AHT AND DEBT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8943, 31 May 1907, Page 3

AHT AND DEBT.

4 AN ARTIST IN DIFFICULTIES. JUDGMENT SUMMONS PROCEEDINGS. The association of art and monetary difficulties was inquired into in the Wellington Magistrate's Court yesterday, when P. Van der Velden, the wellknown Dutch artist, was proceeded against by W. Gandar, of the Belleyue Hotel, for the recovery of £73 4a 9d. The inquiry was mad© by judgment summons proceedings, the amount involved being fox board and lodging for debtor and his wife. Van der Velden, in course of examination by Mr Weston, was asked ' ' What pictures have you now unsold P" , J Debtor replied : I have nothing whatever. . Have you any pictures stored in Sydney ?— No. Have you any pictures anywhere in the city of Wellington? — Not that belong to me. No. Have you any at all?— I have painted & picture or Mr Seddon. How many pictures have you paanted during the last two years?— l do nob know. I never count my pictures. I only count in colours. Do you knock them off ©o often that you cannot remember how many you painted? — I remember one picture I have painted. I wanted £100 for it. The Art Society got it. They havei always no money in the Art Society, and they offered me £100. That was only for labour. I should get £7 a week, and I did not get £3 a week out of it. I had to go to a money-lender to boarow the £100, and pay him 20 per cent. During the time you wore at Bellevue, Mr Gandar asked you when you were going to> pay? — He will hare to wait, as I Rave. Did you tell him you had unsold pictures? — Yes, but they ar& all sold now. How much money did you get for them? — On© picture I was painting I wanted £1000 for, and I only got £400 — not £3 a week, like a bricklayer. Between times I painted 70 pictures; and drawings. Continuing, he said he had many sketches in Sydney, but. they were- unfinished. They belonged to his son for s&rvicevS rendered. Why did you tell Mr Gardar you had these pictures, and make false statements? — When I wish to have these, pictures I can get them. What income lias your wife? — She has nearly, pretty well, nothing. . . I know nothing about money matters. Aro! art! You owe Mr Wr H. Field money, and you have giveii him a bill of sale ovecr some of your pictures as security. Are these pictures worth more than you g O t? — My pictures are so valuable. They are worth thousands. You don't know me. I have a European reputation. How many does the bill of sale cover? — I do* not know. Dr. M! Arthur, S.M., said he could not make an order against debtor, Mr Toogood was about to make a statement on behalf of debtor, but his Worship said it Ayas unnecessary.