Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-01
THE TELFAIR ACADEMY
ARRANGING FOR THE TEMPO
RARY OPENING,

! a Glimpse of the Interior, and Row the
! Work is PrOsressiDg-The Reception
| Announced for Feb. 12-The Work OF
Excavating fer the Annex Begun-The
/ Plan fthe New Building.
A glimpse of the interior OF the old Tel.
/ fair mansion, now the Telfair Academy
! of Arts and Sciences, reveals a museum
of art the extent of which few people in
| Savannah are aware. The institution is
now absolutely closed to visitors. the win
dows are curtained, and preparations are
being made for the temporary open
ing on Feb. 12-the anniversary of
the Georgia Historical Society-when
a public reception Will be given.
After that it viii again be closed, and
VIII not be roOpened until the completion
of the annex and the arrival of all the
purchases which We're made by the direc-
tor during his absence in Europe.
The temporary opening on Feb. y VIII
include a reception 10 the members Of the
Georgia Historical Society and citizens
who Will be admitted by card between 10
and o'clock. There Rill be nothing in
the nature OF a formal opening as the in
terror q the academy is vet iD an in
complete state. Many OF the pur-
chases have not vet arrived, and
/ arranged for exhibition. The extent Of
the collection is far beyond the capacity
Of the present building, and until the an
( mex is built manv Of the choicest works
of art viii remain packed as they arriy-
ed. some of the most famous pieces OF
statuary and casts are yet in the work
room, where they VIII remain for d lOng
time in the hands OF the director before
they Will be ready for exhibition. Some
E n q lssf, Lon as -,
be almost unacceptable. Thef part OF
the collection which has been arranged
will form an exceedingly Interesting eE-
hibtiOn.
The reception viii take the place of the
usual anniversary exercises OF tae His
/ tOrical Society, and Will show to the pub
lie the progress which has been made
since the remodeling Of the Old mansion
was begun nearly two years AGO. The
main hall of the bGilding as it now is.
with its beautiful walls, upon which are
displayed the free OF the Parthenon, the
beautiful marble stairway leading to the
upper galleries, and the famous pictures
hung around il, the eXcelleuthght, and the
harmonious details Of architecture, make
it an interesting place and almost a com
plete gallery Of itself. There is enough
in il for a year Of study. The north
room opening from the main nall, in
group Of the ParthenOn, is complete. eX-
cept few minor details. The arrange
ment in the room is superb, and cannot
fail to arouse the enthusiasm Of the dull
est visitor If there is in him the slightest
appreciation Of the beautiful in art. The
picture gallery on the second tlOOr. contain
ing the famous studies of the old mas
ters, and the beautiful specimens of
wood carving which the director SAYS be-
hp in
and among the finest in the world. The
gallery will also contain the famous col
lection Of Japanese art. 1t is impossible
to describe, or even TO refer in a limited
space, to the collection with which the
academy is now populated. The public
Will have an opportunity Feb. u to see
for itself what has been accomplished
through the muniticent bequest of the
founder Of the institution and the energy
of those who carried her plans into exc
cutiOn.
The work of eXcavating for the founda-
ton of the annex is now going on. The
old walls, which have surrounded the
garden for years, have been torn down
and removed, and the grounds are filled
with material for the new building. The
plans for the annex We're made by the IA
structure will be 60 feet square,
and viii be story higher than
the main building. 1t will contain the
cast room and the picture gallery. The
former will be 81 feet square and Is feet
in height. The latter will have The
same ground dimensions as the cast room,
but viii be 81 feet in height, forming
probably the finest gallery in this country.
The gallery will be Octag0nal, doing away
with the necessity Of hanging pictures in
the rectangular corners, always attended
with i'll effect, and making it possible
to hang four or more large
pictures than otherwise could be hung.
The light VIII be admitted through a
glass ceiling % feet square, and also
through skylght p feet square made Of
hammered plate glass. The floor of the
gallery viii lie supported by four iron
columns of Tuscan design. The ceiling
Will be self-SuppOrting, leaving the entire
room free from any obstruction. The
walls will be tinted the same as those Of
the Phidias room in the main build
ing. A fri re, consisting OF
the international Exposition at Mu-
Mich, viii extend around the entire gal
lery.
The cast room will be tinte the same
shade rs the picture gallery. When COM
pleted it viii contain the cast of tue IA
nous group. the TaurO Farnese, from the
museum Of Naples. which from its height
it is impossible to place IN the main build
ing.
The entrance to the annex Will be
through the main building, opening di-
rectlv from the landing at the top Of toe
first flight of stairs leading to the upper
galleries.
The building will be Of BRICK. The
exterior will be made to cores
pond with that of the present
buildings. 1t will probably be completed
in about a year, when the academy will be
thrown open to the public. By that time
all the purchases made by the director
will have arrived.