New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-09
MUSEUM OF ART REPORT
l. THE SUNDAY OPENING A FAILURE
A DEFICIT OF OVER s7,ooo-NEED OF 4 LAHGyy
APPROPRIATIONS

APPROPRI ALTON
The annual meeting of the trustees OF the Metro
politan Museum OF Ant yesterday. was Of more than
ordinary interest. ii resulted i'm several changes
among the officers. Henry G. Marquand as a mat.
ter Of course reelected president of the in.t
ton 10 which he has been generous. and General
Louis p. dl CcSnOa again chosen for secretary
suitable action taken upon the resignation Of Dr.
fWllliam c. Prime, which was formally announced
DR.. Prime has first vice president of the Mn,eum
for eight years +. W. Rhnelander was chosen 10
succeed the Doctor first vce-president.
Another change among the regular officers was the
selection OF Hiram Hitchcock treasurer to succeed
salem II. Wales Daniel Huntington was also elected
a vce-president. Professor William u. Ware Of
Columbia College: Charles s. smith, president Of the
Chamber OF Commerce: and Salem II. Wales the
retiring treasurer were elected trustees for the
term Of seven years. The terms OF no other trustee
have expired.
The report showed that there was a deficit Of
81 37j In the treasury The opening Of the Museum
on Sundays was declared - be from The
point OF view OF the number of visitor. These
have become II was said. more desirable than they
were during the first months that the Museum
open sunday. The report CONTINUED rs follown {:
While Sunday opening meets With popular approval. the
step remain, only experiment. pu burdens
the finances OF tn Museum which they unable 10
bear 1t has offended OF Museums best friends
and supporters. il has alienaUd who have given
freely of and the Institution. 1t IA,
resulted the loss Of beQuest Of 49, COG. IL is hoped
that this calcuabe loss will be Offset by
public interest and support but at present
the fnds burdens increased and It's
than before Thirty thousand persons pcttoncd
Sunday opening, and yet the number OF paying
members has decreased since May 81 by 225. A very
serious loss to the collections hao already been sustained
without tho slightest compensatory benefit What
represented by the newspapers as universal demand tina;
the Museum be opened on sunday was accom- nied b.
popular subscription that betrayed the additional expense
for only about four months. The trustees far from
wishing take backward step: but unless permanent
provision be made Tor the expense the Museum WIFI
have to be Chased on Sunday.
In order settle TIC Question and place the finances
Museum arm basis :hc trustees proposed
to the EOad OF Estimate and Ayporoanent Of the city Of
NewYork that it should appropriate iuad> sufficient de-
fray the entire running expenses ri the Museum In con-
sidoraton Of the latter being opened m. Of charge to te
public every ddv Of week and Tuesday and saturday
evenings. There J. 10 hope thai appropI -"
legislation BE- Albany. tn" Board OF Estimate
will act iovolably the above PROBE on when nest
submitted.
Many art treasures have been added during ;he wear
the collections Museum through the generosity Of It's
friends Besides their artistic mct most OF these possess
educational utility. enumeration o.: the gifts with
the of ts public.spitcd Gonor. vii he amended
his report. Among them BE- specified the presentstr
by Mr.. John Crosby Of hfy..iN pieces supp.c
nentry her admirable collection OF musical Instruments;
Tor proper display Of thee thcie l. at avail
able space" that their exhibition must deferred until
completion Of The wing Of the Museum. when
special gallery will be assigned musical Instruments
The following requests received 10y tn Museum
during the vCaI From the Of the lltc Mrs. Eliza
Vanderbilt Ogood large silver cndclabra regarded
Mcssrs. Tiffany Company among their masterpieces Of
decorative art work. From the q the late Mrs
Sophia II. Hosack, valuable PLAGUE Of "Capo di
Monte representing Ceres nstructng the ~ hu.
bandsy. From the late Miss &. VI. Hitch
cock, j picture representing Mary Magdalene kneehng
before the tomb Of our painted by Jean j. lIenncr.
Another bequcst which, thanks 10 the surviving mem
hers of the estaol's family ind permanent home
in our Institution il that Of the late Edward c. Moore
The collection Is important. aud composed Of
valuable art objects that II T. impossible TO have 1t ready
for public exhibition before next spring.
The report also recOunts the many additions made
10 the collection OF sculptur casts and the Wiltd
collection. Praise is given T. the Willard Architectural
Commission. The report then continues:
With the exception Of occasional delays ia the delivery
Of granite has proceeded throughout both
summer winter the northern addition to the cen
trail Museum and the aIchitcc predicts the COM
neton OF this wing the autumn Of the present year
The entire amount authorized b. the State Legislature,
namely 100000 will lie required TO finish the edlhco
This will leave exhibition eases. p'destas. fittings
and appointments indispensable 70 It, occu'
patton unprovided for. movement therefore, has been
made 10 obtain from the Legislature an enactment Tor
further appropriation nom city adequate to dcf1y tn"
cost Of the and Of separate b6fhonoe for the
ncv extension This addition will have be- left unoc-
cu,iod until funds shall be pf0Nidd We
now stand In sore need Of the space which this addition
wiz supply.
c,oype public interest in the Museum is demonstrated
ly steady increase the number Of visitors Nearly
o, hundred thousand peIos have visited the Museum ON
SUNDAY afternoon, the Months II has beh
o1en on that dav the total day and evening Nsoi'
for the wear number sol 203.
The most urgent demand after provision fo meeting
The current expense, Institution. for on endowment
fund the income Of watch be used Tor the purch.'e
N ,ore and desirable objects whcneNor th"y miN De
offered Several nnc objects have recently been lost 10 i
collections in consequence Of want Of ready money or Of
inability to prompt action
Among our naay departments. 1t is scarcely necessary
IN say great deficiency lies In the direction Of INDUSTRIAL
ART IT. almost every Of design our collections lc
ouire 10 be yastly strengthened The accommodations oil
the technical ant schools wholly unsuitable shd III
adequate. ,
1t was also announced that working reiauoh oe
tween Columbia College and the Museum had zen
nrorosed and would be carried out in all prODhpihH
According the arrangement, the tourSs OF lcN :.
,non Greek archaeology aud Ia the departments VI
are b thOwn open free To The ART s.uucnts
~ INC Museum In return, the trustees of the museum
iI allow the delivery Of ctureS to Columbia studcniS
retnre objects Of art In the Museum The students
.re also 10 be allowed to sketch In the Museum OH
certain days.