New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-19

Na,ro,ortan Museum Of Art. even with the (
impos ng wing that is being added TO IL WIN "' |
the speed that can be mustered by the huhdieoS /
OF vorkmen daily employed thereon, is only q !
small norton OF the ma gniicent and vast nome |
designed 10 belong ultimately - the Museum il |
was in 1871 that the Legislature passed an "'' |
authorizing the Department Of Public PARKS 10
erect a building for the purposes OF museum D"'
A. was not until 1871 that work was really begun |
upon the structure. Much thought and care Were !
expended upon the project by the mcn who were |
originally most interested I'm il. Richard VI. iu"' |
was chosen as the architect TO have charge oil |
drawing the plans. and the plans he drew were |
go elaborate and comprehensive that, although no
change has been made I'm them up 10 this very !
day. II IS doubtful il TWO q neratiors more WI" !
see them fully realized. The first part of the
building now occupied by the Museum was TWO
years in process of erection. and was first occu-
pied IN 1850 From 1851 to l>ss the southern extern
sion was built. and the constantly increasing
strength and usefulness Of tho Museum made il
necessary to add the northern wing i'm the years
ISsD-'93
The structure as thus completed had a frontage
looking out on Fifth-avc of 33S feet and a width
north and south Of - feet And yet that structure
is only about one-eighth I'm area of the entire
Museum building. series OF buildings. as de-
signed by the late Richard NJ. Hunt. and projected
by the men who have been and who are foremost
IN the affairs Of The Museum These plans pro-
vide for series of buildings that will cover
eighteen and onc-half acres. The various additions
20 be erected are 10 be built around the original
building When the plans have been thoroughly
looking toward Fifth-ave-and that entrance T. a.
ready being constructed In the addition now build
The west Of the building
1t is planned that ali the additions to be built
hereafttr snail be Of Indiana limestone. and Of
this material the wing now going up is constructed
contrast is At present somewhat iuharmonious. but
the architect had an eye 20 the future. ana remem-
ent building will not be visible at all from the out
side The style Of architecture is purely G"SS Tb
entrance is to be on the Ffth-ave. side. ana Is TO
wide and lont night of stone steps; and there are
three huge doo~s 10 furnish admiitence, Aioing
in height eight coiint1ian columns are already
h sen ays lS on ,b( pians for This side Of the
building because according TO the Original pans,
by which the public VIII enter the completed
feet and it's width is about third its length. 1t
IS 70 be connected win ne Original ouaGhs n 9
gallery los feet in length and 6s feet IN wldh ms
gallery. too win he used for the general purposes
many Windows ana BY "a lofty dome OF glass. In
Its construction the effort has been made 10 make
use Of large quantity Of hreproof maierla. ana
when the structure is completed there VIII be htue
AP The plans originally made by Richard NJ Hunt-
who, by the way was the architect OF the IT'D,
une Buding-have been followed as far as ne aad
HoWIand d" Hum Rchard NJ Hun, was uUstcc Of
Committee Ct the Museum. under whose charge all
the additions and improvements are made. and who
has supervised the erection Of the new wing. is
composed Of Salem IL. Wales chairman. James a
Garland General l.. p di 'esnola Charles Stewart
Smith and Henry q. Marquand.
The work upon the wing has been in progress at
intervals FOR two years. II interrupted for
a considerable time when the ebt-limit bugbear
was raised by the Tammany administration. but
when that bOgy put 10 fight work was re-
sumed. and IS being steadily prosecuted The
new wing is about half-completed. and viii. II
is expected bc finished TINS year. us completion
is sadly needed. for thousands Of dollars worth
he of art an
away out Of the sight OF the public simply be-
cause the Museum has no pace to put them George
Barnard's Grey celebrated colossal statue, called
IL Feel Two Natures Struggling Within Me. j.
60 large that IL cannot be brought into the present
building through any of the entrances. When tht
wing is finished II will occupy a position out or
doors. between the wing and the original buiidins