Year: 1873




That portion Of the public which takes an interest
In dealing with the beautiful and artistic was
somewhat startled by the announcement, few
days ago, that the firm OF Ball, Black Co. in
tended to close their business; and, In pursuance
Of that intention, had placed their stock repre-
sentng gold value OF $3.50, ,000 in the hands OF the
Leavitts With great portion OF that stock this
department does not concern ITSELF although, per-
haps, reference to some OF the more costly and
beautiful pieces Of jewelry which have an artistic
beauty and worth, Independent OF their exchange
able value, would not be improper. IL Ii with
those objects which are everywhere recognized as
coming legtimatey within the radius OF art that
we venture to concern ourselves. This proportion
is not large, but 1t Is not too small to be
taken into account In fact 1t is only recently that
this firm has applied itself so exclusively to plate
ana jewelry as to have modified the character 1t
previously enjoyed among connosseurs in paint
tngs. 1t Is only lew seasons ago that the large
and handsome gallery, OF which the third floor OF
the regal building on the southwest corner or
Broadway and Prince street consists, was hung
with pictures as tnicky as the walls OF The Acad-
One gallery, paved with marble and lavishly
lighted, was then one OF the favorite rendezvous
for the connoisseur, the amateur and the curiosity
hunter, and the nrm went SO extensively into the
purchase and sale OF pictures that the stranger WIS.,
iting there was apt TO forget that after ALL the pic
ture department was merely an adjunct and accl-
dent OF what the firm considered its legiti-
mate and regular business. visit TO the
depleted gallery Is interesting because OF the
traditions which hang around it-traditiOns with
which the spice Of fashion and the glamour OF wealth
and the glow OF fine art and dilletanIlsm have
something to do-and because OF the small but In
terestnR group OF statuary and pictures to be dis
covered there. The first floor brstles with cases
alive with the fash OF gems, the sheen Of brOnzes
and the CLEAN OF gold and silver. The second nOOr
is devoted to the statues that seem to keep guard
over the memories and traditions OF which the rep
utation OF the old house is FULL Chief among the
statuary are Romanelli's figures of william Tell.
George Washington and Benjamin Franklin as
boys; and very beautiful ideazati0ns OF bOyho0d
they are-nOt Interesting, perhaps, to those who
like to trace In marble psychological study not
perhaps perfect portraits from which one might
argue what kind OF man the boy would
become, but practical conceptions expressed
in graceful shape and very clevery executed. Be-
sides these there tg marble bust by lombard,
"The Beloved Disciple,n - "Christmas MOrning' and
est. Valentines Morning. in marble by I. Ball
Napoleon at Confirmation" in marble by Roma
nelli, ana two marble statues representing "Ceres
OF the Vatican" and "Fl0ra OF the Vatican.n There
are three clever paintings OF fruit by George II.
Hall, market Scene" by Hoguet q fine cattle
scene by Van Severdonck, an Oil painting Of some
pretensiOn by Englehardt, and very nicely
painted and dramatic picture by A. Kinder, en-
titled ''The Tourist" These together with the
other articles, win come up for disposition at auc-
ton on Thursday and Saturday OF this week, at
eleven O'Clock, the sales taking place at the ware
opportunity does not occur every day, Or even
every year, for firms like Ball d Black are not in
the habit OF taking the town by surprise by closing
hu9ineg9.