It is the high privilege of the private buyer to buy the works of _new men_, and by encouraging them disclose a Rembrandt, a Hals, a Millet, a Corot, a Manet, but when the public begins to want the pictures the private buyer, instead of bidding against the public, should step one side; his task is done, his opportunity has passed. * * * * * Most men buy pictures not because they want them, but because some one else wants them. The man who gives half a million for a Rembrandt does so not because he knows or cares anything about the picture, but solely because he is made to believe some one else wants it $450,000 worth. Read this: The crowning event of the day was the sale of Rembrandt’s “Bathsheba.” The bidding started at 150,000 francs and within a couple of minutes a perfect whirlwind of bids had carried the price to 500,000 francs offered by a dealer, Mr. Trotti. Already the smaller fry among the bidders had been eliminated and the contest was circumscribed to a small group, Messrs. Duveen, Wildenstein, Tedesco, Muller and Trotti being the most ardent in the battle. “Six hundred thousand!” cried Mr. Duveen. “Six hundred and fifty thousand,” said Mr. Wildenstein. Mr. Duveen replied with a nod which meant the addition of another 50,000. Then with bids of 10,000 and 25,000 the price mounted, the struggle developing into a duel between Mr. Wildenstein and Mr. Duveen. Eight hundred thousand francs was reached and left behind; 900,000 francs in turn was passed. “Nine hundred and fifty thousand,” rapped out Mr. Duveen. “Nine hundred and sixty thousand,” responded Mr. Wildenstein. Then came “nine hundred and seventy thousand” and “nine hundred and eighty thousand.” By this time the entire gathering was spellbound by the spectacle of the gladiatorial contest for the picture. “Nine hundred and ninety thousand,” said Mr. Wildenstein. There was an instant of silence. “A million!” Every eye turned from the speaker, Mr. Duveen, to gaze on Mr. Wildenstein expectantly. Then there was silence, signifying his withdrawal from the fight. A mighty hubbub arose. The Rembrandt had been knocked down to Mr. Duveen for a million francs, or, with the commission, 1,100,000 francs. Never has such a price been given for a Rembrandt. This is not dealing in art, it is art on the horse-block. Here is the record of that one painting: 1734--Sold at Antwerp for $ 109 1791--Sold at Paris for 240 1814--Sold at London for 525 1830--Sold at London for 790 1831--Sold at London for 792 1832--Sold at London for 1,260 1841--Sold at Paris for 1,576