk, we'll lighted and capable
| of excellent equipment. The whole
nroiect is the result Of an exhibition
mt on last season under these same
auspices with great success. In that
"a 60 the pictures were borrowed from
an art orga anization in Philadelphia
over 10000 people visited the exhibi
ton and a very fair. proportion OF
| sales were made.
| X X
Artists are delightful people, bu,
sometimes they try the patience OF
| their friends. It is proverbial that
an artist does not always know wher
! his picture Is finished and not infre
nuently paints 1t to death. George
| IN ;1%nA htc YoiNtiyroa fr