New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-08
GIFTS FOR THE ART MUSEUM.
A VALUABLE COLLECTION FROM IrALYs
FREDERICK r. COUDERT MAKES THE PRESENTATION

FREDERICK r. COUDERT MAKES THE PRESENTATION
MANY OTHER PRESENTS.
The year 1882 is one that will be long remems
Dercd in the Metropolitan Museum Of Art. II
addition to the gifts which il received from Cor.
nelius Vanderbilt and Miss Catherine L. Wolfe
and ex-Judge Hilton, another generous gift Wa
made to the Museum the last week in December
by Frederick X. Coudcrt. This was q selection
from the paintings, objects of art and brc-a-bnaA
OF the collection Of Madame DOliren, o wealthy
Florcntne lady, who Is client Of Mr.. Coudsrt'a
In letter to the trustees Of the museum, Mr.
Coudert stated that the lady, for whom his firm
had done some SERVICE expressed Q wish Of ex-
tending the firm some recognition Of this service
and had presented this collection. IL included
several hundred curious and valuable works Of
art that have accumulated in the family during
several centuries. Many of them are exceedingly
rare and of great value. The family IL one Of the
oldest Florentine families, and near relative
Of the lady was one Of the Italian cardinals AZ
various times the members OF the family have
held high T'laccs IN the Church Among othes
articles in the collection were number OF 10.
ligious relics that have been in the possession Of
Cardinal Olivera, and Of these some were relics
of st. Peter. These relics have all been pre-
scnted by sir. CoMdert to Archbishop Corrigan-
Inc other articles Of the collection hc tnoughe
would DC best preserved and would be bet .ei srcn
by the public In the Museum OF Art. The COM
mittee Of the trustees who receive such giitA
have examined and accepted them, ana tney ars
expected TO be taken TO the Museum tins week.
They will be placed under the care Of Irocssos
Han and will be prepared for exhibition at an
early date. General iii Cesnola said yesterday
that he had seen the collection, and he rcsarGod
it as one Of unusual interest and value To tho
Museum. The tapestries are OF Spanish aud
ltalian and are particularly fine and beautiful
There is q large and rare selection OF Limoges
enamels and Of the curIOusly Orilamcntcd and
carved fans Of the last two or three centuries.
The needle work is nearly all framed and i'll
cludcs many tine rcpresentati Cns.
These articles are all Of great interest," said
General di Ccsnoa. and could only have como
to the Museum through LUCKY chance, and tho
consideration of the hlessrs. Coudert. i cannot
say when they Will be ready or when they can
know. Is crowded and the present exhibits
are Of character that they can hardly be placod
aside for others. IL was hoped by the trustees
that the new portion OF the Museum would be-
ready for use by the time of opening the Spring
Exhibition, but the work has been so delayed that
there is uItle prospect Of IL Eow.'
The museum collections are now SO large ana
widely known that they are attracting attention
everywhere. New gifts are being Offered continu.
lilly, one of the trustees sad and the great dini-
Guilty is to accept only what is OF real value for
and TS make f@ sns dsys ,wa
etchings have been accepted from George Gordon
King, Of this city. Miss Arabea Aiken OF Chap
)aqua, has presented to the museum a complete
collection of American coins and medals, aud il
aow possesses more than 1000 ancient aud modern
medals and coins which must be catalogued aod
placed on exhibit when there is room. loan
exhibit OF miniatures and ancient snuff boxes has
just been pla ed in the south gallery. 1t includes
about forty pieces and has been loaned to the mG-
scum by Miss Sarah Lazarus Professor Hall says
that there is probably no other collection so rare
and unique this to be found out OF Europe. Tho
work on manyo the mi mturcs are by well-kno~n
artists and the articles all have great historic