Chimpanzee's Paintings May Buy Her A Husband

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28224, 12 March 1957, Page 11

Chimpanzee's Paintings May Buy Her A Husband

<Rec. 12.10 a.m.) BALTIMORE. March 11. Betsy, a chimpanzee whose paintings are worth money, may earn herself a mate on the strength of her art. The first public sale of Betsy’s paintings took place yesterday at the Baltimore Zoo, which is her home. Three paintings were handed over to buyers who paid 25 to 50 dollars each and a fourth went off by mail. Betsy, whose fame has reached as far as Moscow, was not present. She was demonstrating her talent on a television programme. Mr Arthur Watson, the zoo director, explained seven-year-old Betsy’s technique. He said he stretched wet paper in front of her and daubed it with paint. The chimpanzee then rubbed the daubs, using her fingers, hands, or even elbow and tongue. Betsy, who has been painting since 1953, did not always produce a saleable canvas, Mr Watson, admitted. He considers only 17 of

her 27 to date worth selling. The other 10 he threw away. Mr Watson said he started Betsy painting as a kind of stunt and because she had natural dexterity. Now he plans to keep her at it. Betsy’s paintings were first displayed a week ago. Today, her cage walls are lined with them. Mr Watson said selling the paintings was approved by the Board of Recreation and Parks on March 1. The money would be used to buy animals for the zoo, or possibly “to buy Betsy a husband.” He said he might take her to- the New Yok Zoo “to pick a likely fellow” for herself. Betsy's fame has inspired a Moscow Radio commentator, Valentin Zorin to say: “You no doubt think this is a great joke. It is not a joke. The rich flock to private showings and fall over one another to buy works by this genius.”

Mr Watson said this was an exaggeration.