National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-06
cYPRroTE sTATuARY.


a very approciniive and highly cultivated audi
once assembled on the evening Of April %, ut the
rooms tho Ladies' Art Association, No. "a West
Fourteenth street, New York city, to hear lee
turo BY A. Duncan Savage, late assistant director
and Archaeological Of The Metropolitan Museum Of
Art, upon the sculpture Of the Cesnola Colloc-
ton" After an interesting explanation Of tho
subject, the lecturer referred to the authenticity
Of the collection, which has been the ground for
so much controversy
"I SHOULD NOT" SAID uE,
pronounce n positive opinion on any piece OF
sculpture in the collection without examining II
myself carefully. At present. therefore, can
only express my belief MS to what would probably
turn out TO be true were an examination sot oil
foot. Had Mr. FonNrdent mud his friends con.
fined themselves TO their original thesis-thGt
restoratlons exist-ihcy would have done good SER
Vice TO truth and to archaeology for there are
many rcstorations; these are serious, were con-
cealed, have been denied, and the party Of the
plaintiff were denounced for SAYING 50. but do
not believe their second thcsls-thGt all or nearly
all tho impurlant statues nre unauthcntic COM
positions That was improbable in edvance OF
forward shows this evidence TO he weak and fool.
ish. As for Mr. Clarence Cooks latest extTuva-
sance-that The Temple OF Goigoi is n fable-ILav
not time 10 show here that
ITS EXISTENCE RESTS on
the testimony of others besides It's discoverer. AS
to particular pieces Of sculpture my belief Is that
M examination would show that Of Nos. 32aud 80
cent toe feet, nnd that Of nos % ANA isj, two OF
The most important pieces IN the collection, the
colossal head SO 1s3 Is genuine; sonlso the large
figure No. ~, with some small exceptions. Here and
there wrong head may have been put on. but so
far do not know Of amy body Of statue which is
made up of unrelated fragments In fine not
withstanding the many and bad restorations which
believe TO exist, the collection is still Of great
value TO atchnology but 50 long as rcsiorations
remain undetermined this value IS In suspense.
IL the owners OF the collection wish TO make this
value available they should, In the first place,
cause formal
EXAMINATION TO DE MADE;
this examination secondly, should take up nll the
charges and not be limited TO Nos. - and SO, on
which the party Of the plaintiff have been trippcd d
up; thirdly, the board of examiners should be
composed of both sides equally. After what
have seen of tho unscrupnlous charges of the one
side and tho unscfupulOus dcniuls Of tho other, l.,
for one, should receive win disttus the decision
of on examining board composed exclusively of
one Side" Tholccure throughout proved u feast
Of valuable information, cvincing much of deep
thought and patient research, and could have
been listened to with profit alike 10y the sage and
the youthful inquirer for knowledge and truth.
Very sruphic aud graceful designs we're suggested
rs appropriate for concentrating current events,
should our potentotes OF the present day become
awakened to a sense
OF TIE IMPORTANCE
and imbued with the love for sculpture which
characterized the nncicnts.
The Ladies' Art Association Is the oldest insttu-
tion Of women artists in this country, and is doing
noble work for the advancement of art industry
and for the practical benefit Of earnest art students
bringing within their reach the superior advnn-
tnges which hnve in many instances been access
sible only 10 the sons and daughters of fortune.
MY aim" snid the teacher of the children's
class, "is not to exclusively educate artists, but
artisans, workers in the halls Of Time to make
better men and women, broader thinkers, more
useful aud perfect lives" Could one render a
greater service 10 postcriiy than to have
Made the world within her reach
Somewhat the better for her living
And brighter for her human speech?
Great credit is due TO Miss Alice Donlcvy chair.
man of committee upon the evening of the above
mentioned lecture, TO whose indeiatigable zeal and
energy might be attributed the admirable arrange
ment aud genuine pleasure Of the occasion.
At recent annual election of officers for tho
Ladies' Art Association Mrs t.. ]. Sterling was
unanimously elected president for the ensuing
year. Among the vice presidents is Mrs. Jessie
Curtis Shepherd, who will need no Introduction to
an American public, as her sweet pictures of in
fAntile faces have place III the hearts of every
household.-M. r. n, for The Republican.