New-York tribune., 1873-05-24
FINE ARTS.


CuRIOs.
From 70 8 o'clock p. m. yesterday, the
raw temporary quarters of the Metropolitan Museum Of
the Fno Aria Poureenthst were open by special invi
saton Of Trustees the Press and to subscribing
members OF the Museum, and in view of the general
curiosity that has been felt the D Cesnoa Col
lection well the Loan Collection. OF the great
interest and variety of which some rumors had
spread sbroad-it was to be expected that
every ono who had it in his power
would avail himself Of the opportunity to what was
to be before the public rush set in. Accordingly
there was large representation Of whatever IN our
society cultivated and scholarly and lest amateurs or
cOnnoisseurs should find another trihe dull there
was judiciOus mixture OF that delightful feminine ele
that sdorns everything touehesputsa soul into
archaeology, justifes the existence Of 6rodbrae ana
furnishes living breathing commentary on all this ola
beauty of form and color down 70 us from the a
away Past
The objects OF Art and Curiosity gathered together 10
tho rooms in F0urreentnst very various Dot INC
selection has been mado with such taste ana Juoou'
that the eyes and mind not coniuseoi We re no'
obliged in sitting the good from lhe oau'
the valuable from the indifferent Here almost every-
thing shown is Of value and hardly anything could be
missed from any department a whole morning OF an
afternoon can be pleasantly and protaby passed. IN any
one OF the divisions OF the exhibition and there is no
one 80 learned or we "up" in the subjects Illus
trated here who VIII not md new matter for thought and
speeulation new facts confirming shaking old theo-
ries and generally good reason for being glad Dc came
some OF our readers ask what the title OF the e1-
bib,tiop-aThe Loan Couec .on"-means and whence 10
is derived We believe IL was in 1862 that there was
formed London the halls OF the South Kensngton
Museum an exhibition that proved Of extraordinary in
teres and had the valuable results, made up
entirely Of articles loaned for the purpose by private
owners The exhibition was large one the generosity Of
ebs-, an a elt i'm.
mense halls with beautiful and precious things in
the way OF furniture, old plate, embroderies lace.
pottery porcelain. iewery, tapestries specimens OF
book bindngin short, o. al the objects that are IN
cuded undor the head OF the "FineArts applied % In
dustry." the less imposing title Of br1e-a-brae
than ever before or since brought under
one roof Tho great corporations OF London sent their
splendid plate. the Queen contributed literally Of the
Art Treasures that Windsor shelters there
filed with the loot OF the Chinese Emperors Summer
Palace and the orts OF Japan Of Siam, aud OK India
were represented rich protusion. There were couec-
tons OF rings dating from the PharaOhs 70 the times OF
our grandfahers and collection OF watches OF all ages,
shapes, ana sizes The whole history Of many arts
domestic and ornamental, might have been written
completely from the specimens exhibited in these
rooms and our modern society saw with piqued aston
shment that Il had been putting airs OF superiority
without reason For the Loan Exhibition was close
alongside Of the Great Exhibition Brompton and il
was easy draw comparisons between tho old time and
the new.
such was the nature OF the Loan Exhibition Of which
these few words can give adequate notion. The
periment repeated alter fashion IN Paris IN 1862
but exoeptiB Oriental manufactures in the carpets Of
Inda Persia and Turkey and the pottery and porcelain
OF Japan and China thoro could hardly be allowed COM
parson between the two exhibitions In the matter of
carpets. probably display fne seen, and
the show Of Japanese aud Chinese pottery porcelain,
.r.HHN.
vats persons living in Pars-:he Government sending
nothing-has never been and could hardly be matched
any where in the world
These exhibitions which only attIacted crowds OF
visitors. marked effect developing the
OF the nations and stimulating their industries
the hint upon which the Trustees Of own MetrODoh
tan Muaaum have acted In forming present Loan
Exhibition" Those Interested IN such matters have
long known that there are private hands in NewYork
great many rare. beautiful ana curious things and
seemed desirable on many accounts that the public
should be allowed a sight OF them. There has been a
generous response invitations but II seems probable
that as yet the surface OF the soil has been merely
scratched: fine Is the display, there must De I'm
uense riches still uncovered.
The Loan Exhibition includes a large and splendid
collection Of porcelain and pottery covering nearly the
whole history OF the manufacture from Mr.. W. c.
Primes TO HIM earliest known specimen OF glazed
pottery: tiny morsel-found in Egypt and inscribed
with the carOuehe Of Amanre III, the MOers" OF his
tory down 20 the latest Oriental afeetation Of the
seviving works at Worcester beautiful specimen by
the waY-and with episOdical Illustrations from all times
and places fine specimens OF renaissance wood carvings
series Of confessionals from church in Client. suf-
oient to completely line OF the large rooms in this
epaoiOus house small but very valuable and interest
dng collection OF early printed Bibles, the prop
-erty Of Mr. W. c. Prime, with two cases
filled with choice specimens " old ana modern
illuminated municipalities last the property Of MI
Robert Hoe IT. The Of the porcelain and pottery
department of the Exhibition nearly equally divided
between Mr. W. C. Prime and Mr.. s. P. Avery, though
when looking at either contribution. whether in or
IN detail II is almost impossible 20 decide which Is the
inner M Avery's collection almost purely Oriental
and Old Blue" and he whose love has dwet among
3he pots will admit that anything exquistely del
icate and and than MI Averys contribution
can have been but seldom since first learned
bow TO ransmute clay into shapes and coors that rival
,fhe tirest flowers. But the visitor stands between
mr. Prime and Mr.. Avery like the lover between the
rival beauties
How happy could be with either.
Were tOther dear charner away"
Nj Russell sturges fills modest case with specimens
OF the ceramic art Of Japan and China that Will well
trepay the closest studytbe pieces all curious
beautiful several Of them could not easily be dup
catsd Another large room the second floor is nlled
with mag nifcent illustrations Of the fine arts Of Japan
ard Cbina-the contribution Of MI Russell sturges Mr..
Meredith Rowland, Mr.. J. whitney Phoenix, and Mrs.
Sewbod- Those who have seen the finest specimens OF
Ghnese clOisOnso that foreign collections
" be the first 70 admit that those loaned by Mr. Mere
bdth HOwand are unTvaled for richness Of design and
perfection Of condition. We have had the good
fortune 20 anything TINS Kind nner than the large
bowl supported three stOrks. in Mr. How
bands But the whole is immensely attractive
,-facT ,f,
sFine Art praotced by the japanese and Chnese-the
Japanese being most largely epresented-excepting
their ceramics which illustrated in the lower ROOM
n this upper room there also to be found goody