WESTERN ART FOR THE EAST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 80, 30 December 1918, Page 6

WESTERN ART FOR THE EAST

JAPANESE SHIPBUILDER'S' PUP- "■ CHASES.' Japan, which for years has been the happy hunting ground for European collectors of art treasures and ctifios, is, it would seem, about to take its revenue by acquiring works of art from the West, especially pictures by British and French artists. The art correspondent of "The limes" writes:— ■ ■ •

A few weeks ago a Japanese gentleman —a shipbuilder—speakin? perfect Knalls!), paid visits to nearly all -the Bond Street picture dealers, and made extensive nurchases. Hc'wns entirely uninfluenced by the big names of famous artists, or by what other people collected. The colour 'scheme of n picture was his only guide, and if it nppeitled to him he afoico bought the picture, without liaggling about tho nrfce. Jlis only concern wan that a particular work was a good and characteristic example of the artist. From inquiries in various quarters there is every reason to believe that his selection* have been extremely happy ones, which will bear the test'of severe seiyitiny. In this matter the dealers have acted honourably and wisely in only placing liefore the new collector, the best .pictures at their disposal. They were th<s obviously acting not only 'in their own interest, but ,iilso in that of their client; for, having embarked on - picture collecting on an extensive scale, it is prncti«illy certain that: the new collector will in the near pay other visits of a business nature.

The pictures bought are mostly of modern artists, many of them French. The Japanese shipbuilder visited the studios of several British artists—notably one who hos done n conspicuous quantity of excellent art-work in connection .with the war—and in one case he is reported to' have purchased nearly all the pictures and drawings hung; on' the walls, f-'nme of the stories concerned with the various purchases are reminiscent of those told of the great nierch'tnts in the Midlands who found themselves almost suddenly rich SO or 00 years ago, and who with almost equal suddenness developed into picture collators.' On all sides, however, there is a chorus of praise of the Jananese shipbuilder' excellent nnhiral flair for a fine picture, and of his prompt businesslike decisions.

The same gentleman has also made extensive purchases in Vaxis and Italy. The satisfactory point about all these, purchases is that tliov have been paid for "on the miil." The pictures, drawings, etchines, ami so forth have been stored, and will not be sent to-.Tapan until after f'G war. When they are u"iM>l.iysd on the walls of one or other of the new nipif-r's i« -, .i houses in Japan the East will iudepd have come a long way to meet the West ,'flit- owner has himself returned to his native country, after hav'iig purchased within the space of a few Weeks probably more pictures than'ony other man in modern times. ,