The Year's Art. Compiled by A. C. R. Carter. (Hutchinson
and Co. 3s. 6d. net.)—This volume (the twenty-sixth annual issue) contains, besides the usual matter, the Report of the Committee of the House of Lords on the administration of the Chantrey Bequest (a Report cautiously approved 'by the editor), and a brief "Appreciation" of G. F. Watts, also from the editor's pen. We should have been glad to hear something more about this great man. The "Art Sales of 1904" is, as usual, a most interesting record. Thirty-seven pictures were sold at prices ranging from 1,400 guineas upwards, the top price being reached by Gainsborough's "Maria Walpole," which fetched 12,100, being bought by Mr. L. Agnew (who secured, we see, twelve others, the thirteen totalling 250,150, an average of 23,780). Among the remarkable fluctuations in price are the following : Deprecia- tions—D. Cox (five pictures), from 2,480 guineas to 686; G. D. Leslie, 720 to 68 ; C. R. Leslie, 1,300 to 150 ; J. Phillip (three), 3,550 to 1,490; Stanfield, 355 to 50. Appreciations—Greuze, 44 to 850 ; Q. Matsys, 37 to 1,200 ; Morland, 225 to 5,600; Velasquez 155 to 1,500. There is scarcely an English artist of recent date whose work has improved in value. Turner is an exception ; but here the prices are variable. Of eleven pictures (all water- colours), four fell from 3,170 to 1,580, the greatest drop being in "Powis Castle" from 1,210 to 190; while seven rose from 6,500 to 10,690, the greatest gain being in " Walton Bridges," which increased from 4,100 in 1853 to 7,000.
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