New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-03
REOPENING OF THE METROPOLITAN MI
scum OF ART.


A collection of plaster casts IL not in every way
calculated 10 arouse enthusiasm. its uniform dead
white tone Is almost chilling. yet The warmesi
feelings are evoked by the gathering OF casts which
keeps growing in great leaps and bounds at the
METROPOLITAN Museum. That institution reopens
It's doors to the public tomorrow. Yesterday
press view was held Of the additions TO the gal
eres presented outright and loaned by various
patrons The extensive Cullum collection OF casts
which was described in The Tribune Of Friday ear
ries the museum far on the road 10 r.val.ing IN It's
reproductions OF ancient plastic art the great ma
tional collections of Europe. The architectural
collection had already reached impressive proper
lions These numerous casts. purchased out OF the
fund beoueathed TO the museum by the late Major
coneral culun place the department Of sculpture
on a similarly firm bass. And 1t is apparent az
q glance that the latter has been most e1ec''Veiy
arranged The Cullum collection. devoted 10 Greek
and Roman sculpture falls at once mo line WIN
rho Assyrlan room established By MI M1rqnahd'
and with the various plastic possessions OF the
museum, Included the entire series or sculpturil
rosstarneces 10 in fair way provide the full ana
continuous history which the student in Newly orK
really needs. At present the chroholoSl'd ar
r,ngement OF the casts clarifies In very prlctlcai
way the development of antique art aHu' 50 iH' a.
II goes II has been formed with remarkable discre-
ton The essential things are Already on thelr
pedestals The superfuous pieces are fe"' H. IN
dooa they may be said TO show themselves at al.
The spacious galleries are generously hled anu 'he
frs, thought they suggest IS that no" 'ha' ''ie
way s paved will secure all the casts heeue"'
go from antique to Renaissance art ana, rNiil"s
South Kensington in our illustrations OF that epoch'
make the Museum al the mos, beautiful ana
the mos; useful repository OF plastic reproductions
I'm America The task has been spenddly begun
In the department Of paintings the giIts tnis year
are not so numerous in the sculpture galleries.
but there are stl some important add''lohs' anu
80 far as loans are concerned, the large eastern
gallery is completely filed with interesting paintings
he carly American artists This collection. when
has been formed through the courtesy OF various
owners oyerflows into a second room In the latler
are a few pictures by Cabane, kaemmereT' HoS'e'
and Diaz which have been added TO tne group
loaned by Miss Helen Gould. In the Marqua"u
gallery a charming Ltt!e landscape by Pieter Molyh'
fresh and true though painted by modern manu.
hos heen presented TO the museum by the founder
81 the room on a nelghboring wall. where the
old pictures loaned by George ~ Hearh are
hung there is displayed another valuable GIT pre-
scented by Mr.. Hearn. II is rural suoJec' ny
George Morland a genuine production by that mas
ter Characteristic In It's unctuous impase ana a" i'
excellent color Mr. Hearn loans picture "a
.TrItzalan Chapel Arundel" by Turner that ~
noticeable for key o.. color not usuaI VII" nun
and interesting also for It's beautlfuiy p"''e' a."
mosphere. The same collector sehos NV
portrait OF a Lady" by Hoppner Lady Shei-
aa,S- ~, ca,pahorough that Is moderately good;
n beautiful classic landscape by Richard wilson, a
fair example OF Old Crome. portrait oy Nne"e'
Of similar value and Duke OF Cumberland at
trIbuted to Sir Joshua. in which we can see very
little that is deserving OF adrn"aioh' A'."u'
Hearn loans a strong portrait OF man oy rae
49, clear fresh and uncommonly animated
The collection OF cary American pictures en-
braces few compositions. and one or two OF them
are worthy OF attention. The fragment OF genre
nv william 8 Mount. THE Breakdown Is iuii OF
CAV. gentle humor. and Is painted with aoinV
nm the portraits make the backbone OF the exhibit
ton They MI the room with that air OF sooi
breed ne that inseparable from the early Work OF
American art 40 inseparaDle and 80 strong tnat IL
has come TO be rec.oned as one or the concrete
merits OF the schoo. II had other virtues equally
tangible one OF the first pictures In the catalogue
II a Portrait OF Genera Andrew Jackson, painted
by Samue. Waldo. The subject Is truculent. The
treatment is sympathetlcaly energetic and free II
was painted in 1877. but Il has swing and a
dlrectness which make Waldo appear TO be one OF
the mort modern OF the moderns. There are half a
dozen quaint and fascinating portraits by Copley