The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-03
ART NOTE S .


rOrvwis 'or q New Art Museum.
MI W. II. Beard has just exhibited nc the Studio
Building In Tenth street series OF designs for an
art museum which several Of the best connolsseurs
agree In pronouncing "a impressive and az feasible
as they are original. When the project OF Metro
p0litan Art Museum-a project which now happily
promises to be realized-1rst began to be talked
about Mr.. Beard conceived the commendabe and
patriotic idea that the building itself and It's m.
proaches might we'll be something original and
neither mere copies wretched distortions Of the
designs for buildings devoted In Europe to similar
purposes The result OF months Of thought and labor
is that ne has produced four designs which. while
serving allegorica representations OF history
and showing how far the artist has been successful
In attaining originality without loss OF beauty can
at the same time be practically, without costing
too much, carried into execution. circular which
was distributed among the guests whom Mr.. Beard
invited to first private view OF these remarkable
designs explains that Tor the better understanding
OF them, we are to assume that the building proper
stands on an elevation, such . one as Is presented
in many places within our Central Park or In tts
immediate neighborhood. The first design shows
the main entrance, or portal, upon which we arc
presumed to come somewhat unexpectedly, amid
the dense foliage round about It, This entrance Is,
the mouth of cavern, overhung with trailing
plants. On either side or the entrance, guarding 1t.
and superstition. the IueS or progress. Passing
between them we move onward 10 the light,
which we zee dimy In the distance. Here
We are mcnaced either hand Dy the
forms OF Wild beasts typical OF the difficulties
which beset the path or civilization. The second
design gives the Interior oil The gallery reached
through the cavernous passage Here are seen ex-
ampies Or the sculptor's work, representing the
gradual growth or the art Idea. StairWays ascend
from the interior TO galleries above In which are
placed examples Of classical sculpture and statues
oil our statesmen, soldiers, orators and poetStypes
OF modern civilization. Thence we pass upwards
into the Museum. The third design Is that OF an
other portal, resembling III general form The one III.
ready described save that the threshold ~ guarded by
gigantic beasts. not blpeds but quadupeds. The
four III and iast design s Intended to give general
view oi the building and It's approaches Mr.. Beard,
says, In the circular from which c0ndense this de-
scripuOn, that he Is not architect ana does not
presume To offer the elevation here given as either
the most appropriate or most Deaut1rul; but he
deemed 10 necessary, IN order TO make the other de-
signs more clear, to give general notion OF his
scheme, combining structure somewhat clarac-
teristic. The building represented IL quadrangular
IN form, and surmonnted by a dome. In this design
we have again a view Of the entrance, ana the per-
feet feasibility OF the plan Is made clear to us. There
also are seen the other modes OF approach to tue
Museum-by winding stairways or stone ascending
To the terrace on which the building stands. We
have been informed tnat Il committee OF prominent
citizens VIII be charged with celebrating upon the
merits OF the designs, and upon the most advisable
methods of enstlng the public interest In them To
such degree as shall ensure their successful exc.
cution. Whatever may be their ultimate late THESE
designs Win sufficiently attest the boldness and
power OF the authors genius.