The New York herald., 1879-09-30
FINE ARTS.

FINE ARTS.
DE MORGAN COLLECTION OF rANAGRA FIGuRINEs
AND FRANKIsH RELICS FIRST ARrIcLE-THE
F1GuIINES
1t will be remembered that some months ago tnero
exhibition at Feuar dent Co.'s little col
lection of the famous clay hgurines of Tanagra-
twenty-three in all-which attracted great deal OF
attention. and finally were bought by Mr. Thomas
G. Appleton for $780, for presentation to
tho Boston Museum of Fine Arts This col
lection has been made the subject of an il.
Illustrated article. which will shortly appear In
ScriLne,'s Magasine There has now. within few
days. been received at the rooms of the samefirm
where they will be placed exhibition to-day-a
much more numerous and valuable series of the
hgurines which, with a large number OF coins.
pieces of jewelry. personal ornaments arms and
potteres. found i'll ancient Frankish cemetery in
Normandy. by Mr.. Henri dc Morgan, form the "De
Morgan Collection of Greek and Frank Antiquities"
This collection rs on exhibition. but announced by
placardS in the cases as mot for SALE" ~
The fgurines from Tanagra itself sixty-two In
number. and there from Egypt and Asia Minor
fourteen specimens. the whole thus illustrating tho
progress OF art from Egypt to Greece proper. Tho
Tanagra statuettes found the modern Boeo-
tan village of Skhmatari, in tombs extending for
gra road The locality that of the metropolis of
the large town of that name. where Cor
rina was born. where she carried off the
palm from Pindar in several famous lyric contests,
and which was the scene of battle between tho
Spartans and the Athenans in tho fifth century B. G.
In general the fgurines instead of the usual rep
reaentations Of deities found ancient tombs.
those it is supposed. of the friends and acquain-
tances of the dead. They in nearly all cos
TUNED according to the prevailing fashions OF
Tanagra in thetfth and fourth centuries b. G. In
addition to the examples of this class there are 9TH
character agreeing with the tastes of dead
sirens and bacchantes for the bon uiuants, types
of grace and beauty for the aesthetic
of childhood's pleasures for the young. as we'll as
souvenirs of the grosser passions. Figures Of
women are much more numerous than those of men.
The lattor are. in the major part, represented
hunters. for the Boeotans were famous sportsmen.
In the majority OF cases the hands Of the women
are entirely and the heads partly envcloped in their
draperies, rs usual account OF the hot sandy
character OF the country.
The bodies proper Of the hgurines were cast from
moulds. TO these added the heads pedestals
and accessories which were modelled to suit each
individual case. The bodies were then worked up
10 suit and tho whole figure was painted white, the
local colors of the flesh and different articles Of
dress being afterward added No Of tho
statuettes found, the contents of the
tombs having been completely exhausted. In
some cases us many as hundred were found
side. There now probably some four thousand
specimens IN existence. distributed principally
among the European museums and private collec-
tions. The Louvre possesses y collection OF some
two hundred, and as much us 7.0O0r. has been paid
for single example. During the discoveries the
entire peasant population Of the neighborhood left
their fields, and the ''Tanagra fever ragged IN tue
country. For four years agriculture was at stand
tunes for the prices reached on the ground in few
cases. high as 4O0Of. for single figure.
These statuettes repeope for us the little world Of
nttapf nf fhaiR pko od Sh9p-
acteristics is their Individuality They instinct
with life and action very sKtully worked for their
sizo and material, and nearly always extremely grace.
full. The feeling of body under the draperies. and
the1management OF these, are remarkable in many in
tion and an elegance OF tournuro which. the Athe.
ians the contrary, speak we'll OF the Tanagra
danes and demolselles. In the present collection
same moulds rs members of the first one which was
exhibited here. but the details different that
the figures distinct. Indeed repetitions not
in order, and each statuette Is distinct type
the various individuals forming community.
The women i'll the present collection may be divided
into the three classes OF everyday postures.
with fans and other accessories. statuesquo
poses and those OF semi-religious char
seated standing. chiefly with their hats on
and in easy positions There is great variety Of
Their costumes consist Of long tunic reaching to
the feet and a volumnous wrap often hooded on the
head and called o himation The men GENERALLY wear
u short tunic and fiat hat with q button on top
called petusos. Similar to the hat of the mon Is
prominent by the fact that in place Of the button
sharp como rises from the top. Tho fans lotus
leaves and arc decorated with painting and orna-
ments like the Japanese ones of to-day. In height
the statuettes vary from three to twelve inches.
The most remarkable Of the female figures. which
stands about i've inches hign. has noble and dlgni
fed pose, whose effect is enhanced by the fact that
the hat has been broken of. This handsome young
lnatron stands with feet apart and right knee
slightly bent. She has wrapped her himation
tightly around. hooded her head and thrown the
outer end over her left shoulder. From the folds
and the pose feel the energy Of the action that
past. One arm Is crossed over her waist. under
the outer fold of the garment it holds. while
the other is placed in semi-heroic manner on the
left hip. The face is of fine aud determined Greek
type and the head is inclined slightly. The folds Of
tho dress statuesque and the whole effect il
noble. Little trace is left Of the cooring. which 10
advantage. for the statuettes they stand to-day
must be much more pleasing artistically than they
when new and freshly colored. A
sample OF the ordinary pleasing type. some
traces of the coloring are here distinct. The
mantle which she has wrapped around her Of
light blue her dress and hat were pink and tho fan
brown. The height is and this inches
In contrast to this we have larger figure in much
the same pose. which Is, however. by no means Of
handsome type, but probably much more true
to the subject 1t is also much cruder in treatment
The face, which is handsome aud has the individu-
alty OF portrait. is turned to the left, aud tho
right hand holds the folds OF tho outer garment up
to the chest Height, nino and half inches.
graceful little woman, or the size of the hrst
described, has plated hair aud holds up the himar
ton before her in long folds Tho form of another.
who has o mirror i'll her left hand, IL exceedingly
we'll folt under tho outer wrap. which is strained
across her figure by the action of the right hand
resting under it on her hip. She stands by short
pillar wears no hatand has part Of her hair arranged
In roll. One young lady. with her undressod. short
hair tied behind holds apple close to her chest
Her hand IL bare, which is unusual
The mantle OF of the largest speci-
mems, about foot in height. IL SO folded
over the head as to suggest Omphae's leontno
headdress In her right hand, covered ~ usual sho
holds up hor fan as If for signal. This is. how
ever not fine specimen. There IL one young
man seated on cushioned chair. A plump little
coquet, whose lips retain their fresh rod tint. has
her hat tilted on the back Of her head in jaunty
manner. She holds ono hand behind her back, and
lays the other and bare one lightly on her heart.
She Is evidently gay young creature. The color.
ing on the face OF this specimen IL well preserved.
We turn from this to lady of moro serious mion.
whose face framed in her hood might answer for
early type OF the Madonna.