The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1914-08-11
EUROPE'S ART NAY
Be SACRIFICED

The dropping of a bomb from
German dirigible upon the town Of
Luneville In France yesterday, with
the attendant destruction of a wall OF
the historic church. has raised appre-
hension among local art lovers for the
many invaluable specimens of archftec-
ture scattered throughout the war
zone, as well as for paintings in the
galleries of all the capitols.. s.-~~e
1t would seem that these monu-
ments of art would be protected just
as hospitals are, in the opinion Of
Joseph Fl. Brech, director of the Min
neapolis Institute Of Art. In this civ
ilized day and age he did not believe
1t probable that any harm would come
to such buildings except accidentally
in the heat of battle. 1t is pointed
out that in a siege of q city when It
becomes necessary to lombard. the
gunners would not be able to take any
particular care to miss some fragile
cathedral in the heart of that city, es-
peCially in modern warfare. with such
tremendous concussion attending the
explosion of a shell.
Guners Avoided Cathedras.
Prof. Robert Koehler of the Minnea-
polls School of Art said during the
battle at Strassburg in the Franco
Prussian war every effort was made by
the gunners to miss the cathedral.
They succeeded so we'll that only
one shell struck the building and that
did comparatively little damage. In
the siege of Paris, when the Germans
took the city, extreme care was taken
not to destroy the Gutenberg CALLER
les and the Leuvre. 1t was the riot
GUS vandalism of the Commune follow
Ing the withdrawal of the Germans
which caused the greatest destruction
Of property.
1t Is pointed out by Mr.. Brech that
scarcely city in Europe is without a
cathedral of rare beauty, the destruc-
ito nof which would be a great loss
to art and architecture. The pure
Gothic cathedrals are covered with
rare and fragile sculptor which would
be at the mercy of aerial bombs, he
| said Some Of the best cathedrals are
those at Cologne, Meinz and Antwerp.
France Is literally studded with them,
with the classic examples at Amiens.
Pheims, Beauvais. Chartres and many
in Paris, including the famous Notre
Dame.
With the declaration of war between
England and Germany the English
monuments Of art are threatened by
the German dirigibles, including the
IdHlOuS CaLneufdlS at I OTk ana DUR
ham. The famous Milan cathedral in
Italy is an example of the Italian Goth
ic and is covered with statuary.
Art Will BE Sacrificed.
Mr.. Brech pointed out that within
six or eight ohths the economic pres
sure caused by the war-a cost of
$50,000000 a day-will be so great in
all parts of Europe that art objects will
be for sale at very low prices. There
are countlesss privately owned collec-
tions, especially in Germany. he said.
With the tragic aftermath Of the war
making food and clothing a rare COM
modify, he pointed out that the owner
of picture would be glad to let it go
for price far inferior to those Ameri-
can collectors have been forced to pay
in the past.
There will be a certain poetic justice
if this comes to pass, it is pointed out,
because it is an acknowledged fact that
many Americans have been severely
imposed upon both nthe tremendous
prices they have been forced to pay
and in the limitations of old masters
which have been foisted upon them.
Mr.. Brech said the Minneapolis mu-.
Scum would be severe sufferer be-
cause of the war. Large consignments
| of casts of famous pieces of statuary
were just about to leave Cologne. Ber-
lin and London for this city to decor
ate the new museum. The war will in
all probability prevent the dispatch of
| these casts for many months, he said.