The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-27
SAYS ART HERE is PRUDISH.
MUSEUM SCORED FOR REJECTING
BIONDPS "SATURNALIA."
Gen. CesnOla Alone Opposed RELOCATING
It to the Cellar. and lie Tried 10 Have
1t Shown At the 1T. Louis Fair-Triai
or tho Italian SculptOr's Suit Begun.

1t to the Cellar, and lie Tried 70 haNe
It Shown At the 1T. Louis Fair--Triai
| or tho Italian Sculptor's Suit Begun.
A letter written by Paul Ballo, who acted
as an assistant secretary to Gen. Ceenoia,
when the latter was curator OF the Metro
politan Museum Of Art, WAS introduced
In evidence Yesterday at the trial before
Supreme Court Justice Leventritt OF the
cut IN equity brought by Ernesto Biondi'
the Italian sculptor, to have an accounting
from the museum, as corporation OF inc
damages he claims to have sustained
through the action Of the trustees IN con-
signing to the cellars OF the building MS
famous group 'Saturnalia.
The letter, which, according to the writer,
expressed tho unofficial sentiments OF Gen.
Oesnola, contains some caustic. comments
on artistic sentiment in New York 1t was
sent by Ballo to vittorio Seggio, Commits
soner for Italy at the st. Louis exposition,
and Is dated Dec. 20. 1902, Mr.. Ballo sug-
eested that signor Seggio should try to
have Blondi exhibit the group at st. Louis
'He tmeauing Gen. Cesnoial attempted
Tho posi- BILE and the impossible wrote
Ballo, ~but Purftanism Ia stll too strong
In New York. An envious clique OF New
York sc,lptors worlPd in an underhand
manner and so influenced the trustees OF
tho museum that they not only refused to
acquire the group, as recommended by
Gen. Cesnola, but ordered its removal
from the museum.
he was the only one to make any oppn-
Gtion to this resolution, but his efforts were
uselees, and he now unofficaly, but Or
sincere admirer Of the great Italian sculptor,
whose work is recognized and appreciated
st its true value in Italy and in France
and throughout Europe, has requested me
to dot for him. This work OF art here, on
The contrary, raised tremendous opposi-
don, and was declared immoral because
the breasts Of one OF the women in the
group were too much exposed.
The writer quoted from several noted
foreign authorities to show that Biondi's
work stood high In artistic circles. He
continued:
.Gen. Cesnola still hopes that the
group may be acquired by the museum at
St. Louis, in. case it should be exhibited at
that international exposition. In the West
ern part OF the United States the artistic
sentiment is more developed than 1t Is In
New York. and many years will pass before
this city Is strong and courageous enough
to cast off the chains OF prejudice. l must
repeat that in all l have written you the
General must not be considered as speaking
officially, for In doing so he would dis
credit the action taken by his colleagues"
Biondi himself Is in Italy. but his brother
Constantine, who held power of attorney
from him, was in court, and was the chief
witness of the day. Whitelaw Reid, It
was stated, was subp9naed. but he was
excused by consent. Gilbert Ray Halves
acted as counsel for Biondi. while Elihu
Root tried the case for the museum
The "Saturnalia" was not brought to
court, as it weighs over six tons. and
would almost block up the courtroom.
group was put in evidence. 1t repre-.
sents allegorioally, the awakening Of
Christianity and the death OF Paganism.
Several figures Of men and women, some
are embraced In the group. but all are
draped fully, with the exception Of a stoop-
ing woman whose breast are bare, her
shoulder drapery having slipped down.
A little child, startled at the scene and
e!inging to its mothers skirts. Is the central
figure.
The group was first exhibited in 1900 at
Paris, where 1t took the Grand Prix. and
Blond was made a member Of the Legion
dHonneur. Subsequently jury, Of Italian
artists inspected the group. and on thelT
report replica was ordered for he National
Gallery at Rome. Then the big bronze
group was shipped over to this country
and exhibited at the Buffalo exposition,
where 1t attracted great attention.
Several offers were made to Biondi for
its subsequent exhibition, but the best came
from the Metropolitan Museum through
Gen. di Cesnola. A contract was made
by the General with Constantine Biondi
TO exhibit the group for one year in the
new east wing The contract provided
that It should be ret to Biond at the
end Of the year
Const antine Biondi testified to the pre-
hminary negotiations with Gen. di Ceenola,
which resulted in the shipping Of the group
to the museum. He identified tho bond
given by the museum to the United States
The bond represented Is Der cent. Of the
valuat ion, which ia about 3275O00
The trial will be continued Monday.