Art Sales of the Year 1901. Edited by J. Herbert
Slater. (H. Virtue and Co. 30s. net.)—Mr. Slater is the editor of the well-known work, often noticed in these columns, "Book Prices Current,' and he is an expert in engravings. The volume before us is the first of a projected series. We wish it all the prosperity which it deserves. The general result of the sales of the year seems to be that oil paintings increase in value, though this and that artist may go out of favour ; that water-colour drawings have a tendency to become less valuable ; and that engravings, etchings, and mezzotints go with the oil rather than with the water colours. In fact, the prices paid for some of this third class of works of art are among the surprises of the year. The great sale of these things was on March llth-13th, when the amount obtained for Mr. II. A. Blyth's eollectio was indeed astonishing. The general result was that £21,717 was paid for three hundred and forty-six lots,—nearly £64 for each lot. (It the Duke of Buccleuch's sale, fifteen years ago, two thousand one hundred and nine lots fetched £19,756,—i.e., between and £10 the lot. Some of the Buccleuch curiosities, indeed, sold for very large sums, but.these were Rembrandts, and Rembrandts may be said to stand by themselves.) In the Blyth sale mezzotints after Sir Joshua Reynolds were the chief feature. The top price was reached when "The Duchess of Rutland," by Valentine Green, was sold for 1,000 guineas. (It was in the first state.) Sir Joshua received 150 guineas for the original picture, which was destroyed by fire in 1816. Other prices are nearly as surprising. "Lady Betty Delius and Children," by the same, fetched £966. Seven mezzotints by Valentine Green were sold for £3,580, while two others (also in the first state) realised only .6100. But the top price was reached in "Mrs. Carnac," by John Raphael Smith, after Sir Joshua,—X1,218. In 1780 an impression from the same plate was sold for 25s. And these costly things are, presumably, kept in portfolios ! An oil painting can be enjoyed by its possessor. In the oil paintings the modern came better off, on the whole, than the old masters. A Lucas Cranach for ..Z.50, a Francis for E81, contrast unfavourably with a Hoppner for 8,400 (bought in, it is true) and £438 for three drawings (averaging 5 in. by 4 in.) by Millais. On the other hand, Rubena's "Raising of the Cross" was sold for £3.360.
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