New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-14
THE ART MUSEUMS GROWTH.
EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT.

INCREASING STEADILY IN SIZE, WEALTH, PoPC-
IARITY AND USEFULNESS.
The trustees of the Metrop ,lltan museum OF Art
at their annual meeting yesterday lsteneu 10 the
repor for the year OF the lnsti ution III
proved one of the most gratifying that has been
made since the museum was established Among
tho additions 70 the collection during the year
were the Rosa Bonheur " Horse Fair" presented by
Cornelius Vanderbilt; the Msissonier, 1897" from
.Judcc Hilton aud the collection of Miss Catherine
Lorllarl Wolfe The increase in the value of tho
property during the year aggregates 1851 ,oOS
making the entire property OF the institution worth
now ST. 1893 SAB. not including leg icies which have
been made but not vet received, and which would
swell the amount TO more than SO. 100000.
The properly of the museum in December. 1879,
ut the time it took possession of the building IN
Central Park. was estimated at S361.332 This had
accnmn In ed during the nine years In which the
institution had been struggling for an existence.
There was then an indebtelne 8 OF So 600. when
has since been paid From 1871 TO leS me ne, nun,
her of visitors to the museum was 3o3.42l ana
since then 2 lS2 500, and 266,57l catalogues have
been sold.
MANY GIFTS OF LESSER DEGREE
The number of annual members has increased
from 357 iii IS 80 to 1,4S2 in 1883. Since January
/ the museum has received gifts no, men tioned in
the report amounting 10 nearly Sl0O.OoO IN value,
and the trustees of the museum have contributed
S47I coo In reference to the grow - OF the insti-
tuition the IepOr SAYS:
"Che underlying cause of this constant and un-
VARYING progress IN c Oh year mas been tle unliy
of purpose and of cOunselS III he membership: 'he
unanimous adherence to the objects and principles
with winch began our work, tue uu restrained
generosity with which contr buttons nave been
made to it's purposes. and the abiding faltn Whch
has prevailed among ms III the future OF the mu-
scum. Our present condition. orr large possessions
in art illustration. our ability TO instruct Tue pso
Io1 M =
these are the results of the united abolS OF com
pa 'tively few ladies and gentlemen, who have at
no time since beginning their wok, ceased III their
unseifsh devotion to the institution
''lhe financial report shows LARGE increase OF
property during the past year. CORRESPONDENCE IN
crease in expenditure. and such an increase III III
come that we have reached the end of another year
without debt and with small balance IN tue
treasury 1t appears also from the report That ohr
income during the year mas so far exceeded actual
running expenses that we have been able 10 mdho
some small purchases of important objects:
"A very simple analyst sOt the hnanclai statement
will show our present resources Inc utmost
economy has been practSied a. In former wears.
he actual expenses OF Keeping me museum eA-
hbiiions open TO the nnlc aho 'aAES ~ VI no
propcrty. have been $i2.G2O 80. Oh inns sum
S15.035 90 has been received from the CITY, IN cou
sideratiun of YOUR free admission of TIE rubc -FOUR
DAYS IN ca IN week The remainder. SZ|oS4 ~,
has been expended by you out OF your own Iullus'
80 long as the interest which members nave DIS
PLAYED IN the museum shall continue tue large
portion IF our income which they contribute may
be relied on. The expenses, however, must neces.
the institution demands provision for thi~ neViia,
BILE increase Tie extension OF the buHdlng VIII
make necessary an i'm mediate and very large al
dltion TO current EXPENSES, which must be PROVIDED
for.
MORE TREASURE THAN CAN BE DISPLAYED.
"The great accumulation of valuable objects
now IN our store-rooms. which we have no place TO
exhibit. urges on us the necessity of largely In
creased galleries. The Egyptian collection, OF
which mention was made in former report, mas
continued TO arrive in several cOnslgnments Inc
casts of wor Ks III sculpture, he properly OF various
museums are ste ldIly reaching us III GiF'SioHS'
have been placed III order q" rapidly as feceFeu'
and have been covered and stored IN the basement,
which has been converted into large stoTe-roohl'
The Willard bequest, for the pure ase Of archltect-
urai illustrations remains uneXpended. except so
far "a the New York Chapter o. toe American lhsi-
tuic of Architects has been iurllslrd WIN Iuhus
needed fOr preliminary examination ~ Europe. ~
IL expectcd that casts Will Oegiu TO arrive IN arcn
The new building extension or the presepC
building is proceeding under tie direction OF the
Department of Parks. and 1t is PED VIII Dc COM
oleted IN tie course of the next summer
There was full tendance o. trustees at inc
meeting Yesterday. Richard NJ Hunt, +. W. hume
lander and Hiram Hitchcock were reelected as
trustees. john IaylOr Johnston was re-elSeleu
president, William &. Prime and oah'ci NUM-
vlce-pie,ldents, Henry q. Marquand treasurer
ana L. T. dl CeSlOla secretary.