New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-25
THE CASTELLANI COLLECTION
,rrr1rp FROM ". C. PRIME.

70 tAsBdttor Of The Trto"ne'
SIR. The communication OF your correspon-
A., NJ CLARENCE Cook. published on the 18Th inst,
t,,. "a many msstatcments - fact calculated 10 IN
- ,, Netropolitan Museum or Art and many
-, a, Judgment wnlch may do harm 20 the general
- NJ art education that IL necessary to correct
them.
his attack on myself. charging me with dishonest
and dshonorahc motives in my course az trustee oil
the Museum must pass uHnotcet. This belongs 10 the
bsr sort OF ISLANDERS used by writer's OF the
lower ana sensational class IN irrtatcd moods because
they that motives not subjects OF proof ana
that no assevcration purity can reach the mlnd once
affected by the fslsrhood Mr. Cook viii recognize TINS
m due time. aud Withdraw himself In the proper way
a. n gentleman, from his unfortunate association.
The interests Of the Museum OF Art chiefly concern me
In asking space columns The true history ot ihe
efforts made 10 Keep the Casciaui collection OF naolca
IN America will he useful and may do good There are
two collections Of ancient objects the other OF mod
efn peteres. The Museum OF Ant secured tic loan OF
both and the owner "a part OF the bargain required
the Museum - endcayor 10 effect purchase OF them
lis price was 100000 Tor both. or 100000 for the pot
ferries
The poeres consist Of $40 pieces OF which some 500
ere good specimens. Of no extraordinary value Among
the rest are very pieces Of the highest chaiac
ter. As whole the collection IL fine and one when
would been grand acquisition u the Museum i'S
chief value Is specimens Of Guono IustreS III
which ~ IL remarkably rich. Perhaps 10 hncr coec'ioh
of these wares exists may bc pard1ned under the err
cmstances for saying that my appreciation 81 the col
lection. and my desire to secure IL prehaSe 10y th'
Museum. have been vh!c 90 th' fact That DUNG tn
,,oress Of the effort purchase have written and
,r shed inward OF twenty different article. the col
l.uou several with Illustrations Of specimens, prepared
under NV supervision and with considerable expense
t'uyself instance compensatory. Tn which steadily
ug,ed the public tac Importance or securing the col
lection for the Museum. In 's" efforts however was
ory stcoudug te aud syst mttc lahors Of ny
go. u o h4y 4 and
cu,r.y IN an attempt which failed al la,'
LABOR OF TEF TRUSTEES.
The public have tlc idea of ne amount OF labor de-
voted bv the trustccs the Museum Sis large tab
.huput requires al tue care OF great business
We nave money 10 nay soarics, ANA the trustees do
much o The work. on with their advice and brains
ba With their hands The studs of economy is con-
slant do not believe much WORK for public art edu-
eaton was ever accomplished on such small means
viii not pause 20 partcutYizc The borrowing oi art of
jos sud carrying them 10 and from the Museum he ar
rangcncut of ami their contents. the preparation
and alterations OF catalogues aud hnd Ols, Ga" ig'-
queu msctne~ the thauh'r-- business " asans pecu-
mary assistance. thc devices of forced economy. Bat
o.. proper tho public saogd know these fact. now. and
That tac uG, rs OF this Nus devote 90 aot only the
same cautions jalgu ~ hu o'.cn f'r successive weeks
and months a. much tuae as TO their several private
afus a dst ruishci sufcuan one OF tAc trustees,
ll- given hours das fur some weeks past o. per
SOMA supervision oi packing the Cas'cl'ui collections
checking ami verifying each separate ruc, dish or other
fpec menJ Constant watchfulnc-s exercised 90 guard
AGAINST improper expenditures foI at oh cts. Waen
such expenditure made being always compelled 70
ns tc means from generous mon and women. who havc
ioty sustained thru they sf'k 90 Doe very careful tina,
tlDh applications shall never Dc Tor extravaganza GA ys.
and n no manner 90 forfeit the confidence Of those wn"
iiri.t them most nbcyal with moneys Tor tAc paT-
to-.- % olt education.
-utieet moro freq 'ou'y requires their action Oan
,a,r. of art objects from European dealers Collections
md simple specimens desirable and worthless. are CON
stand, arrel on them t1nk am no liberty 90 say
Tat tn thr ercat maiony Of instances tho prices de-
u,ad.d arc plainly on tac theory tlat Americans have
D. snusl-dg. ~ art values money, ard csn Dee in
t.c.d o. pa. any amount asked by European dealers.
