New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-26
W. z. WALTERgS CHECK.
1T WAS Nor RECEIVED BY MIR. MARoUAND
STORY SEVERAL YEARS oLD-sn FREDERICK
LEIGHToNs LETTER.

A STORY SEVERAL YEARS oLD-sIR FREDERICK
LEIGHToN's LETTER
statement was published yesterday to the effect
that Henry G. Marquand, president Of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art had received and returned check for
$40 ,0OO which had been presented to him 10 defray
the expenses Of opening the Museum on SUNDAY Tor
five years. Mr.. MarQuand denied any kno"leuge OF
such Gift yesterday. General di Cesnoia, secretary
OF the Board of Trustees said that no such oer had
been made to the museum sihoo Hi' -1 1
become president
An offer to make snch gift, General oil Cesnola
exn,a,ned. was generously proposed by ". l. wal
ters OF Baltimore, six or eight years ago, Mr. val
ters had heard at the time that 1t would cost ABOUT
30 600 a year to keep the Museum open on sunday
and he voluntarily offered to make TINS oon''pu','n
T,,s ,rustees at the time when Sunday opening had
". naon N be talked about, did not see their way
clear toward opening 'ho museum
ueo' Tay,or Johnston was then PRESIDENT added
Al Cesnola but the act of the trustees IN
aooI,ninr this gift in no way rehec'ea vi nm. @"y
80 .ban It did on Mr. Marquand. Inc quesuon VI
cnaov opening is still under discussion Inc ru'o'
go some TO consent to opening the museum on TWO
vseh and they may in time agree to sunday
,-s 80 ,eu9 AS matter Of fact. the cost OF open
,nc ,ho museum on Sunday at present woulo DC a'
49,. s1b 600 probably more. The trustees vi 'ne
,S,r, of Natural History estimated that III "oai"
oost tbsm 100000 and our museum would cost inoro
go theirs At the time Mr.. Walters msde inc ohoi
II wouId have cost not $4,000 year. but not ioSS
| than $1,000 .s.., hr General di
Gle from Sir Frederick Leighton, president OF the
povaI Academy in London. He had expected TO ViSt
49,. Troited states this winter and TO DO present az
,hs onenlng of the museum in December. HIS iet'er
a. a. reference to Mr. Marquand's recent gift OF his
| S.,ntncs 70 the museum. yandyke's Duke OF Rich
1 ,afovs WINS mn r..
.,o.1n.nd two years ago in London for 100000, to
,h regret of English artists. who hoped to keep The
| nointine in England. The letter is as follows
pSiA""e London, Feb 10, 1889.
Q Holland Park Road Kensington. w.
near General di Cesnola:
oeai Nth cordial interest and with unfeigned adj
~ the munifeent gift Of my friend MI MarQuand
- ,ha museum Of which you are the able and energeuo
d,ae,or He has not only set noble example, anu ohe
h,ch cannot fail TO bear fruit In your country "hefe
o initiative is fruitful but bestowed upon your CITY
nossession Of rare Importance. If may judge II as
hoa from such the pictures IS are known 70 e per
sonaIv 1t is not-shan cofess itf-withoue pAS
,hat think OF such work as Vandyke's DuKe Oh hIch
| onds.one OF the very choicest works OF MS hSho-
leaving the land in which It was painted ou' you,
norntryman has shamed Government, which reuseo
- the trustees OF our National Gallery the money "ne
Win to buy It. Meanwhile, II 1t was 70 DO shaecAeu
from u.s. It could not have been carried away "
hands. ~. a.. San
have been so good as to send me- the names OF yno.
Of Gansborough OF Constable Of Turner, ana Oh olu
Cromen fear cousins across ehe WaVel raw
Nm h,tberto little apt 10 appraise too lightly the ART
=, men OF their own blood. And rejoice that lhese
works by erea. masters Of English painting should DC
naced permanently before the eyes Of your eounuymen
works Of which date back almost to the Gays
we were one nation and all Of which bear strongly ''
mark OF the old home.
You WILL am sure, think it natural that should Gwen
with satisfaction this aspect OF the splenad uehanO
q, nv friend Mr.. Marauand 70 whom pray remember m'
very kindly. Believe me- yours very uuly, u..u0,.
w. FRED. LEIGHTON.