The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-23

method OF admitting each kind or light.
Still u fourth fundamental idea IL that
each department OF an nrt museum
Should be complete by itself, 30 that,
for example, ono cnn visit the rooms
devoted to classical art without going
through portions OF other departments.
Another thought carried out In some
European museums is that the grounds
should BIO beautitled with stetuary and
shrubbery, and that the interior courts
should contain opportunity to rest
amidst delightful surroundings.
To assist in including these and
many other desirable things ia the
scheme for new art museum In Bos-
ton commission composed OF officials
OF the museum and architects went
iabrond come time ago to study leading
European museums. Practically every
Important treasure house OF works OF
art on the Continent and In Great Brit
| Gin was visited by the commissioners,
notebook in hand. They inquired into
| tile size OF galleries, whether top-
lighted or side-lighted; into the color
| OF backgrounds. the extent and dispo-
s!tion OF doorways. tho means for rest
end recreation, the heating and venti-
lation, into all the constructive prob
lums In short. Upon their return
report was prepared. which gives de-
tailed information regarding the are
arrangements of many museums.
| Tho question OF lighting the exhibits
was regarded as SO important and so
tiiitle investigated. either here or
AG Dad, that an odd-looking expert
.ital building was erected on tho
Este of the new museum. In this struc-
Lure physicists of tho Massachusetts,
| Institute OF Technology carried on ex-
pcriments for many months.
| Besides these two principal directions
of study many other Investigations
were made during the long period OF
preliminary preparation for the new
museum These. at last, have been
concluded. and the plans have now
| been made public. They show in
every detail a clear intention to make
tho museum place of popular resort.
The front. situated upon Huntington
avenue. one of the leading thorough
fares OF traffic in the New England
capital. Is intended to be sufficiently
monumental. but first and foremost to
reveal tho nature of tho interior. Tho
architectural arrangement, with pro-
| icct!nS pavilions and an ornamental
.Iforecourt. Is such as naturally to draw
the crowd in from the avenue, much
as the great doorway OF the modern
department store Is designed with a
View to making 1t hard for shopping
| humanity to slip past. The modern
THEORY Is not 20 keep precious collec-
tons OF pictures and sculptures away
from the people, but to endeavor in
every Legitimate way to lead people
to become familiar with them.
Once inside the building, the crowd
will ordinarily ascend an easy stair
cREe to the main or exhibition floor
the building. like most museums. Will
be two stories high-whence from 4
4 cettraI rotunda any desired depart
lmcnt is easily reached, or circuit Is
made of all the collections. The Wis
flor viii find seven main divisions:
Il Chinese and Japanese art, classical art.
/ Egyptian art, pictures (includlng
/ prints), Western art (other than pic
ttures). library and photograph collec-
tions and collections of casts.
The main floor will contain what is
known as the exhibition series" In
j It's galleries some of the most impor-
4 tont exhibits OF the museum will BIO
4 shown under conditions as favorable
as scientific knowledge and artistic
4 taste have been able to create. No
. room will be overcrowded. The coll
lcctions, Furthermore, on the main
Il floor will frequently be changed so
that the community viii not get an
4 impression of sameness.
On the secondary or lower floor. be-
+ meath the exhibition rooms OF each de-
Ipartment with which 1t Is connected
by appropriate staircases and -eleva-
+ tors. are rooms set aside for study and
for storage of large collections. all the
objects of which cannot be kept on
view at once. If the visitor to the
museum has been Interested in. say,
display Of selected Japanese prints
in one of the exhibition galleries, he
may. by going downstairs, discover.
with the assistance of a trained cura-
g tor. a very large collection of other
prints of the same character, kept in
portfolios, and readily brought out for
consultation. on the lower floor, too.
are the Offices of administration OF
the museum.
1t is planned eventually to have on
z the same lot, which comprises twelve
acres n hall. or '.basilica,,' for the dis
rlay of Gusts, and building for the
school of drawing, painting and sculp-
! ,rre connected with the museum. These