New-York tribune., 1902-01-06
MRS. GARDNER'S PALACE.
REPORTERS IN DISGUISE GET DEsCRIP-
TION OF THE BEAUTIFUL
MUSEUM
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

: lBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
4 Boston, Jan. 5.-Mrs. Jack" Gardners Vene-
tan Palace which is TO be unique museum for
art exhibits, has been visited by reporters in
disguise, and full description. despite the own
ers careful guardianship, is given TO the public
| to-day
| The courtyard which is about forty feet
! square, is rooted with glass. There is room
! for the development Of palm growths sixty feet
| high. In the middle is an area paved with
mosaic said to be two thousand years old, on
which a summer house is being erected. An
ancient life size statue of a draped Ceres. cut
from reddish stone stands in one corner. At
| the south end is a paved semi-elliptical fish
pond guarded by big stone dolphins. The court
yard is. for the most part, surrounded by ar
cades Of great beauty, meritng an extended de-
scription.
AT the north end OF the west arcade built into
the wall is old altar piece in stone with three
customary figures in high relief The workman
ship and the weathering Of the stone betray
an origin dating back TO the twelfth century, at
least Along the walls OF the gallery are several
| old Madonnas, faded. crude in handling accord
Ing to our modern notions Of drawing, but full
Of the naive feeling and reverence OF the very
early masters. most Of whom were In a religious
community and TO whom artistic work an
expression of pious duty.
southwestern corner. It is about twenty feet
high. The most striking feature OF the room is
the red tiled floor. which must have cost some
body a world of trouble in the selection
though probably of modern make, the tiles give
the impression Of long use, each tile being
rounded on the edges. and worn down in the
middle, as If many generations had passed their
nNes on its surface. This suggestion is height
ened by the cement used for the iuterstices
which has the look Of having been tramped in
by many feet. The floor gives a broken, chang
ing hight effect that is never found a board
or even on stone hoor and is altogether charm
ing. a massive stone fireplace nearly fills the
east end Of the room, there being only enough
space at the arcade end Of the wall for a mar
row door, and at the other for recessed seat.
AS might be expected, the fireplace gives a field
for the disposal of a verftable museum Of old
thlngs' like andirons, tongs, tile ornamentation.
and on.
Immediately over the Dutch Room on the
third floor, is the Gothic Room the naua az
which suggests the kind Of place it is The walls
ana celhngs are OF hewn wood, but made To fol-
low carefully the requirements Of Gothic can0ns
in art. so far they may be applfcab BILE 70 a
domestic interior The fittings are the spoil of
the collectors, and, as in the Dutch Room the
remains OF mediaeval workmanship elsewhere
classed and treated bric-a-b -brac ft here into
a general scheme each having a reason and
place Of It's own.
The music room. on the eas side. ie 7as+t,a5
70 be the great show room OF the house and Is
q departure altogether unique in Boston houses
II is sun IN the initial stages being hardly more
than Degun II is more Ike small symphony
hall IN It's general plan with a square. level
auditorium floor about forty by eighty feet in
area, with a stage at the south end 20 feet deep
and gallery over the north end 80 feet deep.
The room takes up one end Of the house in area
and the two lower stories In height
There are Italian. Roman, Florentine old
French rooms, and catholic and exquisite taste
appears TO have gathered whatever was Of ar
tistic value that was accessible and IN the pict
ure OF proper disposition Of the general plan.