FAMOUS ART DEALER DEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 137, 10 June 1911, Page 17

FAMOUS ART DEALER DEAD.

SOME STORIES OF CHARLES WBRTHEIMER. One of the most famous art dealers in the world in the person of Mr. Charles Wertheimer died on Tuesday, April 25, ,n his sixty-ninth year, from the effects of in operation. The business was founded by Samson Wertheimer. who crossed to England iv IS3O with little more than the proverbial penny in his pocket. But his wonderful Judgment of works of art soon brought him wealth, and when he died in 1592 he left nearly £400,000. This fortune was divided between his two sons, Asher and Charles. The formercontinued to trade at the shop in BondBtreet which his father had made famous, while the latter carried on business at his mansion in Norfolk-street, Park-lane. The drawing-room In his house, a fine apartment on the first floor, with a large window overlooking Hyde Park, is probably the most gorgeous and richly-furnished room in London. The walls are hung with valuable tapestries, the floors are covered with the richest carpets, and the collection of "old masters" in the room is famous all over the world. Mr. Wertheimer bought largely at Christie's sales', his taste In pictures being principally for Gainsborough, Reynolds, and Romney. In the famous sale rooms in 1903 a dilapidated canvas with a hole In the centre was put up at auction. The owner did not know its real worth, but had an idea it might be valuable. He had been offered £5 for it, but decided to let It go to Christie's. Mr. Wertheimer gave 9500 gnineas for that picture, which was one of Gainsborough's masterpieces. Another Gainsborough, only 301n by 251n, was purchased in 1908 by Mr. Charle« Wertheimer for 9000 guineas, and he paio. £6000 for "Gainsborough's Daughters." A year before he gave 11,000 guineas at Chris tie's for Reynolds' "Lady Betty Delme.' He possessed mauy Romneys, for one ol which be gave 10,500 guineas. Mr. Wertheimer always said that the greatest coup he ever made was the pur chase of a vase which he afterwards so.c for £35,000. He saw this vase standing In the window of a honse In Brighton. He made up his mind it should be his. Bui he did not want the owner to know tha the vase was almost priceless. So h. offered to buy the house and its content! exactly as they stood. The owner of the honse was agreeable He asked £18,000. It was £5000 above th. market price, but Mr. Wertheimer paid i gladly, and then made a huge profit. In February, 1907, Mr. Wertheimer wa the victim of a burglary, when propert; valued at £70.000 was stolen. Among th loot was a Reynolds and a Galnsborougt both of which were cut out of their frame; Several miniatures and valuable snufi boxes, for one of which Mr. Wertheime had given £4000, were subsequently r( covered, bnt two celebrated pictores■f'Sazxy Parsons" and the 'THoa. Mr