New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-24
METROPOLITAN ART MUSEUM.
ADDRESSES BY WILLIAM C. BRYANT AND PROF
COMFORT,

was held the theater Of the Union League Club on
| Twenty sixth.st, last evening. The attendance was
large The meeting opened by the Chairman OF the
Committee Mr. Geo. p Putnam, who stated the object Of
the meetng-that 1t not meeting OF any Club
party but that they had invited Of the
various bodies less connected with Art, and
other citizens interested In tho subject. lilo then
nounced the following gentlemen who had consented 70
act officers Of this meeting: President-Mr VIM c..
Bryant; Vice.Presdents-Mr. ID. Huntington OF the
Academy OF Design; r. NJ Hunt President Of American
Institute OF Architects; Mr. A. H. Green, Controller Of
Central Park President Barnard Of Columbia College; W.
W. Hopper, Chairman Of the Art Committee OF the
Historical Society; Henry G. Stebbins, President OF
the Central Park Commissions the Rev. Dr. Bellows, VIM
f. Dodge jr President of the IounglMen's Christian
Association and Marshall o. Roberts Of the Union League
Club Secretaries: A. OF the American Institute
OF Architects and T. p Avery OF the Union League Club
Letters then read from Marshall o. Roberts, VIM F.
Dodge H and several other gentlemen expressing their
regret at being unable TO attend.
. Mr.. Bryant SAID We assembled, my friends to
consider the subject OF founding in this city Museum OF
Art repository OF the productions OF artists Of every
great metropolis aud OF the wide empire Of which New
York is the commercial center. understand that
petition. with similar Institutions in other countries
and then only such modest composition as museum IN
its infancy may aspire to hold with those which
were founded centuries ago. III tenth part OF what Is
under pretenss Of the public service and poured pro
usey Into the Golfers OF political rogues were expended
on Museum OF ART We ght nave eposited spacious
and stately buildings collections formed OF works left by
the worlds greatest artists which would DO pride OF
our county. But what have done-numerous
cheated aud pluudcred-what have done
toward founding such u repository We have hardly
made step toward IT, Yet beyond the sea there the
little Kingdom Of saxony which, with area le.s thar
that OF Massachusetts,, and population but little larger
possesses Museum OF the Fine Arts lnaryelousy rich
which man who visits tho continent OF Europe is will
TO that lie hos not seem There Il Spaln third
rate power Of Europe aud poor beside with Museum OF
Fine Arts at her capital The American soil IL prolific
lous regions OF our country, but even In ia sol-
Of art in the Old World you nnd there artists from the
New. contemplating copying the masterpieces OF art
winch II & we we nave so sSsc sTs bas sr
musical entertainments. and that also we but there
with listening TO sweet sounds, and when we moro
willingly contemplate works OF art In conclusion, Mr..
SS 10 as subject and who from the unes
OF his knowledge viii speak 20 you far moro acceptaby
Princeton and ask him 10 address you. lApplause.I
Prof Comfort then spoke in substance as follows:
Every epoch in ho history of has its peculiar
.ocnl religions industrial scontihc, and artistic. that
e form 1 d ss ii gRSGa y o @s his
breaking ont OF the French Revolution Within the
ent has arisen essentially all the peculiar
features Of modern society and OF modern life.
The sciences religious movements. the great political
and artistic changes, have all arisen within tho last
seventyhge years In America II there any particu-
between medieval and modern times 1t is the Declare
ton OF Independence We have not been developed
s sAsn .fS from case n "Sss0G o Ea4Spe
The population that has here from Europe founded
the middle classes OF Europe. aud exceeded average
intelligence wealth. ana moral character the population
referred the great prosperity to which America has
tanned, only regards the political development OF
activity and enterprise He spoke III particular OF our
school system that no public schools arc superior
is taught Whom TO the artistic department. OF
our eSgsaoR we md there y great yScSney aast
condition Of all Of the arts In America we find that some
OF the arts u5ng that word ia Its broadcast sensel
well developed Thus there two great classes OF arts
The first that appeal 20 the son from the channel OF the
ear. including oratory poetry, and music. and tho
through the channel Of the eye. The arts which
oratory music. and poetry concerning the latter may
say that America to-day stands par any nation
ers6o Chairman RppSusc When we come Ot to the the
formative mud this the point OF our greatest
by Which the formative arts might be -I pro
NOTED the arts OF S1chitssStGrS sculpture and
the fine arts second by having works Of art
which the public can sec ana TINS IS one OF the most
try Though It Is impossible for us to bring the great
works OF painting IN the great counties o. Europe TO
important degree satisfy this great want In the con-
don OF our county We can Organic museums S when
scums Will exercise most important influence In
the development OF true artistic taste AT present We
have throughout tue entire breadth Of
county This h duo TO the fact that our forethers
drawing,
painting sculpture and architecture taught they were
Impressed with tile Importance or having tho sciences
to 1" purchase TS WoTss Of art are passing rapidly
away, and now Is the time 10 commence
0 Ourselves Of III esns RO%iedo IN ' the world
This can be gained by examining the existing museums
and wherein V succeeded Tho speaker referred to the
prominent museums OF the Old World and their peeu-
Ear removed as possible from " dust which usually at
tends great city II should pc on great thorough,
cause such reflections Of lvt as 70 interfere with
tho good seeing OF worksf Of art All these
alone That u.s. upon Central Park. fApplause.l Tho
speaker then said tho style OF the should be
architecture in America What then, are to DO the con-
Of ne Of ,T ToD RI ssnurs. and IN m
ages both pure aud applied. Art Is cosmOpoian-lt
SS to he %S IL Homer tho s' NOT S
GreeKs but of all history and OF ali lands Raphael
the painter not OF Italy but Of the world aTw ar ts
present time which will meet these con
to do this eonpieteIy Il is possible to reproduce
every work Of sculpture IN tho world a museum |
works Of ss%pture for unlike marble they make per.
copy And again, the texture OF plaster OF paris
10 get reproductions OF eoorse can got repro
auctions upon small scale They can be reproduced
painting Il /, more difficult 70 get Representations.
ihe very artists OF our country were commissioned
painting in The different museums. We could get
collection OF copies that would very nearly
gyo the impression OF originate. To DO sure
,bcrc ething In the original touch Of
the pencil that never be reproduced even by the
artist himself excellent artists make very good
copies that will very valuable purpose in giving
10 that great mass Of population that cannot
90 abroad tho opportunity OF getting very good idea OF
the character OF great works Of painting copies
would also bo very valuable artists who have been
abroad refreshing IN their minds the Impressions that
have been made by seeing the original works
themselves The minor arts should be represent led -
ala bn IN. VIII
yery valuable coins cannot be procured bo got
and they etrNe all tho purpose that originals do IN the