The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-12
ART MUSEUM IN EDUCATION.
SIR PCRDON CLARKE AT 4 ROUND
TABLE SYMPOSIUM.
Points Out How the Metr opolitan Ma,
Develop as an Educational Centre
p. DieIman Thinks Art VIII survive
ToIstOi and Has survived Brunetiere.

ToIstOi n Has survived Brunetiere.
Sir Caspar Purdon Clarke. director of
the Metropolitan Museum Of Art: Frederick
Dielman and Prof. Walter S. Perry were the
three principal contributors last night TO
a symposium before The Round Table"
a. the Teachers College, the subject being
THE Educational Function of the Museum"
Sir Purdon sketched he history of the
museums of England and the popular edu-
cation in art in that country. and outlined
some plans he had in view TO increase the
usefulness of the Metropolitan Museum.
II attendance means anything art is dis
tinctly on the up grade on Moningside
Heights, for the audience that listened TO
the director of the museum jammed the
auditorium, sat in the aisles and on the steps
and overlooked into the corridors.
Sir Purdon said that practically all OF
England's effort to educate the people in
art matters had been put forth in the last
half century, the decade from 1850 to 1880
being one OF the greatest growth. He
described the almost accidental origin OF
the South Kensington Museum, and told
how it had aimed to cover the field OF a
certain kind Of medieval art that had been
ne glected.
He tod how the crafts had arranged
themselves practically so as to complement
the work of the English museums, describ-
ing the system by which small collections
were sent out to every part of the country
for, study and observation, and added that
il ought TO be possible to do something like
that in the United States and so extend
verv widely the benefcent influence Of
the Metropolitan Museum.
Sir Purdon declared that especially good
| work had been done in two directions by
our museum. One was the collection Of
stone work from Cyprus that Gen. di Cesnola
had brought to This country, n which
excelled any similar collection in any other
museum. The other was the collection OF
pictures.
There are tastes in pictures" said Sir
Purdon, at least that is my opinion, though
SINE say that there is no such thing as
taste, but only right and wrong. Still, l
think that there are pictures that are almost
right, but not quite, and pictures that are
wrong, but not all wrong. and what has been
regarded in one age as all right has come
to he thought all wrong IN another age.
Our gallery at the Metropolitan Museum,
l., on the whole, good. To be sure there are
some pictures that we should be better Of
without, but fear of what might be offered
in their place gives US pause.
Il nave seen two distinct changes pass
over the world of art. ] was brought up
to admire the work of "A certain group OF
painters. but to-day only two or three of
that group still are regarded as admirable.
There's a lesson 20 be learned from this
and, learning this lesson, ] hope to be able
to extend our gallery so that II shall show
the best of each period.
Sir Purdon underscored the importance OF
having an excellent library Of reference
where il could easily be consulted by visi-
tors to the museum. He also told of some
plans under way for the reproduction at the
museum of certain historical periods, so
far as details of pottery, metal work. tex
tiles, glass and so on were concerned.
Thus, for example, it would be possible 10
observe many of the details OF life which
surrounded the daily existence of the Ger
man feudal baTons.
Frederick Dielman. president of the Ma
tional Academy of Design, said til t he
was glad TO observe among those present a
spirit that showed that they did not re-
gard the evenings exercises as OF the ma
ture of a wake.
Prom darkest Russia, he said, there
has come the voice of a seer proclaiming
that art is dead, or worse than dead, that 1t
has, in fact, an evil influence, o have
read his depressing words, and they are so
extreme as to convince one OF their error.
The late NJ. Brunetiere echoed TOlstOi's
words and added worse ones of his own TO
the effect that in all art there Is the germ OF
evil. An eminent Harvard professor has
also lately pronounced a funeral GRAFTON
over the art of sculpture. All these pro-
nouncements are depressing 10 one inter
ested in art. But ] don't believe these
croakers. They do not understand the aims
of art. Art will survive. There will still
be individuals who will insist upon making
music. carving, painting and building beau
tiful structures, and W hose work will strike
responsive chords in the breasts of the peo-
pie"
Mr.. Dielman thought people read too
much of the literature of art and knew
too little of art itself. They were too nxiou
10 -6nd out all about art while remain
ing as innocent az a child of the real Charac-
ter of art. Art, he said. ought no more to
be analyzed than the fragrance of a flower.
Prof. Perry made a plea for the equipment
Of museums with trained stats of attend
anu who should be able to explain collec-
ions to al visitors and make museums
a. practically useful as the attendants of