The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-14
pOUPELET BRONZE
SHOWN AT MUSEUM
Work Of French Sculptures Is
Exhibited to Public for
First Time.
LOMBARDO RELIGION VIEW
Director Robinson Says Morgan
Collection May BE Opened
Next Month.
loMBARDO RELIGION VIEW

rhe T.. scent acccssions Of the AIetropoli.
an Museum OF Art that were shown Ia
I've public yesterday for the first time In
.l,.ied bronxe that already has been
me subject of much public discussion. the
Femme Assise a Sa Toilette" by Mile
Jane Poupelet OF France.
This bronze. as tho readers of TIE SyS
.ge already aware. was among the five
sorks by this sculptor brought to this
country by Miss Janet Scudder, and was
considered by the museum authorities the
most representative of the lot and was
purchased. The others were quietly sub.
mitted TO the Winter Academy, and to
the immense astonishment OF everybody
three were rejected by the jury as lack
ing In character" The fourth. the tiny
paperueight figure of a duck, was ac.
cepted being placed In the "morgue"
ot the academy. there to be sold TO Ar
thur Il. Davies. the famous artist. then
10 be stolen. advertised for and finally
10 be returned TO the ''morgue" by the
apparently consciencestricken thief.
SO dramatic and sequential a series Of
adventures as this made Mile. Poupoulet
and her duck famous here. and the name
Of the sculptor who died before Christ
mas and was practically unknown In this
country. was upon every body's lips. Ev-
erybody made a point Of seeing the re-
jected sculptures. which were finally ex-
hbted In a Firth avenue window. and
the unanimous critical opinion upon them
was highly favorable. confirming the ex-
oe hA L.,
France.
A correspondent has seen fit to criticise
the museums new bronze as violating
he laws Of good taste. holding that this
female figure at the bath should not be
allowed to care for her toes. This &C.
cuser. il will he generally allowed. Rc-
cuses himself more than the sculptor.
The bronze is distinctly Pompeian in
feeling and the seated figure with leg
outstre tched is in a highly decorative yet
easy and natural pose. The body leans
forward. resting upon the one raised leg.
There seems to be no effort ut originality.
no trace OF affectation. Yet there is some
thing to US pleasantly new in the style
Of the work. The fact that his female
agure happens TO he idly contemplating
aer toes can offend none but proyincials.
Those who do desire to rebel at this fea-
ture OF the bronze will also be compelled
% reject the "Old Woman PAIRING Her
Nails by Rembrandt. when II is shown
IN the Altman collection. and IL. some
experts hold. Is the strongest Of all