New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-24

studies especially those made for the deoora-
lions in the Boston Public Library. Finally
should not the catalogue contain some really
fine reproductions
At the Fifth Avenue Auction Rooms there
will shortly be visible thrty-three oil paintings
/ by George Catlin. the historian OF the North
American Indians. His style was inelastic, we
might almost say inartstic. but as transcripts
Of enormously interesting facts in the history Of
the West, his pictures possess, and always will
possess very high value There is no aues-
ton but that this collection should be pur-
chased intact for our Museum OF Natural Rls-
tory and Il IS 70 be hoped that some public
spirited citizen will see that this purchase is
made
We have received circulars for the twenty-flrst
annual exhibition OF the Society OF American
Artists 10 be held, as usual at the Fine Arts
Building Works for the show must be de-
llvered before . p III on Friday, March 10
Vanishing Day and Press View are set down
for Friday. March q. reception will he held
on the evening OF that day, and the next morn
ing the galleries will be open TO the public, 20
remain open until Saturday, April 20. Two
prizes will as heretofore be awarded, the Webb
Prize Of $500 for the best landscape and the
Shaw Fund of $500 for the best hgure com
position.
There have been q number OF reports c.rcu-
lated in Italy and elsewhere about the eondi-
ton Of the Doge's Palace ~ Venice and the
"demoIitions' which & said were going on
IN Florence We were asked to believe that
the vandal had been once more having his way
II is pleasant 70 see what seems to be an au-
thoritative contradiction 10 all this in a London
journal The writer OF this protest points out
that the antiquities and public art works gen
orally OF Italy are under the supervision of the
Minister Of Public Instruction, and that THU
official happens to be less person tnaa
Signor Guido Baccell., whose name IS an assuf-
ance 70 every one corve-sant Win ltallan al
fairs Of an enlightened administration @. tAe
Aeld IN question No sinking 90 the Doge's
Palace has taken place. and no serious 'dernoA-
tons" are occurring in Florence. AS sigaor
Baece remarks, One must distinguish be
tween the religion Of things really great and
fanaticisn for the small and un!npor-ant' II
is stated example Of the wise policy OF
the Government, that road or way is % De
opened between the Palatine and the Baths OF
CaracaIla This road, somewhat less Than
mile in length. and about three hundred feet
wide will form a splendid vista, dominated al
each end by OF the most tremendous monu-
ments in Rome. We are also assured that the
must be added that for the student thoroughly
familiar with Italy these guarantees are hardly
necessary. He knows that from one end Of the
Peninsula 20 the other most Jealous super
vision Of public monuments is exercised both
bv the National Government and by the munich
pal bodies IN fact, there are few things in
Italian life more engaging than the pride ana
discretion which the townsfolk and their rulers
everywhere show in the conservation or the
artistic treasures which they have Inherited
from the past Considering the poverty Of the
country, the care lavished upon museums
churches and other public buildings is positively
remarkable The shallow observer VINO finds
+ hdeous statue Of Garibaldi or OF the Re Galan-
tuorno' in every Italian town Jumps to the con
clusion that the people have no sense Of art and
/ sentimentalists who witness the sweeping away
Of some unmportant but picturesque landmark
which is deadly menace to public health grow
hysterical over what they call the ignorant
citation Of artistic Italy. But these Had
vised clamors can have no weight with those
who know that the Italians appreciate their
possessions and are handling them on tn whole
with exemplary devotion
Van Dyck was born in Antwerp on March p
/ 1899. On the same date In the present year the
Belgian authorities are proposing 70 open a
great exhibition in nonor Of the painter It Is
expected that masterpieces by him Will he loaned
by public and private owners all over Europe
The Flemish composer. Peter Benoit, who pre-
pared grand caatata for the Buaens teFcsnte-
nary. held in ANTWERP in 1877 is now writing z
similar work In honor of Van Dyck which will
probably he executed in the Place Verte by a
/ thousand voices and an immense orchestra, with
/ trumpets adding their noble notes from the top
Of the Cathedral tower.
Holman Hunt Is notable but a retiring hgure
/ in modern English art. His interesting exploits
appear e. long intervals. Hence IL is interesting
/ 70 hear that he has finished his picture Of "The
Miracle Of the Sacred Fire" begun at Jerusalem
in 1893 The picture represents the moment
when the sacred fire. is miraculousy kindled
/ or IS supposed to be kindled within the Holy
/ Sepulehre and the flame Is handed out 20 the
worshippers from Greece, Russia, Armenia, Al
/ hania and Syria, who come on the eve Of the
/ Greek Easter 70 catch that fame on torches AM
tape The canvas Is described as contsining
more than four hundred figures and is said 10
glow with Oriental color II Will probably be
taken about England for public exhibition and
we suppose. VIII ultimately be shown IN this
/ country
NOTES OF THE STAGE