New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-04

Sir Casp&r Purdon Clarke has at last COM
pleted his extensive programme OF reforms IN
the Metropolitan Auseum OF Art After four
months in Office as director he has surveyed the
Institution from cellar to attic and made up MS
mind on such a variety OF matters as cheap
luncheons. no paydays picture grouping inter-
national loSn collections. exhibitions or native
art low priced catalogues and photographs Bis
one aim is to make the Museum free art school
for al the people. place OF aesthetic recreation
where the wise arrangement Of pictures ana oo-
sects VII enlighten the least cultured, resort
combining pleasure and education. II is no part
OF his purpose 10 crafty the whims Of donors
TO cater 10 peculiar cults exhibit a tumble
of disconnected cur1os.
Hitherto the new director has been somewhat
harnpered by time consuming details he did not
expect Dinners. receptions. vast correspond
encs and sheaVes OF press cuttings have nearly
overwhelmed him He has consigned much of
the correspondence to the wastebasket and dele
gated a secretary 10 look the news reports
and sift out the most important The new d.
rector praises the frank openmindedness OF j.
Pierpont Morgan. president OF the trustees. and
js himself hospitable TO suggestions. accepting
hsw good idea without moments ceremony. d
What is the origin Of the popular educa-
tfonal museum" a Tribune reporter asked Sir
Purdon-
II IS q natural development Of the new from
tho old, the breaking away from old tradition
and exclusiveness" he replied. I'm Italy,
France and England the advocates OF the new
idea, finding II impossible TO do anything with
ne established institutions. created museums Of
q broader scope. But the museum in turn
becomes conservative and gives occasion for a
fresh revolt. For example. the National Gallery
in London terminates its scope with the paint
snss OF Constable A collection OF modern art,
presented 20 the National. was passed on TO the
South Kensington which again decided that the
newer Tate Gallery ought TO be the custodian.
The educational idea carried out in different d.
sections IN the museums Of Europe. has great
possibilities One must understand and define
TIE limits OF the purpose. neither TO encroach
On the anthropolog1cal field TO devote |
everything TO the beautiful in art"
What is the principal need Of the Metro /
pslitsn?-
ITO extend its collections beyond pictures and |
sculptures, which have been disproportionarely |
fostered. The important fields Of engraving |
ceramics. textiles. wood and ivory carving. gold
and silver ware, Jewels. etc. not sufficiently |
illustrated give one comprehensive view of |
srt from the beginning 70 the present time. In |
ceramics have the Cypriote lotteries and |
fine loan collection of Chinese porcelains, but the
epoch making works OF the near East and OF |
Europe are missing There is something in |
Greek vases. but practically nothing OF Persia's |
glazed Tiles. the iridescent ware Of Turkey the |
tna3olica of Italy, French sevres and Dresden |
china. It is not wise 10 have one magnificent |
specimen and then gap OF several centuries to |
the next example. There ought TO be typical /
works showing the progress Of the art, chron- |
ologicslly otherwise. and the very arrange |
ment should tnstil unconsciously into the visitor
lessons OF the greatest import. One may stare
without profit at an isolated work, but when he
sees what led up TO it and what came from It he
makes comparisons, understands and appre-
GATES"