The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-10
ART AT THE CENTENNIAL.

All AL lHE GEN len NlAL.
SHALL WE SECURE ORIGINALS OF RAPHAEL AND
MICHAEL ANGELO FOR THE CENTENNIAL p
PLAN OF TWO PUBLIC-sPIRITED LADIEs-NEw
YORK ART AT THE EXHIBITION.
| 1t has frequently been observed that art In its
! various iorms-in music, sculpture or pairting-is
the common language Of mankind, or, at all
events, OF that portion OF 1t which worships at the
shrine OF the beautiful Hence 1t appears proba BILE
! that at universal exposition like that which is to
be held in Philadelphia next year the department.
| which will excite the greatest, the most general
interest among the cultivated visitors OF all ma.
lions will be that the fine arts. The farmer may
! be Interested III newer and more wonderful
reapers and other labor. saving machinery; the
dry goods merchant may view with attention the
! American silks that are to be exposed to view
the scientist Will gaze with careful scrutiny at the
natural products Of q country whose mineral
| wealth is unsurpassed In the world; but none OF
these necessities or a work a-day world Will ex.
ercise the same fascination upon the cultivated
! mind as win the divine creations OF a Raphael or
| Thorwal dsen.
| THE GREATEST ATTRACTIONS.
| There will be naturally great deal in this ex.
hbition which Will be OF peculiar interest to
Americans, and to Americans alone; but what
civilized nation IS there that does admire pic
! lures and statues, especially IL they are good ?
The German and the Frenchman, the Brazilian
ana the Russian, the Greek and the Portuguese,
will equally crowd to see new paintings by Knaus
! or Rosa B0nheur. and even tie most in veterate
| OF American business men Will MOI pass by a new
statue by Miss Hosmer without stopping for u fe "
moments 70 examine its merits. 1t is therefore
! easy to understand why toe Art Gallery Will prob.
ably be the greatest attraction at the Centennial
Exhibition, and why the managers OF tina stupen.
dina
care upon this department. In order to make II as
perfect US 1t can possibly be made. 1t would be
| spect equal the best great world Iairs rnat were
held In europe. Philadelphia IS too remote from
the great art centres OF the world-parls Munich,
Rome-to be able 10 cope IN this department with
the international exhibitions held in Europe.
Mr.. MORRIS MooRE's PICTURES.
| And vet It VIII he a most valuable art collection.
1t has already been men tlonei in these columns
promised to send lis collection to PhliadelphIa,
Governor Bigler beng as yet forbidden by motives
OF decaey to give inc name OF the grandee alluded
that many Americans travelling IN Europe are
engaged IN toe laucaoie endeavor 10 obtain
Exhibition. It Will be remembered that tw o ladies'
called recently upon Mr.. Blger TO Inform him that
they were negotiating With gentleman IN Europe
Tor the loan OF some remarkably beautiful works OF
the old masters. Yesterday Mr.. Biger showed the
! writer letter from these ladies', IN wncn the
paintings alluded to are specified by name. They
are IN possession OF Mr.. MORE. Morris Moore. cee-
ance they made while in Rome.
FOUR GEMS.
/ AS long ago as III the year 1856 the Earl OF
Onslow LETT Mr.. Moore quite sum ..n token OF the
high OPINION entertain OF nm as q consummate
juige OF pictorial art IN all It's various branches
/ TINS country as Judge Of pdinlng." A renowned
French critic said OF him ELI Mr.. Moore affirmed
/ that even That ootstool were oy Pnidias | should
! iecl bound to believe nIm." Wen, this gentleman
has IN ms possession four magnificent paintings of
! the ltallan schOol-RaphaepS celebrated 'Apollo
ana Marsyas.r which has been exhibited and
acclaimed in every CITY IN Europe; two bust por-
traits OF Daute and Petrarch companion pictures
panied by Raphael Tor his great friend Cardinal
Bembo ana mentioned by the Cardinal IN his will
When dc HU fe asnesa ya Mc"ar rom Angelo Gn
one OF the only Jour easel pictures ever
painted BY the immortal sculptor, and winch
even more beautiful tnan the celebrated "Micnael
Angeon OF the London National Gallery. The let
ter then goes on TO say:--'By the courtesy Mr..
Moore we carefully studied the merits OF these
PICTURES, and eacn visit but increased our admlra-
ton, but not TIL we mad returned did we dream it
possible thas tney could be
SECURED 70 OUR COUNTRY.
However, in corresponding with Mr.. Moore on
matters Of art, we told him how we ionged Tor nls
beaurul gems, how we wished that America
! owned & en- and wondered II 1t were possible lor
us ever TO obtain genuine ka phael or Michael
Angelo for this country. 10 our surprise we found
! HIM not only wlllng but even anxious that his
pictures should lind home with Us. IL was q pet
/ idea OF his that they should belong TO the Great
Republic, and az one time he mad puiposed
bringing them himself. Being thor
H not wish thcm TO become the properly TtS
opposed TO their becoming the property OF any pri-
waite individuals. and so we have been looking
about Us TO sec W nat can be done. To us the Gen.
! tepnial has seemed the tlne suspicious and SUI
premc Tor laying the foundation OF great
national art gallery, and wno we ASK can better
lay tnat than the matcnless masters Raphael and
| Michael AEscoY
THE LAST OPPORTUNITY.
"lhis, in all human probability, Is the last op-
portunlty we shall ever nave to secure originals
/ vi these two great masters. The Italian govern
ment GUARDS every little piece win the most zeal.
/
| the principal pictures OF Europe, and we know OF
! but one other raphael that Is Tor sae-the "Nio.
In Playern-but t Is owned by an Italian count,
and the government Will not permit aim to sell 1t
Cu6 OF the country. Our plan has been to
first get the pictures TO the country and then
make them pay Tor themselves by exhibiting them
ana then place them in a national gallery access
slbe TO al. students and lovers OF art. More per-
iect models cannot be obtained Tor any VINO Wish
TO study after models and have not means
! 10 60 abroad. We have the refusal OF these pic
lures Tor only three months longer We would
! ike 10 nave the enterprise carried out under the
auspices oi inc centennial 1t would be neces-
sary or tne authorizes TO guarantee securities lor
! about Sl5O,OJO; we caD make good the remainder
through our own friends. Ol course the insurance
! must be ample and the cost OF transport alton
must be provided ior. Tho pictures once paid loI
| they become the property OF our National CAT
lery.n
NEW YORK ART.
! rms interesting letter brings home an lmpor
tant question TO our patrons oil art and artists II
America. shall these priceless gems be secured
TO TINS country IL is 20 be hoped that they vii
Cooperate with the Director General OF the EX-
hiDtion In accomplishing tnls desirable end.
As lar a. the representation ol tnis ty IN the
Art Gallery IL concerned, it Is proper TO sate that
Gcucral GUSaOrn, on the occasion OI In, last WISH
70 TINS city, held interviews with rNO OF our lead
Ing artists and received rom them ample assur-
apce that New York art would DC lully and hand
somcly represented.