Some time ago the Marquis d'Azeglio, Sardinian Ambassador at the
Court of St. James, was passing through Lucerne, on the way to his post, when an old tapestry, representing Joan of Arc at her entrance into Orleans, which was exhibited in a broker's shop, arrested his attention. He exa- mined it, found it to be a notable work of art, and ended by purchasing it, it with him to London. Here it was admired in the salons of the Amba Ambassador by not a few. The fact that the noble Marquis was in possession of such a work having come to the knowledge of the directors of the Huge Historique of Orleans, they wrote to him to inquire if he would condescend to sell the tapestry to their Museum. To this request M. d'Azeglio replied by a letter, dated London, February 2, in which he informed the Directors that they might have the work for 100 francs (241.) ; under condition that this sum be distributed among the poor of the town of Orleans on the day of the nuptials of Prince Napoleon with Princess Clotilda of Sardinia. As might be expected, this offer was joyfully accepted, and the Musee Mite- rique is now in possession of the tapestry of La Pucelle. The pictures, statues, has-reliefs, and other objects of vial], forming the collection of the late Marquis de Custines, are going to be sold next week at Paris. Among the pictures, the most valuable are two master pieces by Titian and Greuze ; and particularly admired in the general collection is a splendid assortment of old and rare porcelain, of Sevres, Dresden, and Japan.
Several other important sales of ancient and modem works of art are ad- vertised to take place on the Continent in the course of the next few weeks. The most important of these sales are two-in Brussels on Monday and Tues- day next, the collections of the M. Fanton of Lihge, consisting of paintings by J. Van Ostade, Graesbeeck, Vandyk,Velasquez, Murillo, Andrea Salaina, and other old masters; and in Amsterdam on the 12th of April, that of the late M. Noyes of Amsterdam, very rich in ancient objects in marble, ivory, and bronze, and containing also some beautiful works in lapis-lazuli.
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