New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-19
A. A. HEALTS VALUABLE GIFT.
THE GIOVANNI DELLA ROBBIA LUNETTE
IN PLACE IN THE MUSEUM.

NOTEWORTHY ADDITION To HE lNSlll' ~ =
ART TREASURES MADE Ry ITS GENEROUS
PRESIDENT ONLY SPECIMEN or
ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY.
a Augustus Healy president OF the Brooklyn In
stitute has again played the part OF nountful
patron by giving TO II what supposed TO be the
unattalnable-a perfect example Of the work OF
Giovanni della Robbl. This IL "A lunette by this
famous artist. which made FOR the adcrnment
OF The entrance to the Villa Antinori. five miles
from Florence Italy and built IN ljl2 The lunette
WAS ordered by the Marquis Antinori soon after
the villa was begun. and was finished about 1920
The doorway over which # was placed led OF a
gallery. and the delicate majolica has therefore
been shielded from the weather. About thrty-hve
years ago. however. IL was removed and put up
IN the chapel Of the villa. This ostensibly 10
preserve IL. but more likely 10 keep good the fam
Fly claim 20 IT, later the Government could have
prevented its removal the ground that Il faced
The street and therefore national property
i was by chance Mr.. Healy heard that the Anti
nori family would part with this valuable object
1t took some time 10 complete The purchase, and
after that It only with great difficulty and
much persuasion that the Government permit was
obtained allowing its export. At last that
granted. and the official by whom f. given
to Mr.. Heay said ship The lunette at once or The
permit may be revoked by tomorrow morning.
Had It not been that there are three or four
Robbia in tho National Museum CBargelo) at Flor
ence. this permission could never have been OBJ
tanned. rs the Italian Government IS becoming more
and more Jealous Of losing the artistic treasures
of the country
Giovanni della Robbla born in 1853 and died
in li% living IN Florence. He was one Of the
nephews Of the famous Lucca della Robba. and
was the only OF that celebrated family OF
majOlica- makers who used a variety OF cOlOrs IN
his designs the Others crnging TO blue and white
This unette Is In deep relief. and Is one OF Inc
finest examples OF his work. 1t is 10 feet long 10y
the tomb. Christ Is tie central figure and holds
the TWO fingers OF His right hand IN blessing over
kn'elne In an attitude Of prayer. Family 'radiSs
ton has IL that this was an accurate portrait or
that PARKWAY ancestor
are stricken with terror and awe. Two are trying
30 run away and one IS not YET reused out OF sleep
Two angels. I'm sixteenth-century costumes: are
visible The whole is made In about twenty five
SURROUNDED hy garland OF fruits ana MOWERS also
made ~ sections. The coloring = these IS re
are the arms of The Antinori family.
This Is The only example Of Giovanni della
RObbias work IA this country. and the Only I'm
portant work of any Of the Robba family. except
that large piece by Lucca della Robbia presented
10 NE Me'ropohtan Museum o. Arr In Manhattan
hy Ny Maryland. Even the krnsing on Museum
has nothing Of his artists that can a. all approach
the lunette.
Although NJ Healy bought this rare example
o. last summer ana II reached mere IN the lac
fail. it is only jus. put i'm place because OF the
enormous difficulty Of setting il up. II occupies
the space over the large doorway In the front
Mr. H.1Iv,e eorrnr- FIT ~ he Museum the Angelo
RebclI" by Salvatore Albano which he presented
several wears ago.
Whom this latest gift is shown 20 The public a
eubiec,s. len. by Aibetj 4 Hdnkins. will also be
placed on Wow for the benefit Of art students.