New-York tribune., 1905-04-24


Museum: the Demeter Of the British Museum;
Menander and Apoxyomenos from the Vatican;
torso Of Venus: the Dancing Girl OF the Ber-
lin Museum and the Roman Girl OF the Vat-
can This central court is most impressive in
Its dignity and stately simplicity
There are five large courts grouped around
the central hail. and each is filled with casts
and reproductions illustrating the history of
sculpture Egyptian art is represented by heads
and busts in the Louvre and in the British
Museum. Flat surface carving peculiar to early
Assyrian art is shown in the black obelisk. the
lion hunt and other slabs, and fragment of
pavement reproduced from examples in the
British Museum. The Greek exhibits include
the throne Of Venus in the National Museum,
Rome; a splendid group of the best preserved
figures from the east pediment of the Par
thenon; the Athena group from the Pergamum
frieze in Berlin. and the statue of the Dying
Gladiator or Galatian. There is also a remark
able collection of stelai around the balcony Of
the central court. In the Italian court there
are panels from the pulpit Of the Cathedral Of
Siena, the bronze gates Of the Baptstery in
Florence and the shrines of Or San Michele
and St. Zenobius to illustrate the art of the
Pisanos. Orcagna and Ghiberti. Donatello is
represented by cast of the statue of st.
Francis at Padua, a sarcophagus and numerous
paIe4S, OeSlQeTlO ia SeIIlgnanO Dy ITleHe, OuSl
and shield; Andrea del Verrocchio, by the bust
Of Bartolommeo Colleoni, Cupid and Dolphin
and other works; and Luca and Andrea della
Robbia. by panels medallions and cherub heads.
Benetto da Maiano's pulpit in Santa Croce,
Florence, is reproduced with splendid effect.
Matteo Civitalrs Adoring Angel from Lucca
Cathedral is one of the interesting exhibits, and
Benvenuto Cellini's panel of Perseus and An
dromeda is another. Michael Angelo is splen-
didly represented by the Virgin and Child at
Bruges, the statue of Jason, the figure Of III
Pensieroso" Cupid, and the unfinished "Roun-
del" There IS also complete reproduction OF
the recumbent statue of Guidarello Guidarelli
in the Academy Of Fine Arts, Ravenna. In the
German and French court there are panels and
figures by Adam Kraft, Veit Stoss and Peter
Vischer; friezes and pilasters by Jean lie Texier,
Pnon, Colombo. and Goujon; and statuettes by
Prieur and Falconet. There is also a most in
teresting Celtic court with crosses, slabs and
panels and examples of lettering.
OF the seven picture galleries approached from
the balcony five are temporarily filled with
drawings and water cOlors from South Kensing-
ton. The remaining galleries contain the Mac
donald and permanent collections of modern
works by Josef Israels, Watts. Jules Breton,
Nillais, Orchardson. Alma-Tadema, Hook Pet
tie Phillip, La Thangue. Guthrie, Macbeth, Jean
Aubert and other painters Mr.. Watts's Eve
end "Orpheus and Eurydice" the choicest
gems, and the collection of ninety-two portraits
Of painters is the unique feature. The picture
galleries will be filled time goes on, and the
committee Will find it difficult to shut out in
ferior modern works ard copies of old masters
bequeathed 10 them as genuine original can
vases In this respect the Aberdeen gallery will
resemble other collections Of paintings in pro-
vincial towns; but in its collection of casts It
has something of unique interest and great edu-
cational value. While the number of casts is
smalI-between two and three hundred replicas-
the selection has been scientifically made so as
TO include representative works Of the Egyptian,
Assyrian. Greek Greco Roman, Italian, French
and German schools of sculpture. A dozen Of
these works. including the torso Of Venus the
panels of the Sena Cathedral. an altar piece
from Fiesole Adam Krafft's Seventh Station
and the tympanum and statue of David, from
the Golden Doorway of Freiberg, cannot be seen
elsewhere in Great Britain; the replicas of the
French section are also unique; there is only one
other copy Of the De Bohun monument Here
ford Cathedral; the group from the east pedi-
ment of the Parthenon and the front of the
altar az Padua are of exceptional interest; as
many as eight works were specially moulded
for the gallery, and score or more cannot be
found in the United Kingdom outside of the
william museums: and the collections of Celtic
crosses. stelai and the lettering casts not
DUPLICATED in other provincial galleries. Aber-
domains have Just cause for pride in having
series of casts so unusual and representative
and. as the arrangements for lighting the courts
by day and night are perfect. and as the linen
or crash hangings are Of the peculiar shade of
pale green. against which sculpture is seen to
the best advantage. everything has been most
artistically ordered.
The projectors of the Aberdeen sculpture gal
lery have not been working at haphazard They
started with a scientific plan, and have not
spared time or trouble in carrying it out in de-
tail When they had finished their work they
invited 10 the opening ceremonies the directors
Of art museums some Of the best critics in Eu-
rope and many prominent artists and men Of
letters and they were overwhelmed with con-
gratulations at the great dinner given at the
town hall in honor Of Mr. Murray's guests.
Lord Reay, Mr. James Bryce. Professor Treu,
Mr.. Frampton. Mr.. Dicksee and Commenda-
tore CALI, from the Vatican, united in describ-
ing the collection as most wonderful in its COM
! pletencss and representative character; and Pro
fessor Edward Robinson. of the Boston Museum,
/ In what was generally regarded the heartiest
and most thoughtful speech of the evening eX-
| nressed admiration for the taste and beauty of
the sculpture courts and confidence that they
would assist local artists in discovering new uses
for granite and improved methods Of decorating
| the town Whether not carveTs in wood and
stone make use OF this gallery in refining their
sanse Of the beautiful it is at least certain that
/ the new institution VIII be OF permanent beneht
| "a the community in educating public taste II
| win be school where eyes and minds viii be
trained by familiar intercourse with master
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