New-York tribune., 1905-08-07
THE NEW METROPOLITAN PURCHASE.
Facts About the Frieze of Portrait Heads
Attributed to Bramantino.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: London cable dispatch OF July p describ
ing the latest purchase made by the Metropolitan
Museum at Christie's needs rectifying- The panels
referred To are not by Bramante, for. although
that architectural rival Of Micheangeo frs studied
painting under Mantegna no picture exists which
is attributed him; they are more probably by
Suardi GE;-15S6) who as draughtsman under
Bramante became so famous for his knowledge Of
perspective that he was surnamed BramlntinO-
Describing the frescOs executed by PeruSlno.
SiguoreIl; and others for Nicholas in the latter
half Of the fifteenth century the Vatican, Vasari
tells US that Suard inserted among them several
contonlporary portraits ito which speech only was
wanting" but taste changed rapidly that al
ready. i'm 150S Julius II decided TO sweep all those
frescos away il order 10 redecorate his famous
"stanze in the developed hut less truly deco
ratfve style of Raphael II would seem as II
Raphael himself regretted that destruction for he
set his pupils to copy some OF the portraits before
they obliterated.
shall not discuss the arguments in favor of the
artributiou of the panels in question Braman-
tfno but it is interesting know that while pass
ing through Mantua. in 1881 Mr.. II. WiIlett. Of
Brighton. happened to see them (about forty in
numberl they were carted into town with a load
of old lumber from one of the Gonzaga country
seats i'm demolition either at Asola Volta iu
that neighborhood With innate flair he grasped
their importance and struck a bargain there and
then with the wreckers who must have thought
they were doing" old English maniac when
thew asked and actually received from him the
enormous sum Of $e0 Mr.. ViIIett placed in his
residence on Moupelier Terrace. At Brighton. a
many of the panels would round the drawing
room. where they looked painfully out of keeping
above Flemish and English pictures in early Vic
torian surroundings and he loaned the remainder
the South Kenstngtou Musuem- The portraits
are not of members OF the artists family.
being conventional presentments Of classic ceebTi
ties according To the fancy of the Renaissance.
others lifehke coTntenances of professional beau
ties poets scholars and warriors at the Court Of
the Gonzagas. Among them is the great condot-
tiere Of that day. John Francis son Of Frederick
Of Mantua and supreme commander Of the Italian
armies against Charles VIII Of France. The quaint
headdresses. enolems and monograms enhance the
historical aIlegorca interest of each subject
For many years past the late Mr. Willetts col
lection. dispersed has been the artistic Mecca
of Brighton where that genial old gentleman would
his Mantuan panels riddle OF paternity
B6de Of Berlin. who suggested Rramantino the
atTibUtiOu best suited their wonderfully iudivld
uaI expression under a strong Mauteguesque mfU-
1t is deVOutly to be wished that the restore
tous thres tened In the London kilograms should
he carried oJt- Attention t. pictures often proves
more harmful than time and neglect. and the gen
uiae condition of the Willett portraits adds their
characteristic charm. The purchase for the Metro
potan Is very judicious for these heads originally
set as a frieze under carved wooden ceiling. are
essentially a decorative work. aud New-Ycrk needs
appropriate standards for the application Of arts
To crafts on the principles successfully carried
out by Sir j. PurdOn Clarke at the South kensnE-
ton. II Is another 'auspicium meiOris avi'' for
public galleries in America.
A DE BEAUVIOR-
Scarborough. y Y, Aug. 1. 1895