The times., 1899-10-23
No. 623 Thirteenth Street N. W.
THEFT OF PAINTINGS.
Robberies Alleged to Have Been
Committed in an Art Museum

RObberies Alleged to Have Been
Committed in an Art Museum.
NEW YORK, Oct. 22.-Charges of thefts
of copies of famous paintings have caused
a stir among students who work twice
week at the Metropolitan Art Museum.
These charges are being investigated by
officials Of that institution. The latest al
legged theft is that of an unfinished copy
of Henner's "Magdalene at the Saviour's s
Tomb," at which Miss Gertrude Well was
working. The students who made the com
plant say that the thieves have probably
been working in collusion with cheap art
dealers.
Miss Wiel's canvas, it is alleged, was
taken from the room in the basement of
the museum where the students are al
lowed to leave their work between copying
days. About forty students go to the mu-
scum on Mondays and Fridays to copy
such work as they please. To be entitled
to membership in the copying class" as
it Is called, these students must present
letters either to the director Of the museum
or to the curator Of the department of
paintings from well known art instructors
That the students might be saved the in
convenience of carrying their easels and
canvases home after working hours on
copying days, the officials of the museum
provided room in the basement where
they could be left Open racks were pro
vided in which the canvases could be
placed Only employees of the art museum
were supposed TO have keys to the room
The door was left open on copying days
but an attendant has usually been stationed
at the door TO guard against unauthorized
persons entering.
The copy of HenneT's painting on which
We'll urac yyprlyiDcy
ed. She was putting in the finishing touches
and intended to take it home this week
Miss We'll went 10 the museum on Friday
as usual She felt no alarm when she did
not find the copy in her rack. thinking some
one had been examining and misplaced it..
She searched all the racks, and then re-
ported the matter 10 G. II. Story, curator
Of the department OF painting.
Gen. /. p. di CesHola, director of the mu-
scum, when seen yesterday said that al
though the matter was under investigation
1t had not been brought TO his notice in an
official way G. II. Story. curator of the
department of paintings, was conducting
the enquiry He was out of the city
General di Cesnola said: If the painting
is gone il must have been one of the stu
dents who took it. Only the students and
a few employees have access to the room. II
ated. | shall not know the real facts how
ever, until MIR. Story makes an official re-
port"
1t was stated by another official that once,
when the theft of several copies had been
reported, investigation showed that a stu
dent had taken them home, without any in
tention of keeping them The student had
not thought Of asking permission from the
owner of the copies. and intended to return
them after she had studied the coloring
Students in the copying class say that
they would seek to avoid publicity In this
matter if thefts had not been so frequent.
They desire that action should BE- taken
which viii make it certain that their prop
erty will be safe. There have been in
stances it is alleged OF copies having been
stolen out Of frames 1t is almost inya-
Tiably the copy that is as good as finished
that IS taken. Those students spoken %
about the matter are generally Of the opin-
ion that the thief or thieves are working
in collusion with some cheap art dealer.
No members of the class it is said have
keys TO the store room.