Complex sentence: The structure was an early purchase by Barnard, around 1907, but its instillation took years and was one of the first major undertakings by the Metropolitan after it acquired and absorbed his collection.
Split into simpler sentences: The structure was an early purchase by Barnard, in around 1907. Its instillation took years, as one of the first major undertakings by the Metropolitan after it had acquired and absorbed his collection.