cwilleford.theburntorangeheresy-第5章

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collectors　who　are　knowledgeable　about　art　will　not　go　out　on　a　limb　without　critical　confirmation。　Collectors　and　critics　live　within　this　uneasy　symbiotic　relationship。　And　artists…the　poor　bastards…who　are　caught　in　the　middle；　would　starve　to　death　without　us。
　　〃No'　I　shook　my　head。　As　we　crossed　through　the　living　room　toward　his　study　I　explained　why。　〃Hats　are　too　easy　to　copy。　Original　hats；　during　the　twenties　and　thirties；　were　expensive　because　they　were　made　specifically　for　one　person　and　for　one　occasion。　As　soon　as　a　new　hat　was　seen　on　Norma　Shearer's　head；　it　was　copied　and　massproduced。　The　copy；　except　perhaps　for　the　materials；　looked　about　the　same。　Some　of　the　hats　worn　during　the　Gilded　Age；　when　egret　feathers　were　popular；　might　be　worth　collecting；　but　I　doubt　if　restoration；　storage；　and　upkeep　costs　would　make　it　worthwhile　to　collect　even　those。〃
　　〃I　see。　You　have　looked　into　it　then？〃
　　〃Not　exhaustively。　Fashion　isn't　my　field…as　you　know。〃
　　We　entered　his　study；　which　was　furnished　in　black　leather；　glass；　and　chrome。　Cassidy　sank　into　an　audibly　cushioned　chair　while　I　looked　at　the　three　pictures　on　the　apple…green　wall。　There　was　an　early　Lichtenstein　（a　blown…up　Dick　Tracy　panel）；　an　airbrush　Marilyn　Monroe；　in　pale　blue；　from　the　Warhol　series；　and　a　black…and…white　drawing　of　a　girl's　head　by　Matisse。　The　latter　was　over　the　ebony　desk；　in　quiet　isolation。　The　drawing　was　so　bad　Matisse　must　have　signed　it　under　duress。　I　sat　across　from　Cassidy　and　put　my　empty　glass　on　the　rosewood　coffee　table。　The　Filipino　house…boy　appeared　with　a　fresh　drink　on　a　tray；　picked　up　my　empty　glass；　and　handed　me　the　drink　and　a　cocktail　napkin。
　　〃You　wish　something　to　eat；　sir？〃
　　〃I　think　so。　A　turkey　sandwich；　all　white　meat；　on　white　toast。　With　mayonnaise　and　cranberry　sauce；　and　cut　off　the　crusts；　please。〃
　　He　nodded　and　left。
　　〃You　don't　like　the　drawing；　do　you？〃
　　I　shrugged；　and　sipped　from　my　glass。　〃Matisse　had　a　streak　of　meanness　in　him　that　many　Americans　associate　with　the　French。　When　he　went　out　to　a　café…after　he　became　well　known…he　would　often　sketch　on　a　pad；　or　sometimes　on　a　napkin。　Then；　instead　of　paying　his　tab　in　cash；　he'd　leave　the　drawing　on　the　table　and　walk　out。　The　proprietor；　knowing　that　the　drawing　was　worth　a　good　deal　more　than　the　dinner；　was　always　delighted。　A　man　full　of　rich　food　and　a　couple　of　bottles　of　wine　doesn't　always　draw　very　well；　Mr。　Cassidy。〃
　　He　nodded；　relishing　the　story；　and　looked　fondly　at　his　Matisse。　A　bad　drawing　is　a　bad　drawing；　no　matter　who　has　drawn　it。　But　my　little　story…and　it　was　a　true　one…　had　merely　enhanced　the　value　of　the　Matisse　for　Cassidy。　An　ordinary　person；　if　he　had　purchased　a　bad　Matisse；　would　have　felt　gypped。　But　Cassidy　wasn't　an　ordinary　person。　He　was　a　collector；　and　not　an　ordinary　collector。
　　〃An　interesting　story。〃　He　smiled。　〃I　don't　have　much　here；　and　I　haven't　decided　what　to　bring　down　from　Chicago。〃
　　Here　was　a　natural　opening；　and　I　took　it。　〃I'd　like　to　see　the　catalogue　of　your　collection　some　time；　Mr。　Cassidy。〃
　　〃Don't　have　one　yet；　but　I've　got　a　good　man　at　the　University　of　Chicago　working　on　it。　Dr。　G。　B。　Lang。　D'you　know　him？〃
　　〃Yes；　but　not　personally。　He　wrote　an　excellent　monograph　on　Rothko。〃
　　〃That's　Dr。　Lang。　It　isn't　costing　me　a　dime；　either…　except　for　the　printing　costs。　Dr。　Lang　teaches　at　the　university；　and　one　of　my　clients　is　on　the　Board　of　Trustees。　Through　him；　my　client；　I　managed　to　get　Lang　a　reduced　teaching　schedule。　He　teaches　two　courses；　and　the　rest　of　his　load　is　research；　the　research　being　my　catalogue。　Dr。　Lang's　happy　because　he'll　get　another　publication　under　his　belt　and；　if　he　does　a　bang…up　job；　the　University　of　Chicago　Press　wifi　probably　publish　it。〃
　　When　Cassidy　smiled；　exposing　his　teeth；　his　canines　made　little　dents　in　his　bottom　lip。　He　stared　at　me　for　two　long　beats。　His　eyes；　behind　the　gold…rimmed　glasses；　were　flat　and　slightly　magnified。　He　leaned　forward　slightly。　〃When　men　of　good　wifi　get　together；　some　sort　of　deal　can　be　worked　out　to　everyone's　satisfaction。　Isn't　that　right；　James？〃
　　〃If　they're　'men　of　good　will；　yes。　But　my　own　experience　has　led　me　to　believe　that　there　aren't　many　of　them　around。〃
　　He　laughed；　as　though　I　had　said　something　funny。　The　houseboy　brought　my　sandwich。　I　took　a　bite　and　called　him　back　before　he　got　out　the　door。　〃Just　a　minute！　This　isn't　mayonnaise；　this　is　salad　dressing。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Don't　you　have　any　mayonnaise？〃
　　〃No；　sir。　May　I　bring　you　something　else；　sir？〃
　　〃Never　mind。〃
　　In　his　own　way；　Joseph　Cassidy　was　as　famous　as　Lee　Bailey。　In　court　Cassidy　was　certainly　as　good　a　lawyer；　but　he　wasn't　as　flamboyant　with　reporters　outside　of　court　as　Bailey；　nor　did　he　take　cases　for　sheer　publicity　value。　He　was　a　cash…in…advance；　on…the…line　lawyer。　No　one　had　written　a　biography　on　Cassidy　yet；　but　he　had　socked　away　a　lot　more　money　than　Bailey。　His　shrewdness　in　buying　the　right　painters　at　the　right　time　and　at　rock…bottom　prices　had　made　him　another　fortune…if　he　ever　decided　to　put　his　collection　on　the　market。
　　The　houseboy　still　hovered　about；　wanting　but　unwilling　to　leave。　He　was　upset　because　I　didn't　eat　the　sandwich。
　　〃Close　the　bar；　Rizal；〃　Cassidy　ordered　quietly；　〃and　tell　Mrs。　Bentham　that　I'll　see　that　Mr。　Figueras　gets　home　all　right。〃　He　exposed　his　toothy　smile。　〃You　don't　mind　sticking　around　for　a　while；　do　you；　James？〃
　　〃Of　course　not；　Mr。　Cassidy。〃
　　Because　of　my　upbringing；　which　has　been　on　the　formal　side…insofar　as　observing　the　amenities　was　concerned…I　resented　the　easy　use　of　my　first　name　by　Mr。　Cassidy　without　my　permission　or　invitation。　But　I　knew　that　he　wasn't　trying　to　patronize　me。　He　was　attempting　to　put　me　at　my　ease。　Nevertheless；　although　I　considered　the　idea；　I　couldn't　drop　to　his　level　and　call　him　Joe。　There's　too　much　informality　in　America　as　it　is；　and　in　Palm　Beach；　during　the　season；　it　is　often　carried　to　ridiculous　lengths。
　　Rizal　left　to　close　the　bar；　which　meant　that　the　party　was　over。　The　guests　would　depart　without　saying　good…bye　to　their　host；　and　that　would　be　that。　Not　out　of　rudeness；　but　out　of　deference。　If　Cassidy　had　gone　out　for　a　series　of　formal　good…nights　they　would　have　adjusted　to　that　kind　of　leave…taking　just　as　easily。
　　After　Rizal　closed　the　door；　Cassidy　took　a　cigar　out　of　his　desk　humidor；　lighted　it；　and　sat　down　again。　He　didn't　offer　me　one。
　　〃James；〃　Cassidy　said　earnestly；　〃I　know　a　lot　more　about　you　than　you　think　I　do。　I　rarely　miss　one　of　your　critical　articles；　and　I　think　you　write　about　art　with　a　good　deal　of　insight　and　perception。〃
　　〃Thank　you。〃
　　〃This　is　all　straight　talk；　James。　I'm　not　in　the　habit　of　handing　out　fulsome　praise。　A　second…rate　critic　doesn't　deserve　it；　and　a　first…rate　critic　doesn't　need　it。　In　my　opinion；　you're　well　on　the　way　to　being　one　of　our　best　young　American　critics。　And；　according　to　my　investigations；　you're　ambitious　enough　to　be　the　best。〃
　　〃By　investigations；　if　you　mean　you've　been　talking　to　Gloria　about　me；　she　isn't　the　most　reliable　witness；　you　know。　We've　been　friends　for　several　years　now；　and　she's　prejudiced　in　my　favor。〃
　　〃No；　not　only　Gloria；　James；　although　I've　talked　to　her；　too。　I've　talked　to　dealers；　to　some　of　my　fellow　collectors；　and　even　to　Dr。　Lang。　You　might　be　interested　to　know　that　Dr。　Lang's　highly　impressed　with　your　work；　and　he　knows　more　about　art　history　and　criticism　than　I'll　ever　know。〃
　　〃I'm　not　so　sure　about　that；　Mr。　Cassidy。〃
　　〃He　should。　That's　his　business…and　yours。　I'm　an　attorney；　not　an　art　historian。　I　don't　even　intend　to　write　a　foreword　to　my　catalogue…although　Lang　suggested　it　to　me。〃
　　〃Most　collectors　do。〃
　　He　nodded；　and　waved　his　right　hand　slowly　so　the　ash　wouldn't　fall　off　the　end　of　his　cigar。　〃In　the　art　world；　you　happen　to　have　a　reputation　for　integrity。　And　I've　been　informed　that　you're　incorruptible。〃
　　〃I'm　not　getting　rich　as　an　art　critic；　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃
　　〃I　know。　I　also　know　how　to　make　inquiries。　That's　my　business。　The　law　is　ninety…five　percent　preparation；　and　if　a　man　does　his　homework；　it's　easy　to　look　good　in　the　courtroom。　To　return　to　corruption　for　a　moment；　let　me　say　that　I　respect　your　so…called　incorruptibility。〃
　　〃The　way　you　say　it　makes　me　feel　as　if　I've　missed　some　opportunity　to　make　a　pie　of　dough　or　something　and　turned　it　down。　If　I　have　missed　out　on　something；　I　sure　don't　know　about　it。〃
　　〃If　you　want　to　play　dumb；　I'll　spell　it　out　for　you。　Number　one…free　pictures。　That　kid's　show　this　evening；　ah；　Westcott。　Suppose　you　had　said　to　Gloria　that　you　would　give　Westcott　a　nice　buildup　in　return　for　a　couple　of　free　pictures；　what　would　have　happened？〃
　　〃In　Westcott's　case；　she'd　have　given　all　of　them　to　me。〃　I　grinned。　〃But　you　aren't　talking　about　integrity　now；　Mr。　Cassidy；　you're　talking　about　my　profession。　I've　never　taken　a　free　picture。　The　walls　of　my　apartment　in　the　Village　are　bare　except　for　chance　patterns　of　flaking　paint。　But　if　I　ever　took　one　picture；　just　one；　that　I　could　resell　for　two　or　three　hundred　bucks；　the　word　would　be　out　that　I　was　on　the　take。　From　that　moment　on　I　would　be　dead　as　a　critic。　And　a　good　review　for　pay；　which　is　still　being　done　in　Paris；　has　damned　near　ruined　serious　art　criticism　in　France。
　　〃There　are　some　exceptions；　naturally；　and　those　of　us　in　the　trade　know　who　they　are。　So　the　way　things　are；　I　can't　even　afford　to　take　legitimate　art　gifts　from　friends；　even　when　I　know　that　there　are　no　strings　attached。　The　strings　would　be　there　inadvertently。　The　mere　fact　that　I　took　the　gift　might　influence　my　opinion　if　I　ever　had　to　cover　the　man's　show。　By　the　same　token；　I　don't　buy　anything　either。　And　I've　had　some　chances　to　buy　some　things　that　even　I　could　afford。　But　if　I　owned　a　painting；　you　see；　there　might　be　a　temptation　on　my　part　to　push　the　artist　beyond　his　worth…possibly…I　don't　know　that　I　would…in　order　to　increase　the　value　of　my　own　painting。　I　don't　mean　that　I　am　pletely　objective　either。　That's　impossible。　I　merely　try　to　be　most　of　the　time；　and　that　allows　me　to　go　overboard　and　be　subjective　as　hell　when　I　see　something　I　really　flip　over。〃
　　I　finished　the　last　of　my　drink　and　set　the　glass　down　a　little　harder　than　I　had　intended。　When　I　looked　up；　there　was　a　smile　on　Cassidy's　Irish　face。　Perhaps　he　had　been　baiting　me；　but　I　had　been　through　this　kind　of　probing　before。　It　was　natural；　in　America；　for　people　to　think　that　a　critic　had　been　paid　off　when　he　gave　some　artist　a　rave　write…up；　especially　when　they　didn't　know　anything　about　art。　But　Cassidy　knew　better。
　　〃You　know　all　this；　Mr。　Cassidy；　so　don't　give　me　any　undeserved　credit　for　integrity。　I　like　money　as　much　as　anyone；　and　I　made　more　money　when　I　taught　art　history　at　CCNY　than　I　do　now。　I'm　ambitious；　yes；　but　for　a　reputation；　not　for　money。　When　I　have　a　big　enough　reputation　as　a　critic；　then　I'll　make　more　money；　but　never　a　huge　amount。　That　isn't　the　game。　The　trick…and　it's　a　hard　one…is　to　earn　a　living　as　an　art　critic；　or；　if　you　prefer；　art