The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-08
ART MATTERS.
The Cesnola CypriOte COllccti0n-The
Unpacking Begun Yesterday.


Several weeks ago the HERALD published q two
column account OF the eypriote antiquities re-
Gently discovered by General L. p. d Cesnola, the
Unite4 States Consul to Cyprus In the course Of
that account 1t was mentioned that the 275 chests,
in which the collection was packed, were in the
Custom Bouse; that the magnificent Douglas man.
sion, on Fourteenth street, nearly opposite Mr..
Fechter's theatre, had been leased by Mr.. John
Taylor Johnston, President OF the Metropolitan
Museum OF Art, and that workmen were busy
making such alterations as would enable that man.
sion to accommodate the antiquities until the Gen.
tral Park Museum should be ready. 1t is now
necessary to add that the grounds and base
ment Of the Douglas mansion are strewn
with the casks and chests containing the
Cypriote treasures, ana that in a chamber
on the second noor at the northeast corner Of the
house, sits General di Cesnola himself desk be-
fore him, enthusiasm within him and chaotic
sea OF Cyprote antiquities surging and frothing at
his feet. The unpackng began yesterday morning.
Admission to this apartment-in fact, admission
to the hOuse-is not allowed, even to q HERALD
writer, and it is to be regretted that it cannot be
said that for any of the facts herein mentioned in
edged. That gentleman found 1t impossible to
yield any information or to give any clew as to
be interested in learning, however, that the
officers OF the Metropolitan Art Museum have en-
ment Of the Collection and that our Consul to
tie 6s work is completed. This will not be
three rooms OF the fine old mansion
are at present at the disposal Of CesnoIa The rest
vacated until Mayi. Nor must the public natter.
itself with the anticipation that these archaeology
ta TSe cer of Se
were at first sanguine enough to think that the
work OF sorting labelling and encasng these 10000
tttAc unnI
months But the closer CesnOla buckled TO the
task the more convinced he became OF the impos-
It ought to be done. 1t is not at all probable,
therefore, that the Douglas Mansion, metamor-
phosed into temporary museum OF art and archie
Oogy Will be thrown open to the public until next
August. The scene there at present is bewidering,
Two or three large rooms on the first floor, east
arrived, are to run along the sides
Of these The t
ceive the disentombed statuary. At present i'm
mense chests, swollen wi h Cypriote relics, lie on
A few boxes are still in New Hampshire, whittier
they had been conveyed, awaiting transerral here.
have vet been unpacked, but these win repay, at
compound interest, the inspection OF all who are
lucky or ingenious enough TO get slgnt OF them;
Most of them are statuettes, vases, bottles and
lamps for more detailed account OF which we
refer the reader to the HERALD's description, pub
lished couple OF months ago. But probably when
every chest shall have been emptied and the entire
display shall be open to the eyes OF the world,
beauty a set of glass bowls among them, which
CLEAN with the most delicate iridzed tints that re-
sembe those of mother-opearl. These tints are due
TO the chemical changes produced on the glass
by centuries Of Interment. Some specimens which
we examined were more than opalescent In beauty
and almost miraculous in their fairyike splend0r.
In some the surface had scaled Off, and the mate
rial had been thus worn down to the thnnesS or
was the Of a
Another was . bronze patera OF high antiquity and
Arabic character, representing the worship of
Venus, with altar and vases, priests, musicians
with double pipe, Tyre and timbre OF course
there remains much to say OF this collection IN
future.
The Bust OF Da MEL O'Conncll by O'Kclly.
The failures in pOrtralture among sculpt0rs are
by far more numerous than those of painters in
the same direction. This paucity OF success is
naturally attributable to the more difficult mate
rails in which the votary Of the plastic art must
work. He is robbed Of color and all the accessories
OF warmth, light, and the setting" which we call
background His work must stand by ITSELF 1t
must embody, not merely the features Of the person
portrayed, but also by an exquisite touch WV
ify those lneaments until they live through
every line In the very pose OF the head limited
as is the range, the imagination must be aided in
forming 1t estimate. No wonder, then, sculpture is
named the higher art, even when it does not walk
III the realms OF the IDEAL In bust portraiture
the most lamentable Hascos are met when the SUBJ
ject Is longer living and the artist cannot obtain
sitting
The heroic bust OF Daniel OConnel the great
Irish tribune, at present on exhibition at Schaus'
Art Gallery, 749 Broadway, Is pOsthumous bust,
and one Of those rare triumphs OF art, knowledge
and power which gladden. the heart OF o UtrtuosO
The "Lberator,'' as his admirers love to call him.
is brought before us at the zenith of his
treatment is at once lorcible and delicate. The
balance OF the head Is that OF the dignity OF con-
over men, and In the stern calmneSS
of the face we see the advocate Of the peoples
rights on the verge OF utterng weighty appeal,
IL Is essentially statesmans lace; and although
traces OF the humor of the man may be discovered
about the eyes, these are wisely subOrdinated to
the expression OF intellectual majesty, which the
artist has made so markedly predominant The
massive forehead, the compressed lips, the breadth
OF jaw and the strong chin gauges OF what
power and magnetism were In the man. The nose
snort ior the tace az II was expressed rresstiDly
ness to combat for his ideas Here the same effect
Is produced and In fine harmony with the mould OF
thought to which the whole face gives expression.
The hair is boldly treated, falling IN q mass OF
graceful curls of his face.
Beyond the general effect Of marked character
istics lies what will most delight the critic. This
is the subtlety and delicacy OF the flesh modelling.
Here are no wide wastes Of natness OF the E9yp'
for want OF training, revived The naccd surface
80 often mistaken TOR "neshiness" by more pre-.
tenttous but equally unframed school will not be
found here either. IL is healthy flesh every inch OF
it. TIE lines beneath the eyes and around the
mouth IRE wonderfully delicate ana truthful, ana
the manner in which the cheek bones are indi-
Gated betrays rare SKILL In this combination or
delcacy and force Is the secret Of triumph, 1t is
the seal of genius. Around the shoulders mass
oil classic drapery falls in ample folds
The artist is Mr. John Charles O'KeIly, Of London,
who comes oil family OF scuptors and painters.
The bust has been selected by committee Of Irish
gentlemen, OF which Congressman William II.
Roberts Is chairman for presentation to the city Of
New, York, and to be placed In bronze in Central
Park. 1t Is work OF art in every way creditable
to the committees taste, and to our Irish Fellow
rtf FIR MI al ia in
tended. 1t may be said that the likeness is pro-
n0unced striking by those who knew O'Connell In
his great days. Father Burke, at a private view
clearer idea Of the character Of O'C0nne than any
thing he had seen since his ewes rested on
OConnell himself The Knights OF st. Patrick have
obtained permission 10 display the bust at their
annual banquet Oh the 18th instant.