The Alexander Young Collection
"THE WEED CUTTER" BY J B. C. COROT
by public auction at Messrs. Christies' rooms in ot the younger connoisseurs are endeavouring to
London. This will be, without doubt, one of the form collections of the works of the great leaders
most important sales of modern works held during of their modern native school, but they will find
recent years, and it is attracting considerable it almost impossible to rival the superb collections
attention both in England and elsewhere. mentioned above.
Tne occasion is particularly noteworthy because, In view of the peculiar importance which
with the dispersal of these works, we shall have attaches to the forthcoming sale it is interesting
seen the last of those interesting and select private to recall the chief features of the collection which
collections, consisting mainly of Barbizon and Mr. Alexander Young brought together with such
Modern Dutch pictures, brought together by success. Dealing with the Barbizon pictures first,
eminent professional and business men, who it is to be noted that it contained over sixty
possessed a keen artistic sense and unerring judg- examples of Corot's beautiful art, most of them
ment. The pictures of the late Mr. Staats Forbes of the-very finest quality. They numbered among
and Sir John Day are distributed in all directions, them the two versions of The Bent Tree (one
while those of the late M. Thorny-Thierry and now in the National Gallery in London, included
M. Chauchard of Paris have found a home in in the Salting Bequest, and the other in the Mel-
the Louvre. It is very doubtful if any other bourne Gallery), Le Lac, Evening, La Prairie,
private individual will find it possible in the future Mantes la Jolie, and Les Liaigneitses, works which
to acquire such collections as these, for apart from display all the characteristics of the master, full of
the great increase during the last few years in the poetic sentiment and delightful colour harmonies,
value of the works of the two famous schools, Daubigny was equally well represented, for the
many of the finest examples have now been added works of this artist appeared to have a peculiar
to public galleries, and can never again come into attraction for Mr. Young, and he acquired some
the market. It is true that in Holland several of the finest examples of the painter's art in its
49
"THE WEED CUTTER" BY J B. C. COROT
by public auction at Messrs. Christies' rooms in ot the younger connoisseurs are endeavouring to
London. This will be, without doubt, one of the form collections of the works of the great leaders
most important sales of modern works held during of their modern native school, but they will find
recent years, and it is attracting considerable it almost impossible to rival the superb collections
attention both in England and elsewhere. mentioned above.
Tne occasion is particularly noteworthy because, In view of the peculiar importance which
with the dispersal of these works, we shall have attaches to the forthcoming sale it is interesting
seen the last of those interesting and select private to recall the chief features of the collection which
collections, consisting mainly of Barbizon and Mr. Alexander Young brought together with such
Modern Dutch pictures, brought together by success. Dealing with the Barbizon pictures first,
eminent professional and business men, who it is to be noted that it contained over sixty
possessed a keen artistic sense and unerring judg- examples of Corot's beautiful art, most of them
ment. The pictures of the late Mr. Staats Forbes of the-very finest quality. They numbered among
and Sir John Day are distributed in all directions, them the two versions of The Bent Tree (one
while those of the late M. Thorny-Thierry and now in the National Gallery in London, included
M. Chauchard of Paris have found a home in in the Salting Bequest, and the other in the Mel-
the Louvre. It is very doubtful if any other bourne Gallery), Le Lac, Evening, La Prairie,
private individual will find it possible in the future Mantes la Jolie, and Les Liaigneitses, works which
to acquire such collections as these, for apart from display all the characteristics of the master, full of
the great increase during the last few years in the poetic sentiment and delightful colour harmonies,
value of the works of the two famous schools, Daubigny was equally well represented, for the
many of the finest examples have now been added works of this artist appeared to have a peculiar
to public galleries, and can never again come into attraction for Mr. Young, and he acquired some
the market. It is true that in Holland several of the finest examples of the painter's art in its
49