Hilaire Belloc

Name: On Something — On a Van Tromp
Author: Hilaire Belloc

On Something — On a Van Tromp (1910)

Summary

“On Something — On a Van Tromp”, published in 1910, is a work by Hilaire Belloc. It explores elements such as Van Tromps, Hammer and picture.

Quotes from On Something — On a Van Tromp (Hilaire Belloc)

Hilaire Belloc, On Something — On a Van Tromp (1910)

“ The innkeeper, who had read in the newspapers of how pictures of the utmost value are sold by fools for a few pence, said boldly that his price was twenty pounds; whereupon the young gentleman went out gloomily, and the innkeeper thought that he must have made a mistake, and was for three hours depressed. But in the fourth hour again he was elated, for the young gentleman came back with twenty pounds, not even in notes but in gold, paid it down, and took away the picture. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Hilaire Belloc, On Something — On a Van Tromp (1910)

“ Under these circumstances he bethought him of the toiling millions who never see a good picture and who have no more vivid appetite than the hunger for good pictures. He therefore lent his collection of Van Tromps with the least possible delay to a public gallery, and for many years they hung there, while the lord lived in great anxiety, but with a sufficient income for his needs in the delightful scenery of the Pennines at some distance from a railway station, surrounded by his tenants. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Hilaire Belloc, On Something — On a Van Tromp (1910)

“ Lothair Femeral thought of a good plan: he stopped at an inn on the third day of their peregrinations, had a good dinner with his brother, told the innkeeper that he could not pay the bill, and offered to leave the Old Master in exchange. When people do this it very often comes off, for the alternative is only the pleasure of seeing the man in gaol, whereas a picture is always a picture, and there is a gambler's chance of its turning up trumps. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Hilaire Belloc, On Something — On a Van Tromp (1910)

“ Van Tromp has something about him at once positive and elusive; he is full of planes and values, and he interprets and renders, and the rest of it. Nay, he transfers!
About thirty years ago Mr. Mayor (of Hildesheim and London) thought it his duty to impress upon the public how great Van Tromp was. This he did after taking thirteen Van Tromps in payment of a bad debt, and he succeeded. But the man I am writing about cared nothing for all this: he simply wanted to see how well he could imitate this corner of the picture, and he did it pretty well. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Hilaire Belloc, On Something — On a Van Tromp (1910)

“ Hammer, if it can give you any pleasure."
"The fact is," said Mr. Hammer, in a breaking voice, "I had that picture once, and I intended it to hang side by side with these."
It was in vain that the Australian, on hearing this, poured out self-reproaches, offered with an expansion of soul to restore it, and then more prudently attempted a negotiation. Mr. Hammer resolutely shook his head.
"I am an old man," he said, "and I have no heirs; it is not for me to take, but to give, and if you will do what an old man begs of you, and accept what I offer ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Hilaire Belloc, On Something — On a Van Tromp (1910)

“ Once there was a man who, having nothing else to do and being fond of that kind of thing, copied with a good deal of care on to a bit of wood the corner of a Dutch picture in one of the public galleries. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Hilaire Belloc, On Something — On a Van Tromp (1910)

“ I hope he will, for nearly all history wants to be rewritten. Anyhow, he, as I have just said, did copy a corner of one of the Dutch pictures in one of the galleries. It was a Dutch picture of the seventeenth century; and since the laws of this country are very complicated and the sanctions attached to them very terrible, I will not give the name of the original artist, but I will call him Van Tromp.
Van Tromps have always been recognized, and there was a moment about fifty years after the artist's death when they had a considerable vogue in the French Court. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Hilaire Belloc, On Something — On a Van Tromp (1910)

“ Hammer, ruminating in his mind all the accidents and changes and adventures of human life, its complexity, its unfulfilled desires, itsfading but not quite perishable ideals, well knowing how men are made happy and how unhappy, ventured on no reply. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Hilaire Belloc, On Something — On a Van Tromp (1910)

“ This man was not a good artist; indeed he was nothing but a humpbacked and very sensitive little squire with about £3000 a year of his own and great liking for intricate amusements. He was a pretty good mathematician and a tolerable fisherman. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Hilaire Belloc, On Something — On a Van Tromp (1910)

“ There was a Titian and a George Morland, a Chardin, two cows after Cooper, and an impressionist picture after some Frenchman whose name he had forgotten.
"You like pictures?" he said to the Australian, the tears still standing in his eyes.
"I do!" said the Australian with conviction.
"Will you let me give you these?" said Mr. Hammer.
The Australian protested that such things could not be allowed, but he was a simple man, and at last he consented, for he was immensely pleased.
"It is an ungracious thing to make conditions," said Mr. ”

Hilaire Belloc

Summary

Quotes from On Something — On a Van Tromp (Hilaire Belloc)

Common terms

Similar works

Get perspective with Kwize: daily news enlightened by great literature