The small
unframed painting called “Fisherman” was signed by a little-known Italian
artist, Maveleone (1669-1740). When it was sold recently in New York for
$27,000, the seller, Mr. Oliver Pitt, was asked to explain how the picture had
come into his possession.
Pitt said, “I
didn’t know it was so valuable. I’m not an art expert. Photography is my hobby.
I bought ‘Fisherman’ in Italy in 1970 for $140. The picture was dirty, and I
couldn’t see the artist’s signature. But anyway it wasn’t the picture that I
liked. I bought it because of the frame. ”
“It’s a most
unusual frame, made of tiny, silvery sea-shells. They are set in such a way
that they reflect perfect light onto the surface of a picture. I now have a
photograph of my wife in that frame, and I’ll never part with it.”
“When I
returned to New York I showed the painting in its frame to a customs officer. I
told him that I had paid 140foritbutadmittedIdidn′tknowitsactualworth.Thecustomsmanvalueditat140, and I was asked to pay duty on that
value. I did so, there and then. ”
“Later, I took
off the frame, and that uncovered Maveleone’s signature. My wife suggested in
fun that the painting might be a valuable one, so I cleaned it and put it up
for sale.”
As a result of
this explanation, Oliver Pitt had to appear in court. He was accused of
knowingly making a false statement of the value of a picture so as to cheat the
Customs Department.
Pitt was not
happy. “I told the truth as I knew it then,” he said, “What else could I say?”
And then the
judge agreed with him. “The Customs Department is to be responsible,” he said,
“for making a true valuation of goods brought into the country, so that the
correct amount of duty may be charged. Mr. Pitt did not cause or try to cause
the mistake that was made. He paid the duty that was demanded. If, now, the
Customs Department finds that its valuation was not correct, it cannot be
allowed to have another try. Pitt is not guilty”.
1.When Oliver Pitt bought the picture, ________.
A. it was
unframed
B. Maveleone signed the deal
C. he
suggested that it was valuable D. it was the frame that
attracted him
2. From the passage we can infer that if Maveleone had been a well-known
artist, _.
A. the painting would have
cost much more than $ 140
B. he wouldn’t have sold
his painting
C. the customs officer
wouldn’t have been cheated
D. Pitt wouldn’t have had
the intention to buy any of his paintings
3. Pitt took off the frame probably in order to _.
A. clean the painting to
put it up for sale
B. look for the artist’s
signature
C. use it for his wife’s
photograph
D. find the painting’s
true value
4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the
story?
A. In the end Pitt was
asked to pay the correct amount of duty.
B. In the end Pitt sold
the frame of the painting at an even higher price.
C. In the end the Customs
Department had no right to revalue the painting.
D. In the end Pitt’s wife
was regarded as an expert because of her wise
suggestion.