New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-16
FOR THE LOVERS OF ART.
RARE TREASURES ON EXHIBITION.
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM TO BE kEofENID
.pvrrR EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS.

rur METROPOLITAN MUSEUM TO BE REoPENEI
AFTER EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS
ON Tuesday the Metropolitan Museum OF Art VIII
be OPENED TO its members and invited guess' anu
The new annex will be dedicated Inc Press 'io"
will be given TO morrow and on Wednesday 'ne COL
Iections will be open to the public Inc display Vi
exhibits will be the most complete the Museum mas
ever nresented In paintings the important new
feature will be the loan collection Of old and modern
masters The two Rembrandts OF Henry w. haNo
MEYER which he recently purchased nave poon
already noticed in The Tribune Inc iarse anu
valuable collection of Henry g. Marouand has also
been placed for a period al the disposal OF the
Trustees Access 10 the Museum during the last 10"
xveeks has been vigorously denied by the director 10
any bnt the trustees and attendants. The press
view was intended TO be extended for several Gays
before the formal opening, but owing TO the dincuty
In Getting everything ready, this arrangement could
not be made.
In "Tbe Commercial Advertiser of last evening"
with the editorial management of which Mr. Mafquand
&c closely connected fun and careful account was
given of Mr. Marquands collection and of the other
important exhibits which VIII distinguish the coming
display In the Museum These collections have been
hung in the east pavilion the second floor OF the
old building. Among the Marqusnd paintings aae
several of the masterpieces of the world OF these
are the Van Dyck portraits Of the Dukes of Richmond
and Lsnnox Rembrandts portrait of a man with
black hat two landscapes by Constable, Turner's
Satas" and VelaSqucz's portrait OF the young Don
Baliazsr. Among the other pieces OF the famous
private collection are the Van Leydens, an early
picture Of Rubens and examples of the best painters
OF Italy, spain, Holland and England.
RARE LOT OF CUT GEMS
The collection of cut gems which has been gathered
y Maxwell sommerville. of Philadelphia, will be
,een for the first time in New-York. II will have
place in the gold room on the second floor OF the
new building. This collection is valued at 100000
IL includes about 500 pieces which Mr.. sommervile
has himself arranged in for display and study
They have been well known 10 the great museums OF
Europe for years and each piece has a history OF
It's own.
The main entrance 10 the Museum which is not
YET finished, Will be from the south and through the
new building Here the visitor nrst enters a large
hallway running east and west, which is given up to
antique sculpture. From this wide central aisle
leads to the main hall of the former building and two
large Railways unite with those of the old structure
That on the is occupied by the Museums new
Egyptian collection of antiquities and the Cyprioe
terra GOTTA In the main hall the architectural
reproductions provided for by the Willard Fund OF
So OOO ami the marbles bronzeS and sculpture of
exhibits. The west hall is given 10 smaller
and statuary.
ON the second floor the rooms are smaller, and as
far as possible they form continuation of the gal
lcres the plan those OF the old building.
On this floor all the paintings Those given tho
Museum by Miss Catherine Wolfe have gallery TO
themselves The first In the west side OF the new bu Id
in. North Of them, room Is devoted TO memorials
of Washington, Franklin and Laay etc, and the gen
eral coec ton of modern paintings nils the galleries
az w and ", To The west and north OF The Old
struct on the cast side the Maryland and
Havemeyer collections, and other old mas ers. and The
remaining galleries the east and south are devoted
10 Oriental porcelains, etc
WHAT THE GOLD ROOM HOLDS
The gold adjoins the office of the Museum
and contains the gems and other small and valuable
exhibits. The Vanderbilt and Thompson collections
ranged along the side walls in frames. and the
Richards water-cOlOrs have acove 10 themselves
on the second floor The Thompson collection was |
presented the Museum by the widow of Cephas b. |
Thompson the artist, and contains many drawings IN
inn AID pencil In the centre of the west hall. on
the frst floor, the 9ceS of Mrs John Jacob Asor
those % Ms. Robert L. Stuart and Others which have
been given TO the Museum. They have been placed |
with tne Creates care. and BY sklful worker, In |
frames which swing from central stand and their |
texture aud patterns be followed easily through
the glass which covers them.
L. the hall is fine collection Of musical in |
struments, the gift of Joseph ". Drexel which con.
tsns OF the early forms OF the Tyre the guitar and
the mandolin. The Babylorian cylinders OF Dr. |
Wards collection and the exhibits of early American
the coec ions of L. Bradford Prince and T.. H.
Iambom form special features of interest In the dis
play which Will be open 10 the public this week