The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-21
USE FOR ROGERS'S MILLIONS.
Art Museum People Anticipating Pur-
chase of ''Old Masters"
New York Evening Post.

New York Evening Post.
While the news of the Rogers requests
has stirred up all the departments of the
Metropolitan Museum and filled the minds
of those i'm charge with visions of addi-
tions to their collections. nowhere has it
created greater expectation than in the art
department. whose directors have seen their
collection grow from one hundred, mostly of
the Dutch school, and purchased in 1871, to
724 canvases. Nearly all these paintings
have COne through gifts and requests, but
the funds have been Inadequate for round
ing out the collection. Now. however, the
possibility of taking advantage of sales is
being joyfully considered by the gallery
officers.
W. follow the sales and the condition of
the private collections, which are likely to
come into the market ali over the world,
very carefully" said Mr.. Story. the curator
OF the gallery. to-day, but, OF course, we
have never been able to buy much of any
thing. We viii not have TO DO much IN
Vestigating i'm order to ind pictures. and as
soon as We have the money chances enough
and TO spare Will be thrown III our way. we
shall not rush into the market for the sake
of filling up our rooms. One OF the things
witch we have always wanted most To 40
is To get out a really good catalogue, Such
a catalogue as you can buy in most of the
great galleries abroad. TO cost $3.50 PROB
ably. Only a few Will buy II, so il is an eX-
pensive thing 10 bring out. but We must
have one. What people seem to want al
present is Just a cheap little leahetx.to cost
only a few cents. ana 10 De tnrown.away
when they come out of the gallery.
1t is understood that the buying will prob
ably be mostly of pictures OF the old mas
tiers. the museum relying on gifts for the
more modern works. 1t is unfortunate that
the Metropolitan Museum has no society
attached 10 il. as the 'Societe des Amis du
Louvre" Is TO the Louvre Museum in Paris,
TO furnish funds through subscriptions for
the purchase OF those works OF art the
museum Itself cannot AFFORD. This society
in Paris has been IN securing
for the Louvre a number OF valuable Pic
lures which would otherwise have d1sap-
peared into some private collection.
Among the employees Of the museum the
Rogers bequest has been the cause of much
hope OF sharing in the general prosperity.
They say that the number OF visitors dur
ing the last few days has been noticeably
larger than usual, especially for this, The
Gull season OF the year. ~ GU see, most OF
the people who come here, said one Of the
guardians. have gone TO the country now.
Those who are coming now have mostly
read in the papers about this Will and the
money that is coming 10 the place. and they
want TO see what the museum Is like. 1t is
the greatest advertisement the place has
ever had. All these people feel anxious TO
know Just why he should have left all that
money UP here. and they come TO md out.
Its my impression hat most of them un-
derstand the reason just as little when they
trouble with this pace Is that 1t amt ad-
Vertised. but perhaps this money Will do il.
especially if there is enough Of a Tight over
the will"