New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-04
FINE ARTS.
THE III CEsNoLA COLLECTION.

RortOn n w oil
che pnrobase of the hi Cesnola Collection OF Cypr-
o,a h,,,,;,ios was well attended and the large as
semhv ~ ladies and gentlemen showed the interest
that xyas IN he looked for from cultivated persons
IN IN. oh;ect that had called them together. MI.
Jehn TAYLOR Johnston, the President of the Board
IF Trustees stated briefly the business situation,
and in speeches that followed from Mr. William u
Primo and President Anderson of Rochester the
vaue of the collection students OF art and 10 ART
isis and no less its immense Importance as an
aid in historical investigations, were eloGuently
asd conyincugly set forth. The list OF sub
scriptons thus far obtained toward the
sum of 10000 needed for the purchase OF
tho collection was then read in part; the names OF
all persons who have subscribed $1,000 and under
were omitted--an omission not intentional, but
owing simply TO the accident that the paper contain
inSthese names had not been brought to the meet
,inp. IT was however an accident to be regretted.
for the reading of a list of rich men who had put
down their names for large sums OF money even
though in some the sums subscribed were
relatively small compared with the wealth OF the
subscribers) had discouraging effect upon persons
with small purses who yet felt inclined to do some
thing for Art. Nor the matter helped at all by
the reading of another list of the sums voted by the
British Parliament for the advancement OF
Art in England during the coming year
i
New-York State either. 1t is well to remember
that we are in America and not in Europe, and that
<he theory of our Government mo matter what the
practice may be is Republican, and not Arisocratic
And this is Just what the Trustees Of the Museum,
some of them at least seem unable to act upon sup
posing that they recognize the fact. have no
doubt that they have as a body, the best intentions
in tho world know that some of them have shown
their interest in the Museum by giving their time,
their money, and their best thought to its manage
spent But they are Tich men. all of them, and al
their associations with rich and tiourshng peo-
ple, who live in an atmosphere OF ease
and comfort with the moderate culture that
satisfies our easy society, and not so much
wanting in sympathy with the mass of the people,
those with small means and small opportunities, as
completely ignorant of their needs and their desires
do not misudge the Trustees; know that there
are some among them who have plenty of sympathy
with their fellow citizen and hearty desire to do
oil that can be done to make the Museum contribute
freely to their pleasure and their teaching. AS for
Che rest pass over their little manifestations OF
snobbery and appeal to what even In them is geneI-
ous and. more safely. perhaps, to what is common
sense i'm them | am constrained to advise the Trus-
tees that they are not going the right way
TO work. Che number of very rich men In
this community is not large, and among them
there but lew WGO can De SUCCESS
fully appealed TO 10 aid in such an enterprise
purely artistic and inteectual-as the purchase of
the Di Cesnola Collection. Appeal to most of Our
business men on behalf of learning, art science the
repute of the city for culture and refinement, the
needs of the schoar-the pretty to be-
"Nope of these things move me-" And the few who, |
after much persuasion, put their hands IN their
pockets and can give cannot be expected to do tins
always and on all occasions. Even II their help
could always be depended on it is not wise to be
always asking it, nor is it good fOrthe rest of us that
they should always give it. The Metropolitan
Museum is in reality the affair Of the entire COM
munity and the plate ought TO be handed
round impartially to the whole congrega- |
lion. to the galleries no less than to the |
polid men-the pillars of the church. / can |
assure the Trustees that if they put their trust |
in merchant princes alone shall be long time |
In getting the Di Cesnola Collection, and very like
NAV never get it at ALL We must come down to |
ha1h-pan, and wake up interest in the commu- |
pity at large, in the savings bank people, in men
aud women to whom FIVE dollars is something to be |
thought on, IN girls and boys even with "allOw- |
ances"-not only in the rich and the well-to-do.
Perhaps little incident that happened at the |
mesiing may be q straw to show how the wind |
blows. After the reading of the two lists L have |
spoken of was over, gentleman turning to go away
well. t.. can't put my name alongside these big |
bugs; but when you get down to the small fry, come
into nv Office and I'll give you $3.50" |
1t NAV shock some Of the Museum people TO know |
st. but there are really men in this community who |
are even smaller fry than this gentleman, and who, |
if they were asked might pinch themselves to the |
tune Of $50 / venture to suggest that the city be
canvassed and as much money collected as possible,
in sums large or small So far PRACTICAL ends are
concerned it would be better to have kept quiet the
other evening about the large sums that had been |
subscribed and to have put out an appeal for con-
tributions of hundred dollars or less think this
Is what it will come to- and the sooner the enterprise
is putwhere it beOngs-on the shoulders Of the gen.
eral public of educated cultivated men and women |
the surer the success will be- and the better worth
having. Yours ART STUDENT
Nelo- York, April O. 1874.
THE FROST COLLECTION.
The pictures belonging to the collection OF
Mr. Charles L. Frost be sold at auction on Mon
day and Tuesday OF next week and meanwhile are on
free exhibition at the somerve Gallery on Flfihavs
We have already referred rank OF these pictures
as whole and we see a second examna-
ton Of them to quslify anything OF former judg
mont There are a few excellent works among them,
and the sale which is TO be- are informed without
reserve will be we'll worth attending for the purpose ef
bidding upon them. The "Gipsy Camp" OF Schreyer lie
perhaps remarkable work in the collection the
weather beaten and disconsolate horse in the fore
ground being drawn with great truth and feeling The
Surprise OF is another very pretty picture the
face OF the young girl by the brook full OF sweetness
and character. There is the usual variety of genre
works by Bsckalowiez, salenn, Brown, Henry Bacon,
6chlesiDger. and Boulanger.
FINE ART NOTES
Mr.. j. A. Jackson of Boston has just finished