lint _arts.
THE BELVEDERE PICTURES.
The sale of the most valuable poi tion of this celebrated collection of Sir Culling Eardley's would seem to indicate some misgivings as to the future value of even the finest examples of the old masters. It is, of course, always possible that a collector may grow tired of the old school, or of some particular master of whose work he may possess some most costly example, for which he is naturally anxious to recover the price. But we are disposed to think that there is a decided leaning towards the modern school of landscape and geare, shown in the advance in the prices of all modern pictures offered for public sale, which has been steadily going on for some years. With this also, we must remark that all our distinguished artists are literally besieged with commissions. It was- particularly interesting to see in this sale, amongst some of the master- pieces of Murillo Teniers, Rubens, and Vandyck, a picture by our E. W. Cooke, A.R.A., of the Goodwin Sands—a life-boat going to the rescue— selling for 730 guineas. It is, however, very seldom such large sums have been realized for single pictures sold by auction as at the sale of the Belvedere collection, which was made by Messrs. Christie and Manson, on Saturday last. There were only twenty-one pictures, and they realized more than 1000 guineas each, while the average upon a gallery of superior examples could not generally be taken at more than a twentieth of this rate of ex- cellence. The principal picture sold was a large work by Murillo, the same in subject as the celebrated Soult picture in the Louvre, "The Immaculate Conception;" but larger in size, being 7 feet 84 inches high by 6 feet 8 inches, the Louvre picture being 2 metres 74 centimes by 1 metre 90 centimes wide. The composition and treatment differ from the French picture in the Virgin having tho hands clasped in prayer instead of crossed on the breast. The sky is not crowded with angel cherubs, but they are grouped above and below, and bear the lily, the olive, the irate by Murillo. It was put up at 5000 guineas ; and after a con- , bids.of 500, fell to Mr. Graves for 9000 guineas. engraving of it is progressing under the hand of M. Knolle, of 'ck. The sum, as we have remaiked, was a large one ; but it ny rate, very nearly approached by the sum said to have been ▪ r Mr. Holman Hunt's picture of "The Saviour in the Temple." ost of the picture in the Louvre was, if we remember rightly,
C 0/, The next picture in interest was the magnificent portrait group w bens, which Walpole had pronounced a Vandyck, on account of la-inscription, "La Famille de Balthazdar-Clses-alier," supposed by Vertue to be in Vandyck's hand-writing. The composition consists of a Lady in a green and white dress seated with her infant in her lap ; a youth in a crimson dress stands near with a fair girl in black, and in front is a lovely child, the daughter of R,ubens. This superb picture was obtained by Mr. Ward, after another exciting competition, for 7500 guineas.
The remarkably fine group, by Vandyck, of his friend and brother artist, Snyders, with his wife and child, will be remembered in the Man- chester Exhibition ; this was knocked down to Mr. Grevilla for 1000 guineas. A chef d'ceuvre by 1Vienix, representing a grand landscape with a dog standing over a dead wolf and a white fox, some game and sporting-guns and implements, painted in the highest style of finish peculiar to this master, sold for 740 guineas to Mr. Morrison. A pair of remarkable pictures, by young David Teniers, representing, one, the Archduke Leopold's Picture-gallery at Brussels ; the other, the interior of the Artist's own studio, with himself painting from an old woman, two cavaliers admiring the pictures which cover the walls, repre- senting many of the most celebrated works of art, were not destined by the chance of auction to remain together any longer. The Duke of Cleveland bought the studio for 440 guineas ; the other, which was equally remarkable for minute and exquisite finish, was bought by Mr. Ensom for 400 guineas. In this the artist, who engraved the pictures of the Duke's collection, is seen showing one of the specimens to his patron. A classical landscape, with figures and in bright afternoon effect, by Claude, sold for 460 guineas to Mr. Colville. The other pictures do not call for any remark. The amount of the whole sale was 22,575/. After the sale of Sir Culling Eardley's pictures, two very celebrated portraits by Rembrandt, were sold ; they were especially interesting as pictures painted for the ancestors of the late Reverend Mr. Colby, by the great master, and had remained in the family ever since. The portraits are of Mr. Ellison, Minister of the English church at Amsterdam, in the time of Rembrandt and his wife. That of Mr. Ellison is full length ; the other, of Mrs. Ellison, is seated. Both are signed and dated 1634. The two pictures were sold in one lot for 1850 guineas, to Mr. Fisher.
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