Flushed with triumph in the matter of Rembrandt, a fortnight or so
afterwards I was at Christie’s and saw two pictures that fired me. One
was a Madonna and Child by Giovanni Bellini, I do not doubt genuine, not
in a very good state, but still not repainted. The Madonna was lovely,
the Child very good, the landscape sweet and Belliniesque. I was much
smitten and determined to bid up to a hundred pounds; I knew this would
be dirt cheap and was not going to buy at all unless I could get good
value. I bid up to a hundred guineas, but there was someone else bent on
having it and when he bid 105 guineas I let him have it, not without
regret. I saw in the _Times_ that the purchaser’s name was Lesser.
The other picture I tried to get at the same sale (this day week); it was
a small sketch numbered 72 (I think) and purporting to be by Giorgione
but, I fully believe, by Titian. I bid up to £10 and then let it go. It
went for £28, and I should say would have been well bought at £40.
[1887.]