The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-25
SIR C. PURDON CLARKE.
The Fortunate Choice Made by the
Metropolitan Museum.

To THE EDITOR or THE SuS-Sir. As !
have had a good many opportunities. during
the past few years, OF coming into contact
with Sir c. Purdon Clarke. the new director
OF the Metropolitan Museum. perhaps | may
be permitted to congratulate the museum
aud its officials and the people OF New York
upon their good fortune
1t simply means that New York is to have
the services Of the best trained all round
museum manager now living man who not
only knows art. as il is represented on canvas
and in metals and clay. but Ia an expert in
architecture often neglected as a branch
OF art The latter has shown itself by the
use OF all the resources az his command Tor
preserving and exhibiting stairways. wsins-
cotinEs and ceilings. but especially as applied
TO India, OF whole buildings.
Indeed, the service he has done, nrst IN
studying India from the point OF view OF art
second, In preserving examples. ana, nnalIy
10 make them effective. has been, perhaps,
his most distinctive achievement. The appeal
which that great country made 20 his magma
ton Was 80 heightened by his training as
an architect that he has. perhaps, done more
TO make II and it's people understood IN Ing
land than all other OF his living oountrymen
together. His efforts in organizing EXHIBIT
tons of everything relating 70 II and OF COM
manding fitting and permanent, recosnition
in British museums-especially thAt AT Soutu
Kensin gton-have been interchangeable. ,
on the personal side. he is genial and kindly,
approachable and democratic. free ana out
spoken in his opinions and comments, out
not trusulent or over confident He has an
instinct which lends him to detect shams and
counterfeits and has not accustomed himself
TO suffer fools gladly. He is good organizer
a willing and ENTHUSIASTIC teacher, strict
discipinaran hard worker. and Interested
in many things, He already knows our people
very well and will put himself into close
relations with the art interests OF New York.
He viii also contribute much. 10 far as his
duties may permit, TO the clarifying OF the
art atmosphere OF the whole country. Of
Is not SSarPssingg that Mr 70 1an
who not only welcomed his collections, but
made himself into frank and helpful critic
Perhaps no man In Europe recognized. more
quickly than did Sir Purdop Clarke, what
Il meant to universal art. so far rs collecting
was concerned. when a rich and Intelligent
patron entered the field. He saw that mere
as how TO get II, and that all the museums
in the world could not compete with such
buyer But he gave welcome hospitality
to one Morgan collection after another.
pointing out. in some INSTANCES. where the
purchaser had been imposed upon and yet
never failing TO commend and justify the
intelligence and the courage which haa
brought together 30 many fine examples.
Perhaps now that Sir Purdon mas cast IN
his lot with new world museum. he VIII not
be so much grleved II. In the course OF time.
these interesting and unique collections
leave Europe never 10 return
It il hardly necessary to discuss the in
teresting and ingenious theory that TINS
appointment should ha gone 10 an American.
II may well happen, one Of these millennia
days. when the world q art ls freely welcomed
without the levy at our landing ports. OF an
absurd and prohibitive DUTY. that the making
OF available managers OF art museums VIII
not be. so far as this country 10 concerned,
an impossible industry UNTIL that time ar
rives. we may well content ourselves by
illustrating. as in this case. our old doctrine
that The best Ii good enough for Americans.
NEW YORK Jan. "a GEORGE F. PARKER.