OLD MASTERS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 67, 22 March 1929, Page 21

OLD MASTERS

A REMBRANDT SALE

PROBABLY FOR AMERICA

It is reported that the Duke of Buccleuch has sod a Rembrandt self portrait for £100,000.' It has not been definitely stated that the picture is destined for America, but thero is all too little doubt that no buyer: in this country will find himself in the fortunate position of being able to acquire it at the large sum which will now have to be demanded.

"The picture represents the great Dutch master in full'face," says the "Daily Telegraph," "though the body, or the upper portion of it, which alone is visible, is in profile. It ia signed .and dated 1659. At that time Rembrandt ■was at tho height of his career as anartist.

"As a man ho had fallen upon mis- ; fortune, but his troubles seem only to have induced liim to redouble his \ output. Indeed, the year in which the portrait was painted is altogether remarkable for the high standard of ' quality and for the immense number of pictures painted by Rembrandt. There have actually come down to us no fewer . than eleven, all, as far as wo can dis- ■ cover, painted at that time, and of ' these no fewer than four are closely ' associated with England. They are the Buccleueh picture, the JBridgwater House self portrait, the National Gallory self portrait, and the Portrait of a i Man, also at Trafalgar Square." Mr. A. C. R. Carter writes: "Art purists may very properly arguo that the beautiful idea lias no relation to price, but whenever a masterpiece changes hands one of the first questions asked (even by purists themselves) is, 'What sum has been given for it:" In the present instance, as on many previous occasions, the amount has not been disclosed, yet nowadays it is always safe to surmise that whun a great Kembranrtt picture is sold by private negotiation the puruliii.su price is over £.50,000, and may reach ,£IOO,OOO. Sir Joseph JJuvcen told me frankly that the famous "Savant before the Bust of Homer," Avhich ho brought back from America expressly for the exhibition at Olympia, hail been sold Tiy him originally to Mrs. Collis Hunt.-, ington for £80,000, and that her estate had not suffered when he repurchased it.

"During the past twenty years ninny of Rembrandt's masterpieces in British private ' collections have crossed tin ocean after private negotiation— a method which lias been preferred to the discussion that would have been caused liy the appearance of a well-known 1 work at a public sale. Thus, when it ljccame known some, years ago that the 'Marquis of Lansdowne contemplated selling "The Mill," he had to bow to public opinion and to give time for the National Gallery to find the necessary £100,000 odd purchase-money. As every art lover remembers, this feat could not bo accomplished, and this Rembrandt masterpiece now hangs in tho "Witlener collection along with such prizes as the Spencer Titian "Venus and Adonis," and the first of the two Pansh.anger Raphaels."