New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-29
ADDRESS BY c. R. LAMB.
Opening of CiCic Art Collection Of
East Side CiUic Club.

The civic art collection OF the East Side Civic
Club No. "a Grand-st., was formally opened last
evening On the walls were displayed about Two
hundred framed views Of civic structures from all
parts OF the Western World, ancient and modern.
comprising photographs OF museums. art galleries.
city halls streets squares and gates PARIS libra
ries Fairgrounds. fountains, baths and bridges.
Charles B. Slower. secretary OF the club. said
that great as the Metropolitan Museum of Art
now Is. 81 lacked. It ever must the important
quality OF being close 10 the homes Of the people
Mr. Carnegie now distributing libraries al
over this city. but there even greater need
~ local museums. that the people might enjoy
daily rather than mere holiday visits. Mr. Slower
Hoped to see the civic collection opened last
evening grow into a first class local museum
whose strongest feature would be its civic art sec
Eion but which would also be enriched by worthy
copies OF the masters in both sculpture and paint
ing
Charles r. Lamb made address Municipal
Art" He said in part:
agree perfectly. with what my friend Mi: Mr.
SteFer. has said with reference 10 the eNhlbluoh
step in favor Of museums for comprehensive civic
ideas. which I assume lie viii accept without ques-
ZION, and that is that every example which shaIl
or scale model reproductions, shall be SO shown as
10 give not merely the isolated example but its
absolute SURROUNDINGS IN ne poslLoh IN Mtlich u
was designed for. and the full effect OF which Is
the artistic expression of the arlst
TO my mind, much OF the difficulty under which
we are now laboring a. 10 what is art ana the
fact that in many minds il merely means a
picture within a gold frame and single piece OF
sculpture standing on a marble pedestal IN the
isolation OF works Of ART shown IN the museums.
only in this country, but abroad whereby their
very disassociation with the surroundings for
which they We're designed. causes those who now
see them receive distinctly false impression as
10 what was meant by The artist IN ms original
For ii must never be forgotten that every great
work Of designed for particular place,
with special surrounding OF its own 10 peTsoillI3
the beholoer Every statue % ancient Greece, rep
hCas Of which in every museum. was so
days INCLUDING me great paintings copies OF WAich
10 be found ia every household, was also
created TO full definite requirements IN distinct
locations. The ''SStlne Madonna was a great
altar picture he by all the end OF great
cathedral the focus Of the entire architectural
composition. Donatelo's st George" Is not mere
HIS armCr but was the gift of one Of the guilds OF
the city for the exterior Of the OF san Niche !;
q series Tor ne * terror elr;cheIt 81 thls most
beautiful building OF the Italian Renaissance eX-
ample after example might be tnstRnced 10 enforce
the truth of the statement and the validity Of the
argument.
/ referred to Donatelo's st George" for the
reason that, TO my mind, nothing is more stimulat-
rosents the gifts OF the guilds of the city and holds
up 10 Us an ideal which the very absence OF, when
moment OF our CITY nan being elaborated by gltts
from the guild Of butchers leather workers, metal
workers ana Inc dTE soods ana Woolen trade
(Which in the days OF old was the Guild OF Neav-
eTs). each In turn giving work Of sculpture. with
ats enriched architectural setting 10 elaborate the
exterior or this city building or ours as was done
in the days Of Douatelo by the guilds Of the city
OF Florence!
Our city that is your city and mine either the
dereliction IN civic art we responsible for
its present IS ours 10 improve that its future
may be for children what hope. not merely
the largest and most poDulous CITY In The world
but also the best and most beautiful