New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-01
ART EXHIBITIONS.
The Bishop JadeS at the NetropOIi-
tan Museum.

When the autumn private view Of the Metropol-
ltan Museum of Art held last October, the
trustees had acquisition OF special Importance
TO bring forward in the shape of an Etruscan
chariot OF bronze unrivaed in the galleries OF
Europe. Tomorrow those who attend the recep-
ton TO be given in the afternoon will have the
opportunity of examining for the first time another
I addition to the museums store that is likewise Of
remarkable significance This is the collection of
Jades presented by the late Heller r. Bishop,
collection rs rich in quality it is numerically i'm
posing The hundreds OF pieces it contains would
leave a deep Impression upon the observer in any
! circumstances. but as it happens. they have,
| through the provisions of Mr.. Bishop gift, been
arranged with that has added greatly to the
beauty of the display. He gave to the museum not
only his jades, but room in which to keep them
a duplicate of the in his house where
the collection grew under his hands The stately
chamber. designed in the French style, with n
superb marble mantelpieCe. contains metal cases
which repeat in their fine gliding the elegance Of
the walls. and in these the precious objects have
been grouped according to their character or color
Thus in one case only jars and vases of flowers
and fruit perhaps the quantest of all the products
of the Jade cutters art shown. Another case
is filled with small objects bottles and on an
other is devoted 10 early implements and weapons.
and fragments of unworked Jade; still another is
confined to pieces that all Of dark green,
and so, through the list each case is given more
or less clearly defined character. Never was there
Il better object lesson put before collectors and
museum directors than is set forth in this brilliant
ROOM which has taken on a whole, with all its
its contents. the character CO an absolutely har-
monous work of art. Here is an illustration Of
really enlightened connoisseurshD OF art treasures
exhibited under precisely the conditions calculated
to show them the best advantage.
The properties of a work executed in jade are
necessarily limited. 1t is in the first place, impos-
sible TO exceed in this medium certain scale.
Furthermore It is too hard permit Of the devel-
opment OF strictly sculptural qualities You cannot
obtain with jade those subtle modulations of sur
face which can be obtained with marble or bronze
The stone is too Jelly pure in its texture; it does
not suggest plastic forms; It has rigid. unyeld-
ing nature which feel only be conquered
by mechanical rather than artistic processes. 1t Is
true that fade has sometimes a wonderful lam
bency OF tone. in one OF the cases here there is
a jar (No $500 which seems positively to breathe
its exquisite rose tin;s Again and again. indeed,
may find in this collection pieces OF gray white
or milky green jade which. through their beauti-
ful color. almost triumph the hard effect
springing from the character Of the stone But,
when all IS said that stone remains substance
out of which only the products of consummate
craftsmanship could he wrought. such free
and living creations the sculptor moulds out Of
the ductile clay Nothing here bears the imprint
OF the artists thumb, 10 say; everything is elo
quent on the contrary, OF the carver's patient
point, miracuoCsly sure and strangely impeTsonal
It is not the inspiration Of the brain and soul that
see In these marvels. but the last word of
purely manual dexterity. The question OF form
must be left almost in allegiance. for the highest
achievement Of the Jade cutter as regards form,
consists in strictly decorative motive II he
caryes a fish "A toad he leaves Il at the end not
so much a representation Of n fish a toad a
piece Of color corresponding. in a measure. 20
or the other form. He is at his happiest when he
| is weaving his motives. horaI human animal
what not. into decorative arabesque, in some
Of the wonderful little white screens in this coll
| lection.
AS for his color. It Is sometimes beautiful
| that II would be enjoyed even II lie LEFT 81 in
| polished cube Take for example, the study OF a
mountain grottO Ia lapls azuI $50. 9ll the ice
bergs in amethystine quartz t$o $50 Il does not
matter IN either that the craftsman has un-
deTtaken 10 treat theme utterly uusympathetlc
10 the qualities Of his material Tho fascination of
pure color IS left him aud 10y his cutting which
really involves cunning manipulation OF light and
shade. he that fascination with extraordinary
effect. In sense he eXerts power which is be-
yond tho reach Of the painter sculptor. for dis
carding all human interest and most OF the rules
OF constructive composition they understand
them, he nevertheless appeals TO the eye and
ioices It with the very quintessence OF sensuous
charm. Most. Of the objects in the bishop collec
ton objects Of practical or personal adorl
ment. They embrace bowls and other vessels.
brush holders and water Jars. sceptres knives and
teWelry. but in spite OF their utarian character
these jades 10 fulhl the purpose OF their
istence simply IN gratifying the beholdors II
color One phase OF the history OF this material
must be noted. however without reference to any
aesthetic principles We refer tho prehistoric
implements recovered from the lako dwellings Of
Switzerland the implements and tools from
Alaska, and the similar ancient pieces which
brought together I'm OF the From the
edge the New-Zealand war club which
figures in this group. and from the curously sin
lister Newt aedonian battle placed beside it.
may see more clearly than from the other
articles in the collection how terrhcay hard jade
IS. Weapons of tempered steel could be more
deadly in the hands OF practised warriors than
these products of the rudest skill, fashoning in
struments Of warfare out Of what might seem.
from point Of view only useless stone.
| A few other items are shown at the museum for
the first time on this occasion. The two panels
| by Piero d Cosimo which were illustrated in The
! Tribune time since, have been placed on
! view; couple OF landscapes by Mr. d. w. Tryon
] have been lent by Mr.. G. L. Jewett. and a good
! water color by Mauve has been lent by the Misses
| Stokes. Mrs Elizabeth W. Chapman has pre-
| scented, IN a picture by Coypel. ~ with
/ Nymphs,' a welcome addition the group OF
/ paintings of the earlier French school. in which
! the examples OF Largilliere Drouais and Natter
/ purchased cut of the Rogers fund not long ago.
! figure SO admirably. The purchase out OF the
Rogers fund Of thirty-seven pieces OF French, Span
ish Italian and Oriental faIeuce Is also to be noted
| with appreciation. But the Bishop fades form the
salient the spring exhibition. They bring
! home to the visitor. nothing put view since
| the Etruscan chariot Of last October brings home
! to him. a sense Of the steady progress being made
! in the development of the Metropolitan a mu-
! scum Of international Importance.
!