New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-27
PLANS FOR MORGAN
WING" COMPLETED
TwO-Year Struggle Over
$75O,000 Addition to
Art Museum.
STRUCTURE TO HOLD
ALTMAN COLLECTION
Financier's Son Reticent on Final
Dispositions of Fathers
Paintings.

Paintings.
The long talked of addition to the
Metropolitan Museum Of Art popularity
known as the Morgan wing" came a
step nearer realization yesterday, when
# was learned that after two years OF
trials and tribulations the specifica-
tions for ;he structure in question were
now I'm the hands Of tie printer Il
was in february. 1912. that the officials
Of the museum made the request for
$4,000 for tho additions J-k, ostensl-
bly, to house the great SG0,OooVOO art
collection Of J. Picrpont Morgan.
Those two years have seen a big
change. In fact, when the bids are IN
vited in the near future the Morgan
collection will he on view TO the pub
lie. but in another wing. Besides, when
the supposed Morgan wing is completed
three or four years hence It will hold
tho Altman collection and not the Nor
gan collection.
As the Morgan wing" the proposed
$50. 600 structure was intrusted To the
Board Of Estimate and Board of Alder
men two years ago. The reported dis
pleasure Of the late j. PierpOnt Nor
gan at the tardiness Of the city in fur
nishing quarters for the objects of art
was an impetus in securing the needed
funds. The delay was not so much In
getting the money as In unwinding the
red tape that seemed to fasten itself
on every part of the plans for the
structure.
Moraan's Interest in Work.
The Tribune exclusively announced
on February 23 1919, that the sum oS
$500 900 had been requested by the
museum officials for structure TO
house the Morgan art treasures. Ed
ward Robinson, director of the mu-
scum, who had written to Park Com
missioner Stover about the needed ap
propriation. said that tho plan vyss
known 10 Mr.. Morgan. He declared it
was all part OF the plan 20 bring TO-
gether the Morgan collection in this
country. From other sources it was
learned at that time that Mr.. Morgan
had expressed the hope that he would
see the art objects exhibited in the new
structure.
While addition II. where the Morgan
art treasures are now being installed,
was planned originally for other eX-
hibits. il was turned over TO the Nor
gan collection in the hope of giving 1t
an carly exhibition; and persons in
close touch with museum affairs be-
lieye that it will remain there until
such time as j. Pierpont Morgan, the
fnancier's son, determines to break it
up or to do otherwise with it.
II is believed that the wing to the
south. the supposed Morgan wing, ="
will when completed go to make up the
permanent quarters for the Altman col
lection. a gift outright to the citya and
for many other objects Of art that nave
long been waiting space for exhibition
purposes.
To provide for temporary exhibition
Of the Altman collection the hvc GAL
leries which have been devoted for
some years 70 the Crosby Brown COL
lection Of musical instruments are now
being rcmodelled 10 meet the needs Of
the Altman works Of art. The musical
instruments will be exhibited else
where. As it will take, according to
citv officials, fully three years to COM
plete the new double wing to the south,
the Altman collection will be seen m
this section OF the museum tor sorle
time TO come. It is expected to put it
on exhibition in its temporary quarters
in the middle OF spring.
Much Doubt Over Art Sale.
What Mr.. Morgan will finally do with
his collection he has not yet made
known. The latest statement from him
was Yesterday. when he reiterated his
exclusive statement in The Tribune Of
wednesday, when he said in answer to
reports that he intended selling part
OF the collection:
There is nothing sold. or to he sold
now. am going TO get advice as 10
the placing OF the various collections,
and I have no statement TO make at
the present time. There may be some
things that will eventually dispose
of hut there is nothing to be done
now"
when I make up my mind just what
70 do I shall 90 ahead and do it. or
Confined on hfth page. hfth column.