New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-16
~ THE INTEREST OF ART.
VALUABLE CATALOGUE COMPILED.
.,v or THE COMMITTEE TO ENLARGE THE
METROPOLITAN MUSEUMS coLLHc-
TIoN OF CASTS

TON OF CASTS.
.,.,o, committee delegated BY the Metropolitan
.ar Of Art TO enlarge its collection Of casts have
,e.ed an important part of their work. After re-
,nr tbeir appointment few months ago they de-
10 prepare as the basis Of selection for the pro-
o,ecton catalogue Of all desirable objects WITH
Psrsnoe TO present limitations of means or space,
o =. whether the objects had been already cast. sueh
,.rns The committee believed, would furnish the
49, "a which the museum might ultimately hope
..,ns selections. also could be made from the
As the space AID funds at the disposal OF the
.,,sss might permit.
uasse' .aomt,ee which includes Henry G. MarQuand,
ian. ROBERT W. De Forest, vioe-ehairmsn; Ed
'n' n Adams, treasurer; Howard Mansfield, score
va csorre F. Baker. John s. Kennedy. Allan Mar
~, A c. Merriam, +. d. Millet, F. W. RMnelander,
Ems ST Gaudens, Louis c. Tiffany, John Q. a
80 william r. Ware and Stafford White, have done
u.,t work They deserve the thanks OF oil
,Ssoas Of the Museum and the friends OF art.
a. first step toward the accomplishment OF
beir purpose, they have prepared tentative lists OF
Aiects sculptural and architectural intended TO Illus
,,s the history of plastic art, which they consider
,eable for the collection. The lists are beautifully
-,ned on fine paper in large volume containing III
double pages The pages printed only on one slde'
10 facilitate the making and registering OF susSesuoh''
The lists are intended. according 10 TIE preface
for private circulation among those whose aoNoe Is
SOUGHT in the preparation of final lists, 70 enable the
the more readily TO make suggestions 10 the special
e,r,nittee ON CASTS They will be sent to men of
authority in the various branches of art on both sides
Of the Atlantic Ocean 1t is hoped that the specialists
n whom the lists are to be submitted will make sugges
tons which they deem proper and advisable Inc hSUS
now printed do not include all periods and schools Of
AT which, in the estimation Of the committee should
form part of a complete collection. They DO how
ever says the preface "include the more important
1,la N CQin
what could be prepared Immediately, rather than 10
delay for the sake Of attaining greater perection
The scuIpura lists are intended 70 be representative
for the epochs they cover. They include some casts
already owned By the Museum.
Many weu-known specialists lent their assistance
In the preparation Of the Tentative lists Those
for the Chaldean, Assyrian. Persian. Greek and
Roman periods were made by Edward Robinson,
curator of classical antiquities Of the
Museum Of Fine Aris of Boston, who formed the col
lection Of casts at the Slater Memorial Museum at
Norwich, Conn. He also prepared the Italian aud
German Renaissance lists. which have received addi-
tiops from Professor \. L. Fr0thngham of Princeton
University The Professor also prepared those for the
early Christian and medieval periods and the French
Renaissance The Egyptian list is the work Of Pro
fcssor Allan Marquand Of Princeton. The architect
ur list includes only casts already purchased for the
Willard collection Of the Metropolitan Museum by the
committee of the New-YoTk Chapter Of the American
Institute of Architects. to whom the selection was en-
trusted BY Mr.. Willard. more complete list is in
course of preparation. The field in architecture
saws the committees preface "is unlimited except by
considerations of space, and suggestions for what the
should have in the future seemed most readily
invited by simply stating what had been already ac-
Qu!yed.7
The tentative catalogue. however. is valuable
addition TO any library. II contains not only th8'
names and titles Of tic original objects, but also the
places wheTe the casts 10 be bought ana the prices
for which they be furnished
II is expected that the answers from all sleclasIs
to whom The lists are will be received oy next
December. The final catalogue will then he printed
The members Of the committee are greatly ENCOURAGED
with regard 10 the donations for tie fund. ihey qe-
sired sloc GOO. Already with comparatively little
effort. $50 900 has been raised. There Is I;te doubt
they believe that the remaining $4,000 VIII be secured
in a short time. so
When completed it Is believed that the Metropolitan
Museum Of Art will have collection OF casts equal to
any in the world