New-York tribune., 1910-06-28
SIR PURDON CLARKE OUT
Says Doctor Advises Against
Residence in America.
YEARS FULL SALARY VOTED
Trustees Name Him Honorary
European Correspondent of
Museum of Art.

Sir Caspar Purdon Clarke, after five
years Of incumbency, resigned yesterday
as director of the Metropolitan Museum
of Art
j. Pierpont Morgan, president of the
board of trustees. presiding at the June
meeting, laid before the board the letter
conveying the resignation. He said it
was placed in his hands just as he was
leaving London, less than fortnight
ago.
Sir Purdon's letter read as follows:
| asked my doctor to state his opinion
respecting my proposed return to New
York, and although he considers that [
have sufficiently recovered from the
troublesome complaint for which he has
been treating me during the last year to
resume my work in New York, he is de-
cidedly opposed to the idea of con-
tinued residence in America, especially
during the winter season. l beg, there
fore to place in your hands my reS1g-
nation.
In accepting the resignation the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted unani-
mously:
Resolved. That in accepting the resg-
ration of Sir Caspar Purdon Clarke as
director the trustees of the. Metropolitan
Museum of Art desire to congratulate
him upon the degree to which his heaith
has been restored, and to express their
regret that that restorat ation is not suffi-
cient to warrant continued residence in
America during the winter season.
By his geniality and kindly manner,
as well as by his broad artistic SYM
pathies he has endeared himself to
large and constantly increasing circle
of friends, not only in our own city, but
throughout the whole United States. His
long and varied museum experience IN
Europe and the Far East, which was
crowned with the dictatorship of the
famous Victoria Albert Museum, In Lon
don. better known, perhaps. as the
South Kensington Museum, a position
which he resigned to take the director
ship of our own Metropolitan Museum of
Art made his services of special value
to us. and his sympathy with all kinds
of artistic development, modern as Wen
as ancient. and notably with industrial
art. has helped to give our museum the
breadth of development which it has
manifested during the last five years IN
which he has held office.
Further resolved. that Sir Purdon's
full salary as director be continued Tor
the wear following his resigna tiOn-that
is. until June /. 1911. and that thereafter
he receive salary at the rate of So,OOo
per annum.
Further resolved that he be requested
to continue his connection with the mu-
scum by accepting the position or non
orary European correspondent or the
METROPOLITAN Museum of Art.
No successor to Sir Purdon was elect
ed. There was only a bare quorum of
trustees present at the June meeting.
The duties of director will continue to
be performed by DR.. Edward Robinson,
the assistant director who has been act
ing director during the last year.
Sir Caspar Purdon Clarke has for
forty wears been prominent figure in
the world of art Before coming to this
city in 1906 to become director of the
Metropolitan Museum he had been for
nine wears at the head of the South Ken
sington Museum. with which he had been
connected in various capacities for many
wears before becoming its director. He
was created knight in 1902. He was
also a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.
Sir Purdon is now siXtyfour years
old He was educated in Gaultier's Col
lcgiate School, Sydenham Beaucourt's
School, Boulogne, France, and the Ma
tional Art Training School, South Ken
sington. He became medallist in 1864.
Soon after that ne began his work in
the South Kensington Museum. In 1869
he became superintendent of art repro
ductions in Italy. The building of the
legation at Teheran called him to the
Fast in 1874. He spent some time sur
yeving the consular property in Persia.
He then travelled through Greece, Tur-
1t Ant. f.~,-
the South Kensington Museum. Later
he made collecting tours in Spain, Italy
and Germany.
He was royal commissioner at the
Paris Exposition in 1900, and the st.
Louis Exposition in 1904. He is the
author of many papers on art subjects,
and a member of numerous societies.