New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-18
THE PROPOSED MUSEUM OF ART.

Mr.. John Bigelow has written a letter to
Vim. Cullen Bryant First VicePresdent of the Metro
potan Museum Of Art in which he incloses extract
from letter received from Mr.. Emilius Wolf. eminent
Prlssian sculptor announcing that the villa Albaln is
for SALE and suggesting purchase by Americans The
writer saws that the villa sold two years ago TO
Prince Torlona who purchased with view Of making
great and profitable speculation OF IT, Mr. Wot says
that the ideas Prince Torlonia rather extrava
CANT and there lies the difficulty. He takes his prece-
dent from the conditions by which the Borghese Museum
was sold the First Napoleon then at the sum OfsO lar
as recollectiOoooo0 francs e2,sOO0OO; and, CON
sderinG the great renown OF this museum as well as the
lower standard OF money IN present times he would not
satisfied with such But II II would come 10
definite arrangement. he might be found more reason
able fr Bigclow says that this Is the nnest colec
ton Of antique art in the world after the collection at
the Vatican ard tue Capitol at Rome. and that
no opportunity OF making such an he4uislto Ioi ouI
metropolis has ever occurred before ana Is difficult to
furesee any contingency that shall Ofler second Mr.
BgeOw suggests that the Villa il TO be sold with the
collection the ediee and grounds n not needed might
lie sold at prce that would greatly reduce tho cost OF
your Association consider the praccabiity OF retain
in Rome similar the schools sustained there and at
Athens by the Government OF France, TO which few OF
the promising young artists In the empire are sent
study at the public expense for the public advantage
This villa would make delightful residence and might
be converted into Artists Home" upon some basis
that ct no nOrdnate expense might render incacuable
service to American art and reflect great honor upon
The objects OF art in this celebrated villa contained
in the casino aud coffee house. between which an ex
great taste. Ia the pOrtic0 OF the casino are sitting
statues OF julius Cesar Augustus and Egrppna and of
another female supposed TO be Faustna Statues In
inches Of Tberius, Lueuis Veru Traiar Marcus. Azure
us Antonius Plus, and Hadrian; few II any oil these
statues have however their rnal heads. Two affairs.
with relefs Of Dance Of the Hours and three fine basins
payonazetto and appolino marble In one OF the gal
leries are busts OF Alexander the Great Scipio Afr
cams, Hannibal, Homer, and Epicurns, and statues
OF Bruus and Venus In the several rooms In the right
wing are statues OF Juno Fawn, Hermes OF Eurpides
Nuna bnsts Of Caracula and Pertinax, basreliefs OF
Dedaus and Icarus, the fitting out Of the Argo Latona
aud Artmis figure Of the Hours Slenus, Iphlgenia In
Tauris Pyades tine Altar OF DIANA etc. III the coffee
house are statues OF Isocrates H0rensis Chrysippus.
vailed Cagula, ADtistheges, Balblnus Hadrian, Bac
ehus and Hercules There also several busts masks
and ancient and in open portco beneath the
have arranged several Egyptian statues
OF the goddess Pascht In black granite and another
colossal Of Ptoemy Philadephus IN the center OF the
of the Asare species Several specimens or sculpture
and Inscriptions let into the adjoining wall which
forms one OF the foundations OF the parterre