New-York tribune., 1875-11-13
A FLORENTINE LOUVRE.
LETTER FROM JAMES JACKSON JARVES
The PROPOSED REoRGANIzATIoS AND CoNsoIIDA-
1iuN OF TIE PHI, UFFNI, AND OIuER GAL

LETTER FROM JAMES JACKSON JARVEs.
| THE PROPOSED REoRGANIzATIoN AND CoNsoiIDA-
IioS or THE PIrrI. UFFHi, AND OTHER GAL
| LEhIEs AND MUSEUMS OF FLORENCE.
TO the EGitGr OF The Tribuas
| SIR: OF all the Galleries Of Fine Arts in Europe
none nger more ailectionatey in the memories OF
transatlantic visitors than those of Florence. say
| atectIoGately," with meaning OtheB may impress
more by their magnitude, variety, be more direct
y instructive aud easier because of their syse
matte arrangements methods of Lighting, and facii-
ity of access but any drawbacks III these respects
here are moro than counterbalauced As to generai
effects on the mind by the atmosphere Of esthetc
cosiness, as well as spenJ0r and almost family ar
rangement of the pictures, sculptures, and other
works of art in the UhiZi and Pitii Palaces. lhey
have a domestic look. ii placed just about as ono
would he Obliged to arrange them, if collected by
himself from time to time aud accommodated 10
spare positions or such crowded quarters as SOME
what exuberant artistic hospitality provided Tor
them under the family roof, regardless of expendl-
turc so that they were made at home and surrounded
with appryprate magnilicence. Especially IL tsis
family arrangement aud character true oi the iti
Gallery, whose richly decorated and furnished
rooms and low-toned side lights add greatly to the
general aspect of their contents ana De-
stow on them certain solemn mystery
and rodoublink OF purely aesthetic con
seriousness as regards the spectator vastly enhahc-
ing their absolute technical m rits and subtiy pre-
disposinc the mind to their fullest enjoyment. We
arc seif-elevatcd because in the company OF the
worlds elect, with obtrusivo etiquette or soclal
ureiudiets to come between what lis best III us and
them And our enjoyment of this highest phase OF
socialism il not diminished by the reflection that
they have thus been in their aris;OcTatic, hosptsOe
receiving rooms for centuries welcoming with eluaI
zest all comers their luxurious homes; delight
some symbols of the immortality OF all men ana
ooucnt preachers against all the barren material
isms which stultify humanity ut large.
One hight eXpatae largely on tils special particu-
larIty of the Forent galleries. but 1t Is too "o-
vlouS u every sensitive VISITOR hot 10 nave poo"
gratefully and increa,uy appreciated at each visit,
euphasized as it is in the OF the chef two, the
Pitt and the Ulzi. by the long, covered passage,
hllcd with the thoughts aud des ns OF the OLD mas
ters in every stag, of composition; Il twisting ana
turning gallery which unitcs them "a by an umhii-
cal cord into a complete twiAs!iip of purpose and
Measure as materially Convenient as afchitecuraly
and psycholo-clIly appropriate. Their oneness Is
thus substantially effected in trne sense wHile
the variety in unity of III nd and fact 50 easenta 10
nj IN art is pc.uro squcly and ediyng,y conserved
As ualpable as are these ctrcts, am sure do not
recall them to those wdo have experienced thclr
power wi. loUt evokiIg thrill OF satisfaction AKIN
10 what one feels in nori = OF thoSe wh ise hearts
aud minds aTe most in harmony witaou own ohce
known. these galleries ar, always dear friends. Am
not ri sh, th r,f rs, in using the wort a'eeton a.
.trAiagy characteristic oi tao sentiment they leave
~ u,i
Bat. my art loving friends. are you conscious that
our long familiar paradise Is Threatened "itA a.
struc. 0a tht your chi dreh may never see AMI loe
a. yol,o ia regard TO il, and wouder what II all means
when Won rrcoult your enjoyment Of lts ho,pl-
talitV Nevertheless il - marked down fJr an M
provcment which viii b. the death of your particn-
lar ~ il It, The present ambitious Minister oil
Public instructions nor BonghI, ahrttcd 10y the
.oyal Director of the Museum Of Flcrence Conn.,
A Goit in the ferv0r of the central zns throficS'
now 80 much ia vogue Ia a!y. has planned tie
uuion of all the galleries aud lOrITieS al i0fcncc
uto one vast Inuseuu on the scale OF the Louvre, to
be placed ia the great Medcean palace BnoAialenti'
via Iav3nr with thurlugh radical reorganization
III accordance with modern netiOds oI cldssihc"'oh
aud distribution.
As we Americans are now constructing III our chief
.tc, museums on a comprehensive scale, any prob
Inns or experiments regarding their practcal or
gauizaton have "A special interest Z" Us. Not being
harp-rcd ~ o'd-tiIne buildings and methods, W"
are free % do what seems best Ii cannot therefore,
bnf be os advantage - .iud- the experience 4 Che
Old Void. lhc question Is :. dc oAe diid 'HOiO 10
much tn lie sad on all IL aspects.
There are, however, in organic principe chiefly
npora!i, and Latest, ne cenrl.izng scientiic sys
tenn br.la ng al departments of Tine arts together
under one roof. with a view to their historical ana
archaeological arrangements, facilities for cduca-
tioual raining and con prrhensve exhibition. For
want of 4, better term may call THIS the scientific
method for il is emincntly uil.tar.an III idea and
virtual based t1e practice Of nI,s-uns OF natu-
raj objects.
The second principle is the pure and simple artistic,
which looks mainly t0 enjoyment based Oh tAc
rst rtc harm0nls, ,fscis, and language 0i the Oh
lccts themselves the legitimate pnrp 'se oi hnc
art, arranging tnem SO as % exhibit these qualities
IN tbir fullest Significance irrespective OF tho minor
l,iins of any absolute technical, historical manner
or p.rlol hi, i the true home method. We hang
nr prtures on walls or try 10, so as to give edcD
,s best light and most lifting ueghborhooi t' Keep
II auony it, dearest freids where its merits are
best shown. The secret OF getting the best "t any
art is 10 put it IN har nony with its own being IN in
reducing it to society; qnite az tine as OF man
himself; the rule being to make him or 1t
4n,irtly at Iioine. Indirectly certain de-
gre. Of scientific accuracy does grow out
Of this because the masters most social In their
u,ter.ringngs aud most in rapport with each otheF
are naturally those Oi one time or school, ascending
or rd.,c,nd,ng in idea aud technique as regularly as
notes of music Thus aesthetic harmony as we'll a.
ar instruction are better got, other things
ruuul by the second than tle first method which,
lonkirq solely to chronological order and material
convenience, sometimes confuses, If not destroys,
the more vital principles of art.
do not say that the present arrangement OF the
tnzi and Piti galleries il the best one, but that tie
.sthciic ID "a so largely Implied by their hall casual
accommodation of fcircninstanccs-condtion not eN-
ur..sI, created for faus.ns-is a happy and sound