PICTURE SALE SURPRISE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16227, 29 December 1926, Page 14

PICTURE SALE SURPRISE

£3900 FOR OBSCURK WORK. PARIS, November 9. It is a rare occurrence to find artlovers giving vent to indignation and scorn in an auction-room because pictures are fetching high prices, but this has just occurred at tho Hotel Drouot during the sale of part of a collection formed by the late Mr. John Quinn, a New York lawyer. It consisted principally of works of modern artists, many of which had' been scorned by critics and rejected by exhibition juries. Tho work which attracted most at tention was “ Bohemienne Endormie,” which represents a gypsy musician sleeping on a desert with a lion in the background. It was painted by Henri Ron*, sean, an obscure Customs official, who, without any real training, devoted his spare time to art. Although it defies all accepted notions of perspective and has been the butt of withering criticism, this canvas was valued by on official expert at 800,000 francs. It failed to reach this figure, but was knocked' down at 520,000 francs, to which must be added a duty of 20 per cent, payable to the State. The painter, when be originally sold the picture, received only 400 francs for it, and its lafe owner purchased .it for 120,CC0 francs.