New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-17
CYRUS w. FIELDS GIFT.
MEDALS AND PICTURES FOR THE MUSEUM
THE COLLECTION ONE OF SOUVENIRS OF THE
r,vrxc oL THE ATLANTIC cARI,T

THE COLLECTION ONE OF SOUVENIRS OF TIE
LAYING OF THE ATLANTIC CABLE.
Cyrus W. Field gave his collection Of medals ana
paintings relating to the laying Of the Atlantic cable
to the Metropolitan Museum OF AIt several months
before his death. No announcement Of the gift was
made until yesterday. The medals and other tohehs
have been locked in a safe the Metropolitan Museum
Of Art for time and several Of the paintings have
been placed In the department Of American antqul
ties. Mr.. Field called upon General di Cesnola' Ill
rector OF the Museum, last May, just before
he went to Ardslcy, where he died last Tuesday lie
said that he had long contemplated giving his col,
lction of medals and paintings to the Museum anu
Inquired If 1t would be accepted.
The subject was referred to the committees on
paintings and sculpture and they reported In favor Vi
accepting the gift. The conditions are simple MI
Field asked that the collection be kept together III al
alcovc In the building and arranged that the dihce'
articles could be readily examined by the public
In his letter to the trustees OF the Museum, ne
said that he considered 1t appropriate that the city Of
New-lOrk, which had been his home for so many
years, should have the collection. An effort was hauo
by the directors OF the National Museum at Washing
ton to secure the COLLECTION, but Mr. Field declined
TO consider requests from any institution outside Oh
New York. 1t was suggested that the collection DE
placed in the museum of the New-York Historical
Society but the giver thought that 1t would be seen
by greater number OF persons II Ii were eXhaDlueu
IN the museum In Central Park.
The most interesting part OF the collection, rs
General di Ccsnoa said Yesterday, consists OF uic
various medals and tokens which Mr. Field received
from Governments. States and societies. There Il
the great medal presented to Mr.. Field by Congress
IN 1907 after the completion OF the Atlantic cable
II contains gold worth 1857 and is a real work vi
art There is also the certificate containing vote
OF thanks from Congress, which was given with the
medal 1t Is Of the finest parchment and Is hahd
somely engrOsscd I'm colors. There Is the cross Oh
the order OF st. Mauritus conferred by the King OF
Italy, and the cert hcatc awarding the "Iahd r'r@e
OF the Paris Exposition Of lo61.
The handsome gold box which was presented TO
Mr. Field by the people II Newlork will have prom'-
nent place in the collection. One OF the most II"
tercsng articles Is large tankard OF silver ana oaN
which was the gift of the men working IN 'eh''"
I.,rk There are several fragments of the Atlantic
cable and numerous relies connected with the cs'io
lshment OF tranS-occanic telegrnphy.
The collection Of pictures consist. OF SIX large OIL
uaIutlncs and forty-six watcr-coors Illustrating the
LAYING Of the Atlantic cable The oil paintings arc
accurate picture, Of the vessels and the machinery
used In the great work. The engineers ana cec
tlicans and Mr.. Field himself are also represented
The faces of the shown in the paintings are
actual portraits. The most impressive painting oil
the series represents the on board the vessel l
after the broken cable picked up and message
was received through II from the Irish coast.
\ few DAYS before Mr. Field went 10 Arl'ley liz
to for several minutes before this painting ana ti'
turning TO "A friend, he said That represents Inc
cris, Of my ie.7 Mr. Field also gave his portrait 10
the Museum Of Art II painted over twenty years
a-o by Daniel Huntington. The waeTco2is EIV.
views Of s.apOfs AMI vessel, connected "l tho r'e"'
enterprise OF Mr.. Fields LIE. go -. 49,
The dire, lions of Mr. Held with rgard TO the ar
ranrcmeut Of the collection viii De fnlihfuy chIri
ont The plans OF the trustees have not ucel luuI
decided up5n but the collection VIII BE- placed III rne
fh.
p,rfroit Of Mr. Field viii have the central phc. ~
The alcovc. The paintings and "aiercolofs WIZ u
hunr temporarily In tine department OF American an
tinutic. and the great gold medal given by congress
may I've seen in Few da,s IN tie cas- uS1 10, ,,o
di-nlav of articles IN gold. complete lit oi me
articles I'm the collection will soon be gwen out by
General di Cesnola.