The sun., 1909-12-29
NEW GIFTS TO THE MUSEUM
FLORENTINE PANELS PRE-
SENTED BY y. r. MORGAN.
Important Examples Of Italian Deco
ratiye Art which Tell the story OF the
search for the Golden Pteeoe-A
New Painting by John Ia Fargo.

NeaFCn Tor Nue G0ektu FNrecc-A
New Painting by John Ia Fargo.
In the Bulletin OF the Metropolitan
Museum OF Art for December, which
Is issued to-day. mention is made OF num-
erous acquisitions received during the
last month. including paintings. sculp-
lures and textiles.
Notable among the new accessions
are two Cassone panels Of the school of
Francesca Pesellino. representing scenes
from the expedition OF the Argonauts.
presented to the museum by J. Pierpont
Morgan. These examples OF Florentine
decorative art are said to date from the
early part OF the second half OF the If
teenth century. The subject OF both
pictures is the Adventure OF the Golden
Fleece. The first panel tells the early
story of Jason, and in the second the do
ings OF the Argonauts are portrayed after
their arrival in Colchis. At the left hand
side of the first panel Jason. in armor
OF gold. bids farewell to King Pelias.
the usurping King OF Iolcus. Jason is
also seen standing by his horse at the
foot OF q stairway ready to start on
his travels to enlist his companions Tor
adventure. In the foreground are figures
OF soldiers. oourtiers. horses and dogs
on the left. and a spirited hunting scene
is depicted on the right. At the base
OF a mound of stone beyond stream
to the right is Orpheus, and near by are
the animals charmed by his music. AZ
the extreme right Hylas is surrounded
by three playful nymphs. who lay hands
on the youth. He resists their attempts
to capture him with a dramatic gesture,
and appears to call for aid. Beyond IL
the Argo with voyagers on board.
The second panel describes the ad-
ventures in Colchis and the winning OF
the fleece. The story begins with the
landing OF the heroes from the Argo,
which is beached near by. Mercury and
Orpheus head the company, which also
includes Jason. who with helmet in hand
addresses the king. Eetes. The kings
daughter. Medea, stands at one side.
followed by a gayly costumed retinue.
Other scenes include the courtyard
Of the palace, with courtiers and coun-
cillors, and a spirited picture OF horse
and rider galloping over a drawbridge.
The concluson OF the adventure 10
| shown in the circular enclosure hanked
by three towers occupying the centre OF
the panel These panels were reproduced
| in the catalogue OF the Bardini sale in
London in 1900. The architectural frames
of the fifteenth century style in which they
were formerly shown have been retained.
The panels have been placed In Gallery ?
at the museum, where they are now on
view.
Fargo. which the museum has receutlv
acquired. il a gift from j. Pierpont Nor
/ gan and Henry Walters. IL Is dated 1870
and belongs to the earlier years OF the
artist. A woman's figure is seated on
in one hand and pencil in the other.
At the right large tree spreads its
branches across the top of the picture.
Another accession is "A Portrait OF the
Artist" by William Rothenstein, one OF
the younger British artists. which is n
gift from Mrs. Chadbourne. Rothen-
stein was a pupil Of Legros in London
and completed his artistic training in
Paris, where he was an associate OF Con-
dor. In Germany IL is said his work has
met with keen appreciation.
He is also appreciated in London.
| The Convalescent. Portrait OF His
Wife" by Ford MADDOX Brown. has been
| acquired by the museum and comes from
the collection OF H. Boddington. pre-
/ A bronze bas-relief OF Edward Alex
ander MacDowell. composer and poet.
by Helen Farnsworth NJ ears. In a gift
to the museum from Miss Alice G. Chap
| man.
| From Mr.. and Mrs Frederick s. Wait
the museum has received as a gift a
bronze medallion OF Alexandra Dumas by
Ringel d'Illzach. dated 1888.
| gift from William Baya rd Cutting is
| a cover OF filet OF the early eighteenth
century. gold medal Of King Frederic
William ofWWtemberg has beenlpresented
by Clare and Isaac Nelson. J. Pierpont
Morgan has loaned the museum a bronze
statue Of Eros from Boscoreale. FIVE Ia
nagra iglmines of the fourth century. B c.;
a Flemish drapery Of the fifteenth century
known as the -Mazarin.- and nine pieces
Of Chinese porcelain. Several pieces OF
Egyptian antiquities. including gold CIR
dles and necklaces. have been loaned by
Theodore M. Davis.
"A Portrait Of a Man, attributed TO
Ferdinand Bol. is lent by Allison v.
Armour.