New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-25
BOSTON.
ART AND LITERARY GOSSIP.

SADE-PROGREsS AND PROJECTS IN SOCIAL
SCIENCE.
BOsTON, Dec 23.-If Boston and New York
get fairly started in to which shall first esab-
hsh an Art Museum Gallery worthy Of the city and
the age, shall be inclined to wager my money upon this
steady, slow.moving town. shall make the choice not
from any natural prompngs OF local pride, but from
estimate OF the Importance OF the start which the
gradually formed tastes and accumulated treasures Of
centuries have gwen II the present quiet unosten-
taous almost invisible movement for an art Institution
Of the highest order is carried till II reaches the point
Of asking the Legislature for charter. IL Will command
the prodigous momentum Of the united efforts OF the
Boston Atheneum the Institute OF Technology the Pub
lie Library, Harvard University and the Social Science
Association. Each Of these institutions except the last
mentioned has OF art which it has Opportu
nifty to exhibit. The Atheneum has fine nucleus Of
and castes host OF paintings, and Col Bigelow
Lawrence's collection Of ancient Armor. The Public
Library has immense collection OF engravings with no
room to show them, conveniences for making them
accessible. The is true OF Harvard College.
Now II all these proprietary interests, acting in concert
with the SO Of wealthy men who have always
felt in this project will agree to deposit their
In the common Notwithstanding the ultimate
right OF property-he thing is nearly done that 1t
may be looked upon certainty. In laying out the
Back Bay lands the State has to tho city spe
cia tract on the condition that shall be used only for
fine art building. 1t is tho very spot on which the
Coliseum Stood ana Whcn Decn classN III INC
history of Boston by the music and the muttudes OF the
Jubilee by the devastation OF the Great Gale, and by
the egreous swinde Of the great lottery 1t ia access
BILE yet unlikely TO invaded by the march Of business,
and Ia every way suitable for such purpose IL only
needs unity Of action, sagacious management, and such
liberalty OF subscription will erect the empty build
ings, and the end is practically accomplished with
such a nucleus would be gained by the combination
OF the | have mentioned, other resources
would gravitate naturally the collection. Rich men
would remember 1t in their Wills Bostonians travelling
In Europe would remember 1t as they do their own par
lors and q constant stream OF additions would How in
10 has been estimated after careful investigation, that
the OF 10000, judicously expended would procure
full and fair representation in plaster casts, Of all that
is most famous and worthy study plastic art in the
galleries OF Europe With the enterprise once fairly on
It's feet the raising Of such sum would be mere tre-
something to DO accomplished an hours canvassing of
Safest.
1t seems that that most eccentric OF all eccentric Bos
tonians the late Mr. Thomas Thompson, must have had
in his MUD busy notion Of forming an artgallery
for the public OF which his own collection OF pictures
was make beginning Otherwise 1t is hard to imagine
what have prompted man TO go on buying pictures
by the hundred and thousand at large prices and small
and modern painters and storing them out OF
sight OF himself anybody else In an old warehouse
But II il not likely that many Of Mr. Thompsons pictures
would be seized with rapture by the trustees OF national
a
kept, and where three hard workers are busy
every day in arranging cataogueing Them does not
reveal much addition TO the abundant details that
have already stated by the press Order has been
in brought ought OF chaos, and 1t Is posi-
bic by the exercise Of TO walk about the floors with
treadng upon pictures and having pictures tumble
about ones head heavy piles. But the arrange
mcnt which has been accomplished Is only step beyond
confusion the paintings being assorted according size
only and placed against the wall and against each
other In like many packs OF cards. manuscript
catalogue has been made assigning the lot to which each
picture belongs that the searcher for any particular
canvas may get il by moving away all which stand be-
fore It, But OF with such disposition OF the
pictures and with the dim light which comes in through
the small windows OF warehouse a street Of true
Boston narTowness II IA impossible really to look ut the
pictures form any accurate idea OF their character
or value. Buying freely did MT Thompson for
years It be supposed that he could get all good
pctures or that he would buy all poor lie took
them as they came not scrupng to pay large price
when he Thought he had hit upon good thing when
he found an artist urgent need Of money, and often
driving a sharp bargain with dealers Sometimes he
seems to have bought all the stock hand OF an art
st wishing 20 abroad the rubbish OF his studio and
ALI and from these generous operations that there
came into his hands the budgets OF prints photographs,
and sketches which litter the floor OF the Fultonst
house There many portraits in the two thousand
several Of Webster, who was the great man OF Mr..
Thompson's own day; one OF James Watson Webb.
which I happen TO remember; and one OF Jenny
Lind FOR which the Swedish singer sat, while
here TO willard. There few authenti-
Gated pictures OF old masters, and many mod
eratey good copies The pictures OF American painters
now popular were mainly done in ther days of youth
and crudlty Mr.. Bersadt has several, which show no
signs OF the talent which has made him famous.
cent perhaps in that vein which crops out In his We
suyius in Eruption" Mr.. Hamilton Wild has several,
with a warmth and extravaganza compared TO
which the glow OF his later style seems tame and dry
There u rather an unusual percentage OF pictures OF
parcuar class not suited for the family parlor but
which will no doubt find purchasers somewhere. The
collection OF pictures to remain IN Boston few weeks
more giving an opportunity for citizens here who have
porrats in the mass to purchase them but the market
for the great majority is to be sought In New York the
executors Of the estate wisely considering that city of
less than metropolitan pretensons could furnish buyers
for such a freshet Of fine art The freight will
have to be pretty tightly packed to take the
pctures ON; and even in your city there is
no place big enough to exhibit them all at
once and only q selection OF tho moro choice will
probably meet public eye before they hosted TO
the auction block II TO be noticed as piece Of rare
good luck that the pictures during their long years OF m
prlsonment not been percepbly injured by mice or
moisture Only few show serious cracks, though many
win be improved by cleaning The frames have not
stood the ordeal so WELL and much of the gilt ornament
shows tendency TO crumble.
Mr. Earnest Longfeow, OF the poet, has adopted
the profession portrait painting and opened his studio
in this city, The most ambitious and most successful Of
bs works thus far head OF his father, is exhibition
in one OF our galleries There good deal OF strength
I'm the picture and many indications OF promise The
poe ia more seeky combed and brushed as
TO his hair and beard than his is often seen In public or