BACK FROM HUNGARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18388, 2 May 1923, Page 9

BACK FROM HUNGARY.

FAMOUS CANADIAN PICTURE.

PEEL'S '" AFTER THE" BATH."-

YOUNG ARTIST'S TRAGIC LIFE

[from our own correspondent.]

TORONTO. March 24

"After the. Bath,", by: Paul ; Peel, '..„ Canada's most'famous painting, has re ' turned home. It represents the slender nude .figures of the painter's. children, in front of a fire. The picture was hung in' the Paris Salon in 1890 and won a gold medal first occasion, on which a' . foreigner was awarded thai mark of French recognition. Afterwards, it was' purchased, by the Hungarian Government, and foe 30 years it has hung on the walls of the National Museum Gallery! at Buda. Pesth, , " " ; •. * ** Paul Peel, the artist, died of a broken heart' for lack of appreciation,, in 1892, when he was only 32 years old. And for a period, ho ana his " After the Bath'' and his less than 100 other works of art were forgotten by the world But James Colerick, a boyhood friend, who, in their birthplace of London, Ontario, shared. his struggles and. disappointments, and griefs, did not forget. In particular, he did not forget the chief masterpiece, \. " After the Bath," resting in alien surroundings in Buda'Pestlu Ho constantly dreamed of the day when it might return to the spot .where it was created. ;: ; The great chance came a few months ago, when, as an incident of, European chaos, collapse overtook Hungary's financial structure. Colerick: instituted ■ prudent inquiries. And, as a result, with the co-operation, of another' London citizen, Henry). Pocock, the :purchase of " After the - Bath" from the Hungarian Government was negotiated. This week ; the painting ; arrived in London, ; still bearing the Hungarian ; National i Museum 'label, and enclosed in a hand-made gold frame of beautiful design. The painting's value is placed at anywhere from £10,000 to £20,000. Only a fraction.'- of this sum . was required, but. oven so, Hungary's investment, having in i mind ; tho price originally ; paid, was probably a good one. ; The present owners plan to place " After . tho Bath"; in some public place in London as a memorial to Peel, who is now regarded as the greatest artist Canada* has produced. ' ' Sixty-two Works for £400. *. In the year that " After .the -Bath" won world honour at Paris, Pec-}.offered 62 of his paintings for,; sale in his ; homo city. There were practically •no bidders. Tho picturesK; were thereupon >; crated ; : ; and sent ■to Toronto, ~ whero they were placed on tho auction block. They realised a total of 22156 dollars, which left the artist, r after expenses, less-than 2000 dollar*. To-.': day,: : the same pictures, if j put up at' auc-V tion, would yield,, perhaps, a million dollars. ' f That auction sal© of his masterpieces; among his own people-was the tragic cul- '. mination of a scries of tragedies in the life of one ■ of Canada's v most; brilliant sons. Those who know; him^bj'st'd^laro. 1 that it broko his heart. : v When the sale was over, ho returned to Paris r ; ere ; he had studied and • laboured/ •-,- But he did little, .-if anything, more with his i, brush.;; •' His spirit, so his friends say, was Crushed. Tired and: : defeated, he : lay down one day two ; years ■■•■ later ) on,-a;.';little; cot:. in . th» : v,' studio that was for years quickened and enlivened j, for the brilliance of V his imagination, y and when ( his family cam > to : seek,hint tho harassed and troubled spirit had fled. - ' Present-day Values. ■ But Peel's position is now secure.--His work-occupies, a distinguished position of honour in the art galleries of >jtho world. There are specimens of it in tho Montreal: ( and Ottawa '. : art galleries, ': in former;; Royal Court of Vienna'; and in some of , ; the .'most notable private art galleries : of t :the ; .United'States; . ■ Queen Alexandra bought '.' His Boy and Dog." < ' s I " Tho Reaper's Joy," was Isold ;by th» ! artist for £50. Hanging iii 'the' City Hall,'; Toronto, it commands the attention; of all.;.: arid :■'■ the value now placed - upon it is ; £5000. " The Venetian Bather,',', sold to. - t W. Wakefield for £65, is now j valued at £10.000. \" The!Jßeturn % of the Flock," ; sold to J. Spooner for £25/ is now valued at £7000.-: "Life is Bitter," sold to Sir • Fflmund Walker for £52, is now valued ; at £7000. ; A littlo landscape, ! one of 'six ; sold at prices ranging from £1 to £5, fetched- £600 on .resale,' y v \, ■-■ A little picture, entitled "v." The ? ) In- y truder," was sold by tho artist; for £10, and it has been since sold to Mr. (Thomas Jenkins for £500. " The Milk Maid" was purchased, at the auction sale for £13. : •.'; Last year it; was sold to M,r. ; Thomas Jenkins,; of Toronto,; 1 for : £240. f : During the sale of ■ the estate of the late R. Y. Ellis a year' ago, " The!Return:of the Flock," for which Mr. v Ellis paid £27,!:. was withdrawn on. an ! offer of £1000, • Three of the -paintings- ofi ; Paul Peel: were held :bv his sister,' Lady Rosfi, widowr.; of the late Sir George former Pre- : \ mier of Ontario, at a value of £20,000. and from the sale of eight' of-the. paint-■; ings during the past ten years by Mr. Thomas 'Jenlrfiiis; .; approximately £6000 /: wes realised. ' * Paul Peel ■> studied ; art in '.Philadelphia, New York-—where he painted circus wag-; gons to London, and Paris.: Moat. of his work was done in Paris, : and in ft : : i etudio over a hardware store in Toronto. He married a 'Danish girl, and ! the surviving children reside in Europe.