New-York tribune., 1875-11-13

| merits of the Uflizi and Pitt galleries give this
primary impression each individual Will decide ac-
cording TO his culture and temperament; but that
fhcy are exceedingly enjoyable seclns TO be an uni
| versal experience. The question now IL, VIII The
removal Of them from their localities and minglins
! them with other collections, in new binding, To
form one vast museum, as desired by Sig. Bonghi,
be more conducive to the public enjoyment and in-
| strnc tion, and show them TO better adyantagcf
| There can be no question that some reform is
needed. The present catalogues are very faulty ana
| need thorough revision. Some attribuuons are
purely apochryphal others loosely conjectural. a
considerable number of paintings, especially III the
| corridors Of the Ufzi, could be got rid OF to the
advantage of those that remain, for they serve no
| gapd purpose whatever, unless T. people Chamber
| of Horrors, as showing what art should not be-
Changes Of position and light needed for some
! important pictures and the bringing moro together
| of the paintings Of the greatest masters by them
selves. The Raphacls. TitianS, Perugnos, Andrcas,
Fra Bartolumeos etc, need to he more exclusive,
the masterpieces having special places of honor, 40
that each great artist could be facilely compared as
it with himself and yet ia mass oit,rng pleas
urcablo contrasts with his neighbors. Where there
are enough il would be advisable to give room to
one artist. II there are more than needful 10
exhibit all his characteristics, the surplus might be
sold or exchanged TO advantage with foreign gal
cries. There is not in the museums OF Florence n
single sufficient example Of Luca della Robbia, while
the streets and chnrches of country towns wherc no
| persons go abound in his finest works. often in
buildings closed to the public Why not select
the best for the home museums and allow
the sale of others for ar,-fuEd for them
So too of the supertluous works OF secondary
value OF IA number of eminent artists of The fOrel-
tine schools, which would not be missed from their
present POSITIONS and might be advantageously r.
placed by works of yet nnrepr,senicd artists ol
other schools. Finally, the profuae repaintngs and
mjudcious restOratons of other times should be re-
moved and all the pictures 30 hung that each may
b. in harmony with those Immediately about II,
keeping schools and ep0chs "a much ~ can be- ~
consecutive artistic order, considering their aesthetic
appearance AZ a whole Copyists snould not be al
lowed 10 block access t. the best pictures and
turn the galleries into shops for the sale of their
wares. These reforms would cost htle and
render tie Pitt and Unzi galleries with
their historical associations, their cOmpacn'sS
cosness. and general convenience the most enjoy
able within their scope in Europe Tie chief rlsk Is
fire. but in Florence this be eilectually guarded
against by proper vigilance, or better by entire
prohibition. Sig. BoughiS plan of making the
galleries pay their expenses Wy entraGceiecs seems
to bid fair be a L. las just been put into
operation, and already produces at the rate OF
500 600 francs year in Florence alone at one franc
a hcad-Thursdays and sundays being free, whilo
artists arc exempted at all times.
The proposed advantages OF Sig. Bonghis scheme
for tIe union Of al TIE collections IN ono buiiuing
are the forming "a more complete museum ia "A sys-
teui,ic. historical sequence than they could posi-
bly, exhibit apart vhich should be worthy rival of
the greatest eaewhcre; Iaole ccntrs s'zcd orgaiza
ton and admIstra ion comm bdious edihee OF
easy access expressly tilted 10 it's purpose, each de-
paltnlcnt well accommodated and arranged, iShted,
ana decorated in tuc, al tnc knOwl ,Cg5 and expo
rirnce of other museums brought 10 bear in making
This complete - monument oi art and "a fresh
crown of distinction to tie most artistic city Of tie
chief land uf tine arts Ilis is an attractive Pro-
gr4inmc 10 read aud there are materials enough AT
land 10 realize II, provided they net already
well accommodated. Ii it were Il question, as M
America. OF creating a museum where none exist,
there could be hut one response. " Go ahead" But
the museums do oxst SO conveniently contiguous
10 hc in this SNAIL city almost ~ much practically
nne a. are those concentrated in the mi.o. ot GAL
lsi,s OF tnc Louvre; aud each with an individuality
of expression ald impression very invit-
ing in view of the architectural monot-
pny and staid arrangements OF its end
less series of telescope halls, whose vistas
apral and confuse first sight indeed, even dis
couIage the inevitable sghtsccr, who in scc'rg al
never sees ANYTHING No one, except the ezp'ri. need
student of art who goes straight to his object and
confines himself to that, can master the Lonvre.
Yet the Louvre is for Paris the best organization.
One ia to erably sure stay in pars long en"ngh Ia
grow mp to IT, if it atti art at all. But similar mu
scum in Florence would dwarf the city, dNest il ot
some of it's most renowned aesthetic features and
impel the average crowd of stranger who ROW pleas
urTby lngar weeks abont is various gallcrsts, 20
rush brcathlessy through it as they do Tie Louvre
at one visit, feeling relieved at having don" the
sight" a. not to care To repeat il. Like an au-
dipnce OF a crowned head it is too big bore to
bear repetition. As it now, visit 10 the ltti,
for instance ike an Introduction to distinguished,
ada6le man. is sure 10 brget the desire ot closer
acquaintance. Families VINO come 10 Florence for
short zine are often induced by the inviingncss oi
the galleries pass The season, greatly To the pecu-
mary benefit of the citizens. At the tes, Florence
is a cosmopolitan hotel, depending over much on the
ebb and fow Of the tide of travel. Should it con-
dense its chief sights into one mammoth show. il
will become more thanevcr one, and will need donlyto to
add grand TO ts signs to maze the sime Of mine
imp complete Therefore II does not follow that
what is suitable for imperial Paris s equally good
for provincial Florence.
London began with Capitalization IN her Academy
and Museum, but now finds it eXpriient 10 divide
and dispcrse her collections for public convenience
and improved organizai ion, to keep apart ncorgiu-
os objects and to enable visitors to get at directly
what they seek undisturbed by conflicting attrac-
tions and mnamOnious combinations. Besides, II
NAV be- presumed where there are distinct institu-
tons devoted to special departments there viii be
generous rivalry Of management. Competitive
brains will eagerly work to secure the greatest eli
cheney in their respective offices, challenging com
Parsons with another An immense body uE-
Ia, 1.
scope i, apt h. grow unwiclly and intocrInt, and