Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-26
THE TELFAIR ACADEMY.
WHAT Is BEING DONE IN THE
OLD MANSION.

WHAT Is BEING DONE IN THE
OLD MANSION.
The Director in Charge of the Work
Placing the Frieze of the Parthenon
in the Main HalI-The Departments
of the Academy-The school Of Art
The Necessity for an Annex-When
the Institution VIII be Opened.
The MORNING News has from time TO
time noted the progress Of the work upon
the Telfair Academy Of Arts and Sciences.
since the arrival Of the Director, Mr..
Brandt. the work. which was suspended
by the architect, has been resumed under
his direction. The large collection q
pictures and casts which Mr.. Brandt pur-
chased during his visit 70 Europe are
stored in boxes awaiting the completion
Of the building. with the exception of the
casts Of the famous frieze Of the Par
tbppou- which are now being
arranged 10 form the frieZe IN
rba main hall This collection comprises
81 slabs Sd Of which were taken from the
west f-ieza q the Parthenon and p from
The north frieZe.the latter including the IA
nous Riders. and was made from the Orlgg-
nal marbles in the British museum The
frieEe tn the main hal VIII De composed
~ the first part Il the collection. Zach
of the slabs. weighing nearly so pounds.
j. taken from the ease in which IL was
brought from the museum and lowered
into lar-e trough. where IL Is soaked. II
IS afterwards placed in q sort Of crib and
lifted hv tackling 70 the ceiling and swung
into position. the bottom II the slab rest
iuC upon a heavy cornice secured 70 the
wall. several feet below the ceiling. by
strong spikes. Il is then slowly
settled against the wall until
10 rests firmly in an upright position. 4
small hole i drilled through the back
ground. and a funnel Is inserted through
which i poured plaster Of Paris, ce-
meutiu- The slab 10 the wall so that it can
CuIy De- removed by tearing away the cor
nice and saving out the cement. An
other slab i then lifted and placed by the
side 90 the first. the hole made Tor the fun
mel and IRE Joint between the two slabs
being carefully filed with plaster. 50 that
the frieEe when erected has the appear
auce ola continuous slab with the groups
aud figures following one after another in
the order in which they were in the Far
thenou.
The north frieze. comprising the IA
nous Riders and which Is the more in
terestin- % the two. will be placed in the
sculpture hau, arranged in the walls some
distance below the ceiling and above the
lrcplaces. where il can be more readily
studied. This frleZe. together with the
uldimeuta Of the Parthenon arranged
upon pedestals. and several torsos, will
populate the sculpture nall.
Themain hall in which the frieZe is being
erected Is filled with scatfOlding reared
above the heavy cases of casts, and very
little idea can be had Of its beauty until
this Is removed and the original color OF
the frieze Is restored and the tint placed
upon the walls. To accomplish this diff.
cult aud delicate work will require LONG
time. II was hoped that il might be com
pletad SO that the Academy could
be opened in the fall. This. however, Mr.
Brandt states Will be an impOssibilty
and that il cannot. under any circum
+ stances. be finished before the first Of Ian.
uarv. The completion Of the building j:
E first 70 be accomplished. and after this thg
E placing Of the statuary and the paint
iuEs VIII itself occupy considerable time
T the arran cement Of the pedimenta in the
sculpture hall being a most difficult task
4 In conversation with Mr.. Brandt con
{ corning the work upon the Academy, he
said; 1T is a slow task. and one thai
E must be done with the greatest care"
-'In the arrangement Of the VariOu:
rooms Of the building. how will they be
I desi-nated:"
Upon the first floor the room upon the
north side Of the building will be tbs
sculpture hall. That upon the south
+ side VIII be devoted TO the collection be
queatned 10 the Academy by Miss Tel
I fair. comprising some works OF more OF
less historic interest and value.
The four rooms upon the second iOOl
Z VIII be devoted % the purposes ola library
I school room, studio, and the Director
room. That upon the north OF the man
hall and fronting the square viii contain
the libraTy.tbe nucleus of which will be tins
works left by Miss Telfair TO be enlarged
by the addition OF library Of works upon
art. The adj0inin. room upon the same
side Of the hall viii be the school room.
The object OF the institution is not alone
10 furnish q gallery Of statuary and paint
lncs for casual inspection and study, but K
furnish instruction to those who practice
the decorative and mechanical arts. With
this object in view the Director has SC
FAR a. possible endeaVOred TO embrace
In the collection works which Will
carry practical ideas 10 those who
viii avail themselves OF the school. which
VIII be established as soon as practicable
This school VIII include classes in al
varieties OF art-in drawing from the an.
tiqUe and in time from life, in painting
and modelling. and in matters relating
% decorative art, so that the
( advantages obtained in the most
advanced schools and colleges will ID
/ brought 10 the homes of the people. 4
( competent corps OF instructors viii be in
charge Of the various departments as soon
/ a- the school Is fairly established and the
I school room Is arranged for this purpose
The east room upon the south side Of
+ the hall vii be occupied by the Director
and the west room adjoining it as a stu
7 do
The building as it now is Will not con
I tain the collection purchased by Mr.
Brandt. aud the construction OF al
/ annex is necessitated. The plan undel
7 consideration includes an addition sixty
/ feet square and two stories in height. the
lower floor to be devoted 10 the collection
I Of casts from the antique, and also to con
/ tain the celebrated group. the Farnese Ball
I one Of the largest antique groups in eX-
{ istence. and which was made directly
/ from the original in the National Museum
AZ Naples. This group. owing Il
+ its size. cannot be placed in the
I main building. The second floor OF the
I annex viii contain the collection Of paint
ings which the Academy may from time
{ 20 time acquire. with the famous tapestry
paintings which Mr.. Brandt purchased
from the Munich exhibition. This pur
T chase includes series Of paintings con
shutting a frieze 10 feet IN height
and 200 feet long. Ii will be impos-
sible. under any circumstances, to place il
I in the main building, and in consequence
/ IL will not be exhibited until the annex il
completed. when it will be hung as .
4 frieze in the picture gallery.
The tinting of the walls viii be done
T wholly by Mr.. Brandt, an evi.
dence Of whose superior taste is
/ seen in tue New York Academy Of De
I sign. The object Of this delicate work is
I 70 form a background upon which the
Z pictures and objects Of art will be exhibit.
I ed 70 the best advantage, attracting the
I attention wholly to them with the least
( possible perception of the background
/ upon which they are shown.
This work in the main hall and in the
painting galleries and sculpture hall will
require the exercise Of great care and
| judgment, and Will be done slowly, sc
I that the best effects viii be obtained.
In the meanwhile parts Of the c0llec-
/ ton which Mr.. Brandt purchased abroad
Z are continually arriving and are held te
await their place when the Academy Is
/ opened.
BUSINESS FAILURES.
I Bradstreet's Budget of Trade Embar-