The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-22
new WING OF ART MUSEUM,
TO-DAY MARKS Az ERA IN MET.
ROPOLITAN'S HISTORY,
FIRST Instailment Of the Great scheme Of
Facadcs-An Impressive Hail a. Vet,
with an Inadequate Exhibit Of scuipt.
ure-ENhlbits In the New Du,iding.

Tho Inauguration ceremonies in connec-
ton with the opening of the new wing of
the Metropolitan Museum will be held this
afternoon from until O clock. The octa-
son marks an era in the history Of the
museum, since the new buildings not only
provide a large additional space for ex-
hibtion purposes. but represent the first
installment Of the great scheme Of fa Sades
which. when completed. will make the
museum structure 81 monumental dig
nifty, worthy Of the metropolis
This scheme Is the one prepared by the
late Richard NJ. Hunt and accepted by the
trustees as the basis Of future additions.
and this. the first Of such additio pro-
vides the grand entrance. Its facade
fronts upon Fifth avenue. having its axis
on Eighty-third street. and consists of a
parallelogram. the total length of which
is 3Oj feet. II is connected with the Older
Guadrila'e al mass Of buildings by cor
ridor Of the same height as the latter, the
new part thus having the form Of a in
plan. The ultimate scheme provides for
another T-shaped addition. projecting
from the west side, and further there were
to be fanking pavions on the north ard
south. connected with the other two fronts
by colonnadcs. Whereas the present area
Of the museum is about three and a half
acres. the land already Appropriated by
the Legislature and to be incloscd ventually
by tho Subsequent additions is eighteen
and one half acres, or nearly six times the
present size. Such a magnitude and the
character of the design will. so far as the
edfce is concerned, place our museum
among the grandest of the world.
The best feature Of the design is probably
its plan. which is harmonious and logical
in the relation OF the parts to the whole.
and affords abundant gallery space. well
lighted. 1t was in such particulars that
the late Mr.. Hum proved his eminence
as an architect and one finds again the
same harmony aid logic in the treatment
of tho exterior facade. The order of
columns. arranged by twos, and the higher
roof surmounting them mark the existence
Of great hall in the interior, while the
fanking wings equally suggest their in
ternal significance. a. aTording important
galleries, in each case an upper and lower
one. On the other hand, the central ar
rangement as certainly leads one to expect
that the hall is carried up to the roof And
with this simple. logical relation Of ex-
terror to plan there is combined general
and the subordinate ones that secures an
effect distinctly monumental. Heavy il
may be in feeling. and with a lack of choice
ness In the details, nor with much logic in
their Use. as. for example, in the merely
ornamental Use Of columns. which are in
no wise necessary part Of the structure
and which. very curiously, support
fragment Of entablature that il not upon
&tx,, l<..o r
that Of the main building. There may
indeed. be a certain grossness and want
Of vitality in the details. though it should
be remembered that the original design
contemplates future establishment with
groups of sculpture and friezee in bold
relief; by which time the structural massive
ness will no doubt be fully justified Even
row it is very impressive,
At present, however, it il in the interior
that the greatest sense OF impressiveness
is prodrcd. Here the grandeur OF the
Roman style is most apparent on its con-
structive side: for a really fine use has
been m de Of the combination of vaults
arches and piers. One enters a hall. 1913
feet long and % feet wide. surm ,unte1
seventy-six feet above by three domes with
circular lights. These domes rest upon
pendentive,, which intercept four huge
arches. supported upon massive piers
The construction is absolutely simple,
grandly impressive. Around the hall at
a height of about twenty-four feet runs a
gallery. fronte1 by a balustrade Of pierced
stone work; and in the centre Of the west
side opposite the main entrance four col
umns support the opening which leads to a
grand stairway that mounts up through
the stem Of the 7 n nke1 by walls 0! dressed
stone that terminate in balustrades.
Scarcely in the world could one find any
thing more noble OF its kind than this great
hail. which has at once the grandeur of
simplicity and Of just proportion on a
colossal scale. 1t gives to ones Imagination
foretaste Of the indescribable impressive
ness OF the ultimate completion Of Hunts
majestic conception foretaste 80 stimu-
lating that it seems hardly possible that
many years can elapse before the wealth
and patriotism Of New York shall have COM
PEELED it to be realized
At both the north and south ends the
hall opens into the wings. On the ground
floor these are divided into two rooms,
whereas the space above is occupied entire
by one largo gallery. In addition to these,
the corridors around the hall and In tho
struc u-e which unitcs it to the older
part Of the museum afford well-lighted
and spacious opportunities for exhibits.
The arrangement Of the latter has been
made under the exigent circumstances OF a
sudden determination 20 open the new
building at an earlier tae than had been
originally intended Yet On the whole
it is admirable. The great hall has been
devoted to sculpture. That was inevitable;
but the decision, which has much to COM
mend it, Of placing here only statues in
marble or bronze, has necessarily limited
the display to that Of modern sculpture,
much OF waich is too trivial in character
to be in keeping with the grandeur OF
the environment. One cannot help feeling
how some Of the antiques and the re-
productions OF the Re iaissance. not with
standing their being only in plaster. no.
tably how the facsimiles OF Michel
Angeles mighty conceptions would have
better fitted the largencss Of this place,
As II il. the hall sounds a great note, and
the exhibits do not maintain the pitch.
Other exhibits have been transferred
from the older into the new building, in
the connecting gallery will now be found