FrFoEts TO SECURE THE CoLLrCIioSs.
H. The t.s. 81 tic C1ff 'lli 90 lection. 'ha trustees
Ial nothing 90 do with ue Nlius OF 100000 ~ price
Yls was u,c owners affair and Is proper 20 say t'at
uie owner. himself gc.tc nan u taste aud education
m many Departments % art. g also Roman mcl cAtn'
aud dellrr n vo.i. % alt. .,us aui Jtwep aud bad
formed tbs collection. NOT for himself lu FOR tale IN
hs me Of hus.uf-s In treating witA um for uc }ur.
chase So dscr.dt to hin 90 o..imr hat Do Was
sctug O.. merchant bot private collector nor did
be- r. gard OF ropresnut himself iu auy other islt
W.cu c trust,c- commenced their ccort o. stcdcc tIe
Coeclossu was pIsiu to 'll Tint .hcv could not hope
g. bus 3D. a1d % reed tuat tac italian Yoieie.
were tac more important of tie two !or th Museum. j.
was also manifest that Che pr cs asked Cor these va.
enormously li1n go high that Il taken for granted
iHc owner expected % accept much lower sum Tie
~ to De- made Therefore. O. rai.' such -n ~
tar collection v.s fry worth and ohcr l c" the o'Ht!
We al fccogflz the dhi, my oI iai-h~ vague SIN
o money. bot We co0pcrae4 hearth DO TIE 't'.t, l
Loving taat a. 30 PROGRESSED the ovu.r would b, u-
dIe.d uue reasonable price a. wAch Te could close
tlf Subscriptions.
thofousI and systematic attempt = fais. money
vas never made. A gentleman ~ great ability per
FRIEND OBJ. TIE hearty adnifer- aud scholar
iu tus department Of art au abe writer ON tbs "id OTHER
salary to devote himself 10 rai-ne mo fund He wos
backed ~ the personal work Of the trr7,'es "h" ap'd
o. cv,5 knowA fIienl oi az. ana % e,3 P4i-'a
large critics. aud plan adopted 20 ntuce 7ct -nlsc -
toas hy promising ia tir iat'e n"ial lgNs %! I"i-
OBS % our collections for exhibition il sUch localities.
lie a.d OF The press invoked ana cordially sven,
a. ID llw,,ys has been given 20 the museum. A. / am
carscG with heilg an obstacle to thee .fors may
l.lr snow The folly of such charge hY stating dt aitcr
nis. he cGort With evcrr power of my pen aud er-
uonfl@. daring WAicf never heard - uie tulrci.
Ca y return earned The cnoIt had failed OF suc
remained tnat the owner would give us fenntc price
fot Which o. resume work lie declined 20 thate his
original demand. bui tAilk ny cu-iIuttces abandoned
hope 90 did 'cw v''.s a-o, wheh private letter
froa hn communicated 90 Us satuE, IN substance.
Tell thr tTa.'s-s go false eli the money they and
let ne Know, and VII SEQ what ! can 10
Il did possible for Trustees ~ al art museum
10 ASA money ior such an nd@fI.e rWpo+e. Hud tie
effort was substantially given ul. Leaning tht very
ecnerou, laay "h9se maine have uo prfIi s-' to i-
-h hug witch creht 10 o. made sroHIl adf,r.--ed
note % the trustees oneung $4,000 to~ard the fui-
Cf' U i-' cocti OF iue lotci!t' a'nr IAi. iI-
expected oH.s, coming wholly unsolicited rom lriY
ut even Known 20 th uIs,eee former patron CO..
donor tie uias@uni, wa n' suffer- TO rot u'ei
on Ihr tie u4.sd lg 90" owner ior 's sIlriGrf i1
.l.' NJ , 20. =, ~, .,-'-.s h. 'r-.,, h., 3, 10y = -
o. ust uu4 aic lovers - af; mere ga Nrioia. ur o.
,froffls lady 10 wa- in vain. took pas, l tl-
iuai effort confess vcfy fr'nklf ihlt iAf ""H'r.a
villa Lu had dislusteI uc. Ine effort mi-hi possibly
hay' ~ao.eeaed % tne -4'e0o ugL~ Hr' N"H i'' 'e''
tlTust htf0iv ihc puH..c or Monday la+-
IHr PRICE ASKED TAR TOO iTCu.
Wa Iufv ~ ffe TRUSTEES % raise