World Notes ART

In 1907 a young artist named Adolf Hitler applied for admission to the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. He was rejected. He tried again in 1908, and was once more turned down. Living in near poverty, he struggled on as a street-curb painter in Vienna. But then his career took another turn, and when he became Fuhrer in 1934 he ordered his paintings rounded up and destroyed those he thought were forgeries. Several hundred works survived.

Last week a 9-in. by 15-in. watercolor of old Vienna signed "A. Hitler" was auctioned for $36,000 in Louisville, but not before some two dozen people turned out to demonstrate against the sale. "The only reason the painting has value is because of his name, and his name was made as a mass murderer," said Protest Organizer J. Mary Sorrell.