A Defect In the Hands

1895

A good story is told of an English lawyer who, having succeeded in making a litigant of every farmer in his county, having grown rich at their expense, and thus established a valid claim to their consideration, consented to sit for his portrait, which was to adorn the courtroom of the county town.

The picture was duly painted by a London artist, and previously to being hung was submitted to a private view. "Most uncommonlike, to be sure," was the general verdict. But one old chap, regarding the canvas critically, dissented from the prevailing opinion as follows:

"That be somewhat like his face, but it ain't the man. This man has got his hand in his own pocket, you see. Now, I have knowed him for five and thirty years, and all that time he's had his hand in somebody else's pocket. This chap ain't him." — Green Bag.

Tale of a Painting by Schenck

1895

A wealthy American bought for $8,000 a picture the history of which is impressive. This picture, signed Schenck, represents asses deliberating gravely around a cloth covered table. It was exhibited at the Salon, at the close of the empire. The Figaro gave to it an appreciative article, in which it was insinuated that the painter doubtless had the intention of representing the privy council of the emperor. This information caused a scandal and prevented Princess Mathilde from buying the picture, as was her intention.

A few years later the canvas was exhibited at Munich. The empress of Austria wished to buy it. Her guide, Baron Ranberg, who was a friend of Schenck, told her the peculiar circumstance that had prevented the purchase of the work by Princess Mathilde. The empress said, "I cannot buy a picture which contains a political allusion." — Echo de Paris.

Color Photography at Last

1914

British Experts Who Should Know Are Satisfied That the Process Has Been Discovered

What appears to be an almost perfect process of color photography is at length announced. It gives results by which oil paintings are reproduced with startling fidelity. The process has been shown to the British Royal Photographic society and the Royal society.

Five years ago Aaron Hamburger of London began to experiment for the production of photographs in natural colors. After many failures he discovered a process which he now calls the "polychromide system," and which is already beginning to revolutionize photography and all business affecting colored reproductions.

In the opinion of Sir William Crookes, who spent a day examining every detail of the process, the discovery is the "greatest achievement in photography." Sir William Crookes, Sir Archibald Geikle, and the council of the Royal society are being photographed by Mr. Hamburger.

The autochromes of the famous brothers Lumiere were under the disadvantage of being incapable of reproduction. Mr. Hamburger narrated how desperately he had tried every means to reproduce them. Failing, he invented a new camera with special screens, which divided a beam of light into three colors, and the effect of the screens is that no color save those desired find their way to the plate.

By the air of three sensitive gelatino-silver developing papers, which are printed under the red, yellow and blue printing negatives, the final photograph in colors is obtained, and the canvas effect of an oil painting is then easily produced.

Joys of a Collector

1907

Picking Up a Valuable Painting at an Auction Sale

Collecting will always have its romances. I know of one that occurred at the sale at Christie's of the effects of the late Sir Henry Irving. Some one I knew had been to see the collection before the sale. He came across a portrait with which he was familiar because he had seen it thirty years before.

On consulting his catalogue he discovered that the portrait was described as being that of a man unknown, and, further, the artist was also unknown. Now, he knew that the portrait was that of a famous actor by a famous English painter. He longed to buy it, but decided that it would go at too high a price. He went to the auction with very little hope. The Whistler and the Sargent were sold, and then it was the turn of this picture. Nobody recognized it. Finally he had to start the bidding himself, and this he did. Only one man bid against him, but he soon stopped, discouraged, and then the picture was knocked down to the man who had never expected to get it.

He hurried to the desk to pay the small amount and to carry off his prize. "Do you happen to know anything about that portrait?" the auctioneer asked him as a porter took it down to a cab. "I know it very well," said the new owner, conscious that it was now safely his property. "It is a portrait of Buckstone, the actor, by Daniel Maclise. There is an engraving of it in the Maclise portrait gallery." — Mrs. John Lane in Pearson's Magazine.

Artwork -- Wool Soap For Toilet and Bath -- Advertisement

1896

Wool Soap
For Toilet and Bath

Wool Soap is the most modern of all high grade White Floating Soaps for the Toilet and Bath and for Washing Silks, Laces, Woolens and all fine fabrics.

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Artwork -- Grandmother's Help -- 1880s