The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-15
THE METROPOLITAN ART MUSEUM.

NoLA RECEIVES WELL MEI TIED HoNoRs.
number OF the more prominent supporters Of the
Metropolitan Museum OF Art assembled last night In
the gallery OF that excellent institution to listen to
the reading oil the seventh annual report OF the d.
rcctors. lr Taylor Johnson occupied the
chair and conducted tho business OF tho meeting
which seemed to consist merely In listening TO tic
reading Of the directors report OF what had been
complisiei during the year and approving H. As
az this business was disposed OF the executive
was oalloted for, with tho result OF re-electing
unanimously the old directors and trustees Alter ad-
dressinga few words OF thanks TO the meeting Tor
the honor done him In re-ecctng him the
Presidency OF the institution, Mr Johnson introduced
the distinguished discovcrcr, General Ccsnca, who
was warmly received " the meeting. The General
gave snort OF tie Ending OF Tho Curum
treasure. He also took occasion 10 Introduce Mr..
Boxer, our late Minister to Constantinopc 10 whose
support and protection General Ccsnoia ascribcs his
success Ar. Boxer, n reply to request from
the Chair, made few remarks IN refer
cncc 10 discoveries In Cyprus, and while
praisns the tcnacy ami energy displayed by General
Cesnola took OCCASION refer to tho supposed dscov
cry OF Priam's treasure By Dr. Schemann in which he
evidently does not put much faith Indeed he did
hesitate TO express his opinion that tho treasure
belonged TO Pram. He stated that no had made scv-
cral requests Dr. Schcmann to be allowed to examine
some Of the gold objects OF the supposed PrIam
treasure, but for unexplained the request
was refused. General Ccsnoa informed tho meeting
that no had been authorized at ono time by DR..
Schleimann to offer Priams treasure tho Mctropol-
tan Art Museum for the OF ca, 900 pounds
hog, but this authorization was aiterward Withdrawn
THE ANNUAL REPORT.
The trustees have great satisfaction In reviewing tho
progress OF the institution during tho past year
AM sh0ull hpc
tona museum II has already entered on It's functions
with great and widely spreading naucncca The first
institution OF Its kind in America II was necessary
expect that Its progress would be slow ana that many
years would eapse before It could acquire that hold
the people which would lead them regard IL as un
important addition to tho educational systems Of tho
State and country. Tho trustees desire promi-
nent the educational importance of tho institution
History may be studied in books but tho Lessons OF
history can never be so well learned as when Illus
.trated by the works OF tho men and the ma
tons who made history All the reading which
young artisan might do In tho study OF
his trade, would not avail make him successful
workman In wood metal until he had studied ex
ampes OF the work ITSELF nor VIII be ordinarily pro-
gross IN any department OF work beyond tho most
simple uaranism until the study OF illustrations of
high ART IN hts radc has shown him that tho great
jec 10 be attained is tho union of the beautiful with
the uscul, and that u IS quite as easy and TAR
profitable TO make his work artistic. The collections
of the Museum OF Art therefore OF the utmost i'm
n
ucnce is already cll although they arc out fow The
earnest examination given TO Thorn on ircc days by
men OF the working classes is one OF the crafty.
Ing Indications OF their usefulness
A LIBERAL POLICY.
II is with great satisfaction that the trustees have
Witnessed as OF the marked influences o the Metro
politan Museum OF Art tho establishment other large
cities OF similar museums, whose local and spreading
educational power will have vast effect on commuui.
Ties and country Recognizing tho manifest desire of
the people to receive these Influences the have
approved plan to DO hereafter carried out OF lending
for in tiaa nrif frnu. thn
cabinets of the museum IN order that art education
may be diiiused among those Of tho people who have
not the ability or opportunity to visit the metropolis
BY this pan when feasible, the beneficial elects OF the
institution VIII be spread moro widely among people,
mics, arc eminenty lifted to appreciate aud be in
structcd by exhibitions OF the works Of art OF their TEL
low men In countries und times less favored
The centennial year was marked by special exhbi.
ton OF works o art, Tor the JOINT benefit OF tho Mu.
scum ana the National Acadmy oil Design, unucr tho
direction OF u committee OF gentlemen, who very
kindly took charge OF 1t.
THE cAsTELLANI COLLECTION.
After the close OF tho Centennial Exhibition at Phil
adephia the trustees made arrangement with sig.
nor Aessandro Cascllan OF Rome, 10 borrow bis col.
ec.ons OF ancient meda,val anu modern art for exn.
btion here. The arrangement included pledge on
the part Of tho trustees That they would cnicavor TO
raise funds Tor the purchase OF these collections This
loan has enabled our visitors to study the interesting
works OF Greek ond Greco Italian art which the
collection, and also to become acquainted tue &C.
ran.c work OF Italy IN the fifteenth and sxteenlh
ries very few examples OF which had before reached
America. The collection. rich IN specimens OF many
It's illustration oil the lusrcd mnJclca OF Gubbo The
number OF visitors 10 tins department OF the loan
lection has been large, and the trustees entertain tho
hope that an appreciation OF the importance OF these
rare specimens Will lead to liberal subscription
ward the purchase. Should this DO effected, the Nu-
scum VIII have reason to BIO quite content with its
illustrations OF this department OF ceramic ART. II IS
known to the members Of the Institution that after
bringing 10 this country tho collection OF Cypriotc
antiquities, purchased by the Museum IN 1915 and
assisting in It's temporary arrangement In tho pres
ent building, General dI Cesnoa returned TO Cyprus
m Anfi nj fnn tntn Sf.tAo .u,t.t.
and occupying himself with further explorations
In the island. General di Cesnola lost oil his
interest IN the Museum, and from time to time COM
municatcd to the the progress results OF
his work. In tho course Of 1914 he offered to the Mu-
scum hne collection OF gold objects and gems the
entire results IN that description OF his excava-
tons up 10 that time. These consisted OF finger and
earrings, bracelets and variety Of ornamcnicd Oh
JecIs, OF Phcnican ana early Greek workmanship,
GLIDING many articles OF very great beauty and ,mpor
lance, numbering altogether by catalogue 223 objects
The Museum being without FUNDS, the President ad-
vanccd the tor purchase OF this collection
and was forwarded TO America has received
during the past year aud tho cost repaid These Oh
Jccts are now arranged In the same room with the
Curium treasures.
BONANZA
Meantime General III CesnoH, continuing his
porations, made, at the site OF ancient Curium the
most interesting and important discovery OF ancient
arr treasures which has been effected In modern
On the site OF Temple in that ruined city ne led
by his excellent judgment and keen scent OF valuable
relics to sink n shaft some twenty feet below the
saic pavement Here he found vaultcd passage
winch Icd to q closed doorway on breaking through
which no entered tho treasure chambers OF the tenpl
Four vaucd rooms III succession contained sevcrally
objects IN gold, silver pottery and aiaDaster aud
bronze. The gold was mostly IN the form OF Jowcry
aud ornaments Of the person, the form OF which
has in all times cxcrted IFS highest abilities
The silver room presented even In the oxy z.d
dton which ancient silver assumes, treasures no less
importnnt ~ art WOW than the gold Wen preserved
objects oi ancient art In silver exceedingly rare
and II was therefore highly valuable contribution
the possessous oil modern times, when among masses
OF corrodcd silver General III Cesnola found some per-
feet cups and vases, small but very beautiful IN FORM
and low ornamcntcd with engraved god overland
the silver The bronze and pottery were VI oxtraor
binary interest In The latter were OBJECTS which
oil peculiar value, MS they 20 to Ill up the space
in ceramic history which lies between the Egytto.
Pnmncian work, 50 fully usratcd in our cole ctions
and the period ol the highest Greek arr Among tho
objccls bronze were large caarons, with orua-
mental handles vases Of great beauty mirrors weap-
OF various kinds tripods, tho bit IRON u biulc
the candelaDra OF tho temple, tue handle OF sccptrc
or oil a weapon set with onanes AID gems which
sninc out OF the green corros,on, anu many articles
OF domestic and religious use