New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-02-19
THE NEW DIRECTOR HERE.
Sir Caspar Pardon Clarke 4rr7Ues--
Talks of 4rt.


Victoria and Albert museums, London VINO is 10
succeed the late General di Cesnola as director OF
the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was a passenger
on the steamship Campania. which arrived yester-
day. He comes to attend the meeting of the board
of trustees on Tuesday and formally accept the
place He will be the guest of Robert W. de
Forest He said yesterday on the pier;
On my last visit here went, to Albany You You
started n tSe fh Italian 9ns sye The architect
Rchsrdson desired to finish It in the Gofhc s sty
That decision created a sensation and men mem IN
ba tb state fne Tgh The capo at Albany
is one of the most wonderful buildings IN 'ne
in just such ways that Am 0fSd side Is e Spo
bound up in traditions. Here there are no such
bonds. -.
of completing the south Kensngton Museum eInad Is
ft under Pat OF ar ae now Cutting the front
on It will not be completed FOR years w tnlna
great temptation to stay.
Sir Purdon was asked if it was not so that rich
Americans were easily pduced to purchase spurious
art treasures and antiques He replied:
That is a hard question to answer. Americans
The desire to palm off modern work as antique nH ms is
horn OF the great qeane' and more moneyNmore
than museum directors approve Tor they nave NM
tied means with which to purchase-and they have
run up the prices Now not only are are pav
ing high prices as the Americans.
Sir Purdon spoke in the highest terms of ]. Pier
pont Morgans art treasures. He said
1 have seen much of Mr.. Morgan. While his Lon
don house was being built had fine collection
was Gathered With good taste The collection which
is a splendid one will bring every cent that was
paid for it. and perhaps a profit. And this in spite
of high prices paid
OF the art dealers he declared
The dealers are of great value. for they bring
to the collector things which would take hetme
and he brings TO the collector the result of his
pay what he offers.
It has been said that Sir Purdon expects to de-
velop a system by which the Metropolitan Museum
will work in collaboration with the South Ken
sington Museum. In reply to question whether
his leaving England was not Influenced = his an
noyance over red tape, he replied:
The money comes from Parliament The head Of
the department is the Parliament chief. Under
ment Now when somethng has 70 be done those
below report TO those next above, and the whole
chief signs his initials to the proposition.
gu can h on fnat IN or ms KIM n
cision, and often a thing must be done almost in
private COLLECTORS desire to buy dhe same thing
While one is waiting for the red tape to unwind the
bargain is snapped up.
Sir Purdon would not say. however, that red
tape in the slightest way Influenced his taking his
place in America. His remarks We're not
complaints from himself, but observations on ex-
listing conditions.
tiques in the Metropolitan Museum. He called at
tention to the fact that he was not in a position
to discuss such question. He went say:
1t is to be expected that there are some. Look at
the Louvre re, and our own museum the South Ken;
and such profits 10 be made. there are bound to be
spurious articles These will sometimes find their
way into museums, but sooner or later they are
some misrepresented pieces are often valuable in
themselves.
As architect, Sir Purdon asserted. he was
particularly interested in New York's syscrapers
At the home of Mr.. De Forest last evening. Sir
Purdon expressed the opinion that American art
would go ahead, but that If America would go
more TO England than to France its art would be
more sympathetic TO him He observed that the
landscape school here was very fine school, and
that some of the best English artists-Sargent and
Whistler. for instance-were American born and
Of American family.
Sir Purdon said it twenty-one years since
he visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art He
remembered well the D Cesnola collection of
Cypriote antiquities. The museum however did
not then impress Sir Purdon so deeply as the Bos-
ton Museum. which seemed to him ahead of New
York on account of its broad management in per
fecting each department. The 'Metropoli-
tan impressed Sir Purdon and he declared there
was no reason why the Metropolitan Museum of
Art should not be the museum to which all the
other museums looked up. A museum in the
opinion of Sir Purdon. should be a living insttu-
ton and its educational purpose should be double
one. There was use he said, in educating de-
signers if there public TO appreciate them
Sir Purdon said that the South Kensington
Museum 1900 a year was available for purchases
Since the museum started in 1856 the government
had spent 1900 the institution and art objects
which cost n5OO,00 had been given to 1t. Sir Pur-
don remarked that it well TO have people see
how ornament grew, how one style was developed
from another For that purpose casts and repro
auctions were valuable 1t would be a good thing
for the museum to keep in touch with American de-
signers. and it would be well TO provide fund for
the reproduction of designs There was no reason
why there should be travelling collections Of
casts that would go around the expenses being
shared At the South Kensington Museum such ex-
penses were shared between state and municipality
He also declared:
,,t should hope to see the museum in close touch
win every important educational institution in
New-York Including your public schools
m am 6eeEsr in good catalogues and landlords,
confess had no little hesitation in accepting
an AImerican appointment lest ! might be treated
me more completely on this point than the way
me american newspapers have spoken of my ap-
! think appreciate the great opportunity which
your NeW-York museum has under the presidency
Of so broad minded a lover of art as ] Pjernont
morgan and my desire will be- with his assistance
operation of the American art nubIic r. 1919 ~
most of that opportunity.
Sir Purdon expects to return TO England next
Saturday He will visit the museum as often as
possible this week j. Pierpont Morgan will give
a dinner for him tomorrow evening at his home
No PIG Madson-ave Mr.. De Forest on Tuesday
evening will give a reception at MS home No
Washington Square North. when many artists will
Sir Purdon!
FOUR VESSELS AGROUND.