New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-27
THE JARvEs COLLEC ,SION OF
PICTURES BX EARJ x ITALIAN
MASTEK8.

estlng ana NeluhDic co"' tioD. This neglect has noI
been owing TO any lac ~ iaterszt but rather. to
great IN interest and 80 high sn estimate that re hayo
hesased to write ie Il NO night do more harm by over
enthusiasm than ~ss possible 20 do by senec lbs
wss 'nistahs fcr. though in certain social circles
enthusiasm IS gnoed, and the cause ii advoeates IL
looked asia oce at tits he Gst OF life. ard gives IL all its
SAVIOR.
This objection CT li3 picturese in excellent coad
tion'rss made By lir. james Jackson Jnrves, during
u long residence in Europe where, to Use lis own
words in The introduction ~ the catalogue. uInItr
with Italian life; living in the midst OF the art
that was his daily study; Ia constant Intercourse
with many of the best European ccnuosscursi assist
ed by sympsthising artistic friends; after several
years search in the highways and bywcys If Europe
writer succeeded In getting together these PICTURES
believing that ultimately they viii be found worthy OF
forming tho nucleus Of q FREQ Gallery in one OF OIL
large cies and thus be made to promote his auithe
diffusion Of artistic knowledge ard aesthetic taste In
America" And in to insure the respect If our pub
lie for tcsc pictures genuine productions ard ns max
ing precpsions TINT I've b. fs as It
is possible 40 In aay casc Nj Isrves further pro
cce to say: "t should he kept in Find that for sev
ers years they have stood tho possible 20
wit the brunt Of European connosseuIshp, in ! or
ence alongside OF tho most famous galleries known
where 1t has beeRbs> step from masterpiece to
some characteristic specimen Of the sao master IN t
collection At the same tine, the public must rot ef
pect 10 find in Il those masterpieces whcb give repGta
tono the great painters; they either fixtures In
tho edGces for which they painted. or have long
been absorbed into the chief puilic galleries. and can
never he IN America All TINT he proposed to get
together oiardosrse specimens Of he schools and
artists that nstrae Italian painting. IN series Vh!eh
should. 1t glance, give correct view oi MS progress
from A. u. 1909 TO 1000 six cehturieA embracing Its
rise, climax ard decsdencc."
And. DO well has Mr. Jarves accomplished the task
which enthusiasm and emil ghcued patriotism set him.
that have in this small but ric collection as good
nucleus for national gallery Of art as any in Europe
outside Of Italy could boast at its foundation. and "hea
it shall have ben secured TO the public against
all danger Of dispersal 1t v III form in connection with
the Bryan Gallery which Is already secured center
about which private beralty and wise expenditure VIII
In tine g.her collection o. pictures that for bisor
cal 40 well artistic purposes viii deserve TO be not
lightly estimated In comparison with such col"c
tons as the English National Gallery those OF Berlin
and Munich. OF course, tho Louvre. and the Dresden
Gallery must always remain unapproachsoe; contain
ing they DO tho priceless pearls Of art oil we can
hope 10 attain sud Il WI 10 much, 10 just what with
the good beginning tho industry, learning and !uds
ment Of Sr Jarves have put into our possession II re-
mains essy possible. With tue and money In such
hands as bis 70 accomplish for u.s. vis gallery OF
specimens each good Of ts Kind, and thoroughly char
ctersc OF the masters Of tho at OF painting from the
earliest time 10 our owa iaT.
Tsis no, ire place TO discuss the desiraeleDe" OF
uere being such gallery IA city Ike New.fork, al
.hougn dare say there arc plenty Of people who Do
no, look upon II MS thing TO be desired In city ike
London Paris not to speak az smaller places such AZ
Florence Venice. Drosdento argue about the good II
does to have pubic libraries museums and picture
galleries. vou!d be simply ridiculous waste Of time
and Words The matter 10 Understood IN tnose p.aces
part from the of culture they afford. they arc
plainly proved to bring In immense and constantly
Increasing interest the capital invested In them. by
the travel Of rich people that toward them in larger
and larger streams with ever! year. Calculate whGt
money COWS into ncep little sratford-on Avon each
year. WHIT is II but compound intcrcr, the money
that Shskspeares house and the church where be IL
buried cost TO buili Take thom away. snd Ar. Lucy
might eat his veniscn in peace. without being suubbod
continually by the vulgar memory Of tho poGchcr who
stole his ancestors deer Sheksleeres lcIneI hrance
makes Stanford to-day. And think, uLet the british
Museum Is TO Londoni In twcBty.sevcn years the
English have spent Ipon Il Oo0 and yet it i. safe
Say that intelligent IN England. DO he prince
or workngman. thinks tho money thrown away. So
far know. there has pevCr been a complaint 10
that effect, either In the journals in Parliament
There have been complaints that the collection is Lack
ing here there and tLat sufficient energy hrs not
been shown IA securing this or that priced wonder
the fault Gnding only for not doing enough never
.jr doing too much and the Engishmen is proud 70 |
know that every the agents Of the Museum are
I.c 10
stead n,o tie light OF day. ard bear OF by force
VI gU.neas from under tie Of even the percr
himself. to say nothing OF tho Gar.
To pursue an argument Of ills sort In any OF the
large, or small European cities would we say. be
faie but here 1t mu,t for long timc b. necessary
keep urging people give their money and their sup
rt 10 many ways TO oil such agencies Of education and
culturco such necessities OF any civilization in short
which is 20 get beyond bIovr stone iOh French bon
nets champagne suppers, and ms',riasm generally.
IL might not be ARIES for instance TO pursue the aisu
ment till It got i.fef listened TO- in city Ike New.
York where with the frest horses, tho custest sup
pcrs tie nost exrsvaganty furnished houses and tie
most dressed prettiest women In the worldTitl
comfort luxury elegance ard spiendor-perhnps after
the boargeoisiypc indeed. but satisfying the nesy
for alryshed every side. there is no, y respect
able Of natural history. library worthy Of
he name gallery Of Grt that woIid hot be looked
down upon with conlemp. in ans one Of dozen filth
rnte European towns that might be named. Even the
Astor Library Is only passaby good scsinnng that
Is Just now 10 untmey end. 10 speak for
has stopped buying books. cannot even keep M lis
periodicals. ard the dismal report goes about that the
A gassz Museum at Cambridge hangs trembling over
the abyss of failure for the lack Of alcohol to preserve
the ten thousand Of specimens that stored La
bic 10 decay and ancdenfs of all SORTS An the cenr of tia