Evening star., 1938-07-31


the oft-repeated plant that
the market for art today is exceedingly
low-henae the great number of artists
on Federal relief roles-the returns
reported by the leading auction houses
OF New York and London for the sea-
son, which closed in June. are Of quite
staggering proportions. The American
Art Association Anderson Galleries Of
New York realized $2020,s7425 on 10
sales held between September, 1887,
and June 8.
During much shorter period Of time
the Parke-Bernet Galleries in the same
city. having come into existence In the
middle Of the year, realized $l,25l,-
Sl7o0; while at Christie's in London
q single collection, that Of the late
Mortimer L. Schiff. sold late in June,
brought alone total of over $500, 900.
To be sure, the two New York firms
included in their returns receipts from
sales Of books and autographs, but the
major portion Of the amounts reported
were for paintings, drawings, prints
and objets dart. For example, the
Galleries recorded total of $969, ,64l-
so for "art property" which included
furniture, porcelains, pewter, glass,
arms and armor, etc; $l33,840 for
paintings, and perhaps most surpris-
ing, $5l ,155 for prints.
The Parke-Bernet Galleries separated
from the American Art Association
hn 80 NJ
vember and fear was expressed at the
time that there might not be enough
business for two such houses, but both
would seem to have prospered.
Against the latter's record OF 10 sales
for the entire season stand that of As
sales for the former during half that
period. And the Schiff collection
which belonged in New York was, as
all now know, taken to London for
dispersal
A INVOLVEMENT of the sale Of
the Schiff collection was made in
March by Mr.. Schiff's son, John Nor
timer Schff, and caused considerable
CONSERVATION in art circles. Mr..
Schiff, ST., was a collector Of excep-
tional taste and the collection that he
assembled in his home on Upper Fifth
avenue, New York. was exceedingly
choice and wisely chosen. Collecting
rare works of art was, as his son ex-
planned at the time the coming sale
was announced, his chief hobby, to
which he gave scholarly attention. He
literally filled his house, designed
largely for the purpose, with rare
works Of art and books of especially
precious quality.
Such a collection entails great re-
sponsibility and constitutes a major
interest. Mr.. John NJ Schiff's inter-
ests were "along other lines" and his
house was not designed to accommo-
date such collection, therefore he
decided to sell it, with the exception
Of the majolicas, which were lent to
the Metropolitan Museum Of Art. AS
1t was specialized collection, he
thought England better market for
1t than the United States. That 1t
WAS a good market the prices brought
now attest-in fact, it has been au-
thoritatively said that this sale was
the outstanding event in Christie's
great salesrooms Of recent years.
Bidding was spirited, prices brought
In some instances were exceptionally
high. and among the bidders were col
lectors and dealers from all parts OF
Europe and also the United States.
One large buyer came all the way from
California. Several of the notable
works in the collection have been or
will be brought back to this country,
but the majority will, alas, remain
abroad.
THE Schiff collection was especially
rich in paintings Of the early
Flemish, German and French schools.
OF all these, perhaps the most famous
was The Dream Of Pope Sergius,"
by Roger Van der Weyden, a panel
approximately IS by 80 inches in di-
mensions, painted about 1850. prob
ably for St. Peters Church in Liege,
to serve as an altar piece-not the
whole, but portion Of the composition
of which second part, attributed to
the Flemish school, is in the National
Gallery, London. For this painting
alone $4,000 guineas. or approximately
$4,000 was paid. The purchaser was
M. Rosenberg of Paris and London,
who may have been acting as agent
for an anonymous collector or in
stitution. 1t is a storytelling picture,
very elaborate in composition and full
of interesting detail. To the left Pope
Sergius 1 is seen kneeling, asleep,
and beside him is an angel bearing a
mitre and pastoral staff-the one who
in his dream brought him the news
Of the death of St. Lambert, Bishop
of Liege The result of the dream
Is set forth on the canvas to the
succeed in the episcopate, is observed
leaving the Vatican accompanied by
two cardinals. Particularly inter-
esting," wrote a critic in the Arts
News, "are the representation of the
Iiber, the Castel SAINT Angelo and
the pre-Michelangelo Basilia Of St.
Peters, which bear witr"-5 10 the
painters visit to Rome in the jubilee
year 1450 and thus dates the paint
ing" Obviously, in those days paint
ings were produced to make known to
the common people legends and reli-
eious truths. for the ma iority could
not read and therefore could only be
instructed by word of mouth or Wis
uaily. This was responsible, perhaps
for the meticulous care with which
detail was rendered and the clarity
Of the expression. Also, In all prob
ability, the painters thought much
more then about getting their mes
sage over than of expressing them
selves.
IT WAS not then art for arts sake"
but art for the sake Of mankind
there was need for it and purpose.
Apparently. however, despite changing
times and ideals. this art for the simple
people still commands respect and sells
for what may very well be considered