The New York herald., 1877-02-05
ART MATTERS.
THE cAsrELLANI COLLECTION AT TUE METRO
PoLITAN MUSEUM OF ART.

THE CAsrELLANI COLLECTION AT TUE METRO
POLITAN MUSEUM OF Art.
The preparations for the exhibition Of this famous
collection Of Antiquities complete. The ar
rangements have made under the personal droc-
tion OF Signor Acssandro Castelan and the various
objects OF Interest be advan-
tage the cases have been distributed as
10 permit the closest inspection by the public
Al Philadelphia the want OF space rendered
the logical orderly arrangement Of these
impossible. those who had opportunity OF
ing them ut the Cen will be much better able to
estimate their beauty and value. II Is the intention
OF the directors Of tho Metropolitan Museum pur.
chase this collection for and place II among tho
treasures OF the CITY, and IS 70 be hoped that our
wealthy aud cultivated citizens will cooperate with
them 10 this end by giving generously, as is their
won't when laudablc object be served.
Tho collection consists OF antique marbles. bronzes,
figures in terra Gotta and curiously engraved gems
Among tho sculptures Is Il beautiful bust Of Eurpdcs
well preserved. II Is remarkable for It's vigor and
beauty Of Workmanship There is a slight depression
the nose Of this bust not found the portrait
graved by Visconti There IL colossal statue OF the
Indian Dacchus. II s bearded and long robed, IN
with the idea regularly associated Greek
art the triumph OF 800 India This hre work
was The villa Of Palns Ved,us at
Pos:lippo Naples This aud the "Spinario, -
lie SIZED figure OF hoy taking thorn out OF his loot
are i'm portani oi the works. II IS
original Greek work Of the realistic school oi Per-
gamos According 10 Roman legend, young shep.
herd seeing he atins enter the Roman territory by
night TO Rome 10 tell the Senate OF tho incurson
While on his way he ran thorn into his foot he aid
not stop, but continued his course. delivered the
message then sat down TO extract the thorn The
Senate decreed That statues should be made in his
There is also a head OF Alexander the Great, OF
heroic sze and several portraits Of Roman emperors
and empr~sses
The collection Is especially rich In cisac or caskets
10 which the early Etruscan and Latin ladies' kept
those articles which were used 10 the bath These
were found IN the Metropolis Of Palcstrina,
tho ancient praenos.o ,n I, Is curious TO
rors combs, s,rigils, sponges, boxes OF rouge and
unruents and other appliances Of the BATH These
caskcts generally cylindrical rarely oval foot
more in diameter, and have lids and feet The handle
OF The lid is formed either Of woman in the
in the act Of wrestling. On the surface Of the
lid and around the sides OF the casket myho.
logical subccls are generally engraved IN outline II
is probable the handles and feet were supplied by
Eiruscan metallurslsls from moulds, while the en-
graved compositions were derived IRON or directly in
lucnced by Grecian art. The drawing OF these com
positions varies In quality. In some II is pure and
mastery in the very finest Grecian paintings. In
Others find tho same alfcctatOn and manncrism
are peculiar to many Etruscan mirrors aud lew
Italian vases. The ART would thus seem TO have cx
tended the period 300 B. z. to 200 b. C., when
Greek examples had begun 10 influence the native
schools OF Italy In the Campagna, but. contcnding
with deeply rooted traditions, had to be adapted to
Italian tastes and myths
ORNAMENTS.
AS an illustration OF tho origin, rise and progress OF
the goidsmth'S The collection little
desired. 1t goes back TO the prehistoric period,
which Is illustrated by examples Of bronze ana amber
ornaments found at Praeneste. Tho glass and silver
ornaments found in Tarquinla, In Etrura, form the
next step. Among these is scarabold aud
beads Of irrdcscent glass, set in 6bua,
scarab OF enamoed blue set IN vitrcOus PASTE Then
come 10 the primitive Etruscan and Phmnican orna.
mcnts Of nncupcated gold These adorned with :
granulaied work and represent period of some 700
years before Christ Among these necklace formed OF
iphr Intnn nf thar mil
bulla and six pendants IN the shape OF anchors Smi
lar necklaces arc described IN the "odyssy." Then
ing 500 to 400 B. G. We Then
the italoGreck period, when the art OF the gold
smith had made wonderful advance. In ancient gold
ornaments, whether oi Grcck or OF Italian origin,
admiration OF tho precious metals employed Is always
exceeded BY that which the OF the workman
ship calls up The ancient jewellers know
and used chemical and mechanical agents quite
unknown to they were able to separate and JOIN
pieces OF gold scarcely perceptoe TO the naked eye.
Their process OF melting, soldering and wire drawing
remains equally problem. When we consider tho
Crock and Etruscan granulated and ili.re work In
gold even leaving elegance OF the aud
the skill shown In tho chasing, obliged
Tess that tho anccns were greatly our supcrors IN ibis
art.
Among tho treasures found at Mciapontum some
admirable specimens OF ancient workmanship The
more important OF these circular gold stands
Tor perfume vases decorated with human and equine
heads in rcct, the ground covered with granulatcd
work. These stands Indicate 10 US the use OF the ponlee
dmphorU, In glass and rock crystal &c The dmptorG
were placed upon stands like these, in the same
There earrings, ALSO whch will interest the fair Of
present day. They IN the form OF hclix with
floral 0rnamcntation OF admirable design ut the middle
ot the bend, and each terminating in two lovely anu
refined female heads, in reponsse work. The four
heads wear themselves earrings OF this very peculiar
shape The form occurs the nne heads OF
dvinitics engraved OF the coins of Magma
Gr;ncie and sicily IL is rathor difficult to explain how
ladies' coud such earrings, unless they
took advantage Of the ductty OF the pure gold and
pressed these spiral earrings against their classic ears
MAJoLIcA
Tho examples in this delightful branch of art are
particularly fnc. They extcnd ba,k far the
SculoA rabian period. which Is illustrated by num-
Der of rough works made by the Arabs during thor
stay In Sicily. The majO ca DIVISION, or ms SignOr
Casellani correctly calls 1t, maolica, consists
Of some 800 examples which admirably illustrate tho
growth and development OF this branch OF Industry
from the fourteenth TO the seventeenth century.
The art O mnolica painting Is generally supposed 10
have been first pracsed in Italy by Luca della RObbia
the reputed dscovcrcr OF white stanniicruus enamel
borp about the year 140O, executed many famous
works this material during the course Of
the century, tho earliest OF wnich now cxtant
bears the date Ol l43S. AS however, tue
Oldest piece OF majoca ware, made at Cafluggiuoio
Is dated l477, and tho earliest known piece, made
dated l4s2 l many excellent authorities alrm that
tho furnaces and workshops Oi Tuscany, the RO-
magma and The Duchy o Urbino were not established
until about fifty years after the date oil l.uca della
Robbias discovery IL is 10 bo remarked that the same
who attribute " 10 him state that he revealed
il only to the mcnbcrs of hts family, and that his
nephews, who kept his secret continued To
practIsc exclusively Tor halt century after the
death OF their uncle, which took place IN the year
l4Sl
HOBOKEN'S STONE BATTLES.