New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-15
CASTS FOR THE ART MUSEUM.
PREPARING A COLLECTION IN EUROPE.
MR.. RoBINsoN's WORK IN DRESDEN, BERIAN


The special committee Of the Metropolitan Museum
OF Az TO enlarge its collection OF casts held an un-
usually important meeting at the home Of Henry o.
Marquand on Friday evening" 10 listen TO the report
of Onward Robinson, Of the Boston Museum ns Pui
chasing agent in Europe. Soon after the success vi
the plan for the enlargement of the collection Oh casts
had been assured by the subscription of large per
cenage af the estimated expenses, Mr. Robinson was
asked TO 60 to Europe aud make the necessary az,
rangemen.s with the various museums Oh f'hsa"u .i
the Continent. lie left this country In June anu ""
spent five months In London Berlin, Dresden foreh0'
Milan and other arfccntres of the Old World nc "a
we'll received everywhere and found the most mater
ing interest manifested by scholars aoroaa III ''o
comr,endable and colossal undertaking OF tne Meuo
potan Museum Tentative lists of the desirable cas's,
prepared last spring, had been sent 10 inc p 'in'i
museums Of Europe that the directors a"u '.
ALREADY had clear idea of the plans oil tie coh''oe
when Mr.. Robinson arrived. al, -
looking 20 New York TO produce the ideal museum Oh
reproductonsp The officers OF the museums pron'scu
every aid in their power. "Tell your commune. nm
mes said Professor Ernst Curtus the sea. Do,i'
scholar that In undertaking work ike inns "'e'
are making their collection OF the greatest boheht 10
science and shall gladly do all in my power 10 hcp
,horo y Others foretold that the day wouid come
uhon Furopeans would visit Ncw-fork as thcs no"
visit Rome and Athens.
Although the full catalogue contains hunoreas
and hundreds of pieces, an idea Oh 'ne pio
rosed collection can be obtained from the
following abridged list OF the mosV ihPoi"'"' '''
prepared by Mr.. Robinson
Persisn-It is hoped TO secure a selection OF Tue
famous Frieze Of the Archers from susa' now III 'o
Louvre colored in exact imitation OF the ongi"i'.
Greek-Au the statues from the Temple OF Aeglna'
the compicte pcdiment groups from me lemp's vi
Zeus at Olympia: all the sculptures OF the
n new model of Acropois of Athens representa-
.,s se,ec,ion OF the beautiful Attic grave monuments
nil the reliefs from THE great altar at fers''noh VI
which casts have been made; large coi'couon Vi
casts from small bronzes and othe" hGurines III 'ru
museums The marbles discovered Wy 'no NA
School Of Athens at lkarla -.
roman, number OF important reliefs ETC.. OF
which casts have never vet been made, and an us'1
i've series of Roman sarcophasi decorated Win reei'
of NEUROLOGICAL subjects
The Herculancan bronzes. -,
Medaova-A full collection OF representative WORKS
illustrating the rise and development OF plastic aru i"
the Romanesque and Gothic periods, WITH SOME Vi 'o
monumental specimens of wood-carving, such as chor
stalls the Bishops throne IN the catheorai s' Oi''
nearly thirty feet high 1t is hoped also 10 secure one
or more Of The great cathedral portals Ike 'oSo III WV
Trocsdcro. -
I,o,i., pA,aissance-A large number Of the monu-
rncptal works Of this period such the Ghberti doors
in The Bapiisery It Florence, HE great EQUESTRIAN
statue Of C1eoni at Venice: selection OF the hosO
beautiful tombs, sucl The MaTsuppM monument ~
FrOce
Of Portugal in STA. MiuatO: collection OF the WORKS
of Donaselo a. complete as that in the Bargeilo'
series Of the Della Hobbia works, Including NUMBER
Of important ones vet cast; The t0mDS Oh uie
Mcdlci By Michael Angelo. and large collection Oh l'e
Other works Of this master also the most complete
collection OF sculptures and details from the Ccrtosa a'
psvia to be found in any museum in the world
The German and French Renaissance Will be repre-
sonted with equal fitness the collection including the
most famous works Peter Vischer Adam Kraft, Vei'
Soss Jean IuSte Gernain PlOn. Jean GouJon, Plerrc
Bontenps ard other artists of less celebrity and also
collection te graceful portrait busts Of the Louis
XVI period at Versailles.
The whole will represent complete history Of art
by monuments
Mr.. Robinson first visited london where he received
great encouragement. From England lie went to Berlin
whose Museum has always been most lberal in allowing
casts to be made OF its treasures. 1.-The most i'm
portant work accomplished at Berlin. however, said
Mr.. Robinson in his report and perhaps. in some
ways The most important Of my whole trip was the
perfection of arrangements for having model OF
The Acropolis made The only model Of the AcropOhs
at present in the market, of which copies 10 be
seen in almost all OF casts was ut best only
sketch in which details scarcely more than sug-
cested and il has been Anticipated for twenty years
by excavations and other alterations in the appearance
Of surface As the entire enclosure Of The Acropols
hns now bccn eXcavaed and there is no prospect Of
change IN its appearance for an indefinite period no
It's modern appearance, and presume that the Only
reason that The have undertaken this work
OF themselves is because the expense is greater than
any OF their institutions could afford for the purpose.
ant all events can scarcely describe to you the
delight OF Professor Ernst Curtius when told him OF
your intention The model when finished will repre-
sent the combined work OF the four most eminent
speciasts Of the present day in the subject to be
trested-Curtius on the history Kaupert the geog
raphy Dopfed on the significance of local details. and
Walger as the artist
Mr. Robinson went from Berlin to Dresden, where he
secured ruch valuable material and Information
At Milan he made arrangements with Labatino de
Angels OF Naples. for the reproduction OF The greater
mari of all the famous bronZes from the Iieculaneun
and colOrs of IN, originals. All of the brOnze> IL Is
hoped, will be secured at later date Ihey VIII D;
ulsced In q special room In the new building, whlch
will be built, eventually, for the reception OF the
casts. -- $500. .....,,., a,.,, ,,ao
of French monuments" added Mr. Robinson In his re
por1 :" consulted our Minister Mr.. Reid to whom
Mr. Adams kindly sent me an introduction ana was
advised by him 10 take no steps for the present as
he ia NEGOTIATING with the French Government 10 s.
cure Que OF the portals Of NOrc Dame for the vii
lard Committee. aud thought it unwse 70 ask for
anything else until that matter had been settled For
The moment, therefore, ] am unable to report upon
tie possibility Of securing any French Gothic work
other than that advertised in the usual sa catalogues.
The chief end which can claim to have accom-
pshed is to have secured for you the active interest
the actual time for ordering comes"
The committee accepted the report and passed a
vote Of thanks to its author. Robert W. dc Forest,
vice chairman Of the committee. who was also abroad
s summer, yesterday expressed great satisfaction at
$50 600 Of the proposed 100000 had been subscribed
He hoped that the remaining money would he obtained
in the Of the winter. Even more than *lOo,-
casts An opportunity is thus given TO phianthropic
citizens great service TO the people OF New ork
md the Museum by contributing 10 the committee