New-York tribune., 1875-01-27
TIE CORCORAN ART GALLERY.


COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING-IT5 COST AND IN
MISUNDERSTANDING AND sTATUARY ALREADY
AcQUIRED-rHE HuDEsHEIa TREASURES.
[FRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRlDUSE'l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-By the opening OF two
side galleries for sculpture, the CorcOran Art Gallery ID
now complete so far as its exhibiting capacity Is CON
eerned and it only remains for its friends aud The
trustees continue their work OF adding TO It's eas
ures and to eliminate those works which are without
merit as educators 10 make one OF the most ATTRACTIVE
places of resort this city, This building its contents
and endowment fund.- the free gif OF Mr. COrcoran
10 the public The is tasteful one, aud
s built OF brick with brown stone trimmings having on
its front tho inscription, Deticated to Art" The
front is imposing and is divided by pilasters with cap
itas Of the Columbian style, representing Indian corn
into recesses and inches for statues, trophies aud
wreaths foliage and the monogram OF the founder
The cost OF the building and ground was s25)oOo Mr..
Corcorans collection OF pictures and statuary was
valued at sOO0OO Tho endowment fund for the main
tenance of the institution Is s0OO0 yielding au annual
income OF $4,000 or $4,000 All this is the Kilt OF
man who desired 10 benefit his city and hoped that re-
fined pleasure might be provided for the people, and
that at time American art might bo encouraged
and developed
The lower ssory of the building ia divided into corri
dors vestibule, main hall, and two adjoining side
galleries. All OF these used for the exhibition OF
statuary, casts &C.. With the exception OF one OF the
side galleries called the Hall OF BrOnDes" which IL the
most beautiful in the building Is GU 10y 10 feet
and the ceiling, paneled aud richly decorated, Is sup
ported by four Cornthian columns with Gdod capitals
Il contains a very choice and beautiful collection OF
ware, eieotrotype reproductions &o
The bronzes in number. are all by Barge, the famous
sculptor and instructor animaldrawing the Jardia
des Plans, Paris His position there has gwen him an
opportunity to become Thoroughly acquainted with ami
mails and their postures affected by their different
ode haEh dtzullV Itybf
superemnent ability in these magnificent specimens,
some OF wbch have been completed within a few years
and in the old age OF the artist who now rs old
Probably the most graceful and spirited Of oil the OBJ
jects is that Of Angelque and Roger mounted upoa
hippogrh. This Ia without rival In the whole cOec
tion and with tho groups OF Thesens Staying the Cen
taur and Mnotanr, show the classical taste OF the
artist The display Of the ferocous instincts OF wild
animals seems to favorite subject OF Barge, his
reputation having been acquired by group OF tiger
and crocodie and one secs among his works many
specimens OF lions, tigers panthers. serpents, &C., en-
gagged in conflict, although he has shown equally good
work in the opposite class Of subjects.
THE uILDEsHEM TREASURES.
Next In Importance and interest to this collection OF
Barye's must be ranked what are known ss the Hide
sheim Treasures" electrotype reproductOnsby Chris
tote Co., Paris Of ancient vessels found the
mains Of q Roman camp near Hlldeshen, Hanover
These vessels OF silver 80 IN number consisting OF
some soldiers who were digging near their camp They
rst supposed TO formed part Of the dinner
this place by the Gaus In the year r. c. most OF them
being OF design aud workmanship showing their great
antiquity. Others however, are clearly OF later date,
and is generally agreed that they probably
buried there by robbers when found they much
that have besn made, and faithfully represent their
graceful beauty and useful nature. Here arc also
and points bent just as tney came from battle;
Qusitey ornamented eevres plates OF porcelain
" "A
many as 40 plates being sometimes destroyed before
Pasnns from this room into the halls Of .tIaarv ons
finds the usual assortment Of statues buss groups &c.
which are met with 10 all galleries such as Venus Joye
juno Homer Socrates &C. There are two objects here.
however, which deserve special mention these
the group Of the Laoco6 and cast OF the west gate
Of the Bsplstery Of Ban Giovanni at Florence The
former magnificent cast OF the original at tue Vat
gate Baptstery brought from the South Ken
sington Museum. London, aud consists OF &c pieces.
There only two similar In this country, in
Philadelphia and the other at Yale College, and IL ID
said that the Italian Government Will not allow any
more to be taken from tue original The csst OF ths
gate stands s about IS feet high aud IL inches
wide. Ten panels contain designs from the OLD Tests
inches containing statues Of prophets. historic person
ages 60, &C. Toe original gates were made by Obi
year 4 this and the north gate being the work Of his
long w and occupying his time from the of 30 when
until he eS years old when the original OF this
WAS nnshed with the e, exception q the outer panels,
" Gates OF Paradise"
Ascending the broad stairway. the visitor enters the
Gallery OF Pantings-a fne hail. nearly 100 feet long
aud half as WIDE. with hight TO the skygnt OF 3s Feet
Besides being lighted from the roof II has range Of
ESQ burners on q Quadranguiar spipe. Leading of
from the main hall on eacn side are additional rooms.
over the front entrance u beautiful ocagonal room
In which 10 Powers's "areek Slave" This statue stands
In the center OF the room, buss Giuevra and
froserpihe' ano Duss OF Penseroso, bhakespeare &c
WORTH OB THE PAINTINGS.
The number Of paintings In the galleries lIa Many
OF these Interesting for various reasons without
claiming TO rank high as works art s Others are
simply sufficiently good TO Ill spaees otherwise vacant
Directly opposite tho entrance In the gallery is
very superior fulhlengtn portrait Of Mr. Corcorap
painted n 1867 by Charles L. Elliott, which is said 10
have been an excellent likeness OF the original st
time Of painting Occupying larger space at one end
OF the hall 10 picture by Alexander Cahaud, who at
tempted 10 before no had learned 10 walk itis a
representation Of the death Of Moses before entering the
Promised Land, to which Jehovah pointing and ind
eating with the other hand that Moses cannot enter it,
The conception Q grand one, but the theme Was
beY0pd the power Of the 0rtiat Who XaA theprNl6ai