New-York tribune., 1907-01-06
MUSEUM ACQUISITIONS
Recent additions Include Collection
of Oriental 4rt.

There has just been placed exhibition at the
metropolitan Museum Of Art large collection of
Ireek and Roman antiquities gathered last Tenr
chiefly from private European collections OF the
ia pieces, 72 the Greek terra Gotta figures
generally known Tanagra fgurines Then there
are few gold seal rings, a massive solid silver
handle to a shallow bowl of Roman design, and a
triangular gold ornament which the Museum staff
say is almost unequaled for delicacy and Japanese
like attention to detail
or all the accessions of the last few months 1t Is
expected that the fgurnes will greatest
popular attention This latest lot has been care
fuly selected to fll the weak places in the
present collection Sir Purdon Clarke and his
alas are trying to devote the Museums collection
OF classical art along systematic lines and to round
IL out as a whole. that when complete it will
be as choice it will be large To this end its
agents have been watching the European markets
ready to take advantage of any opportunity to pro-
cure something which would fill a place in the
general scheme. When the collection is somewhat
nearer completion, 1t is hoped to show in detail nv
specimens the growth OF the Greek art from tho
le OF the earliest little terra statuetes to
its climax.
All the terra cottas in the new addition r. tho
collection statuettes with the execution f +tr
large masks and two figures of deer Most NJ then,
Were found near the ancient town Of Tanagrs =,
bpoua' some thirty years ago A large part Of the
rest came from Myrina, in Asia Minor north of
smyrna These are distinctly different in stvIa
1rom those of TanRgra and might have remained
UNKNOWN 10 the world had II not been for the OK
caNauons IN its cemetery by NM Reinach and
POTTER. who then Of the French scboo1 a,
Athehs' some of those in the collection from the
Myrinan cemetery copies of the older models
Of Tanagra.
what Sir Purdon Clarke and Mr.. Robinson con-
slider the gem of the collection is the fragment -,
1efnaie hgure about forty five centimeres in height
so broad and generous are its lines thar be, be.i
tate IN calling IT a "hgurine' and are inclined Ia
mink that 1t was the scuptors model for some
large statue. Mr.. Robinson believes that # un-
Trnv ffa
the qualities of Attic sculpture at its best,
The few NEUROLOGICAL characters in the collection
are chubby, grinning Cupids and Cupid and Psyche
together. Most of them simply represent women
ana young girls in graceful. easy poses.
Several paintings also acquired last year by
the Museum, among them being one Of Sir Peter
Lely's Nell Gwynnes." Apparently the picture
was left unfinished, rather the artist considered
his work done when he had gained certain effects
in reproducing the glowing flesh. Two other ex-
amHes Of the Dutch school have been bought
Calm Sea" by S. de Vlieger. and Landscape by
Solomon Van Ruysdael picture received last
month which has caused heartburnnRs in England
because OF It's purchase for the Museum is the
portrait of the Rev. W. Pennicott. by Sir Thomas
Lawrence. When the sale made The London
Daily Mall said: The picture is irretrievably lost
this country It is only another instance OF a
foreign country benehtng by the lack Of initiative
and the niggardlines5 OF the authorities Of our
national collections.
The celebrated Gibbs-Channing portrait Of Wash
lngton, painted IN MS ne TIME oy 'T!ioert stuart
has been lent TO the Museum. and is hung along
the Carroll portrait Of Washington, painted by
Stuart in 1903 The Gibbs portrait was the first one
of the type originated by Stuart showing the right
side of Washingtons face. and probably was
painted in September 1875.
As usual, j. Perpont Morgan has been generous
giver the Museum. his latest gifts being an
Oriental hanging some English embroidery and a
Genoese chasuble. Three English altar froutincs.
French altar hanging and Italian and Spanish
hangings have been bought. The Spanish hangngs
interesting chiefly for the way in which they
were made. The pattern was clt from cloth OF one
color: and the cloth from which the pattern itself
had been sewed another piece of diff
ferent color; the pieces which had been cut out
were sewed onto another strip, that cloth was
lost.
THE Bulletin. of the Museum. will be out to-
morrow. The leading article is a description of the
old home OF the Museum in West 14th street when
1t occupied the old Douglas mansion. 1t is illus
trated by etchIngs, made by Frank Waller. of the
interior of the mansion. which the Museums
second temporary home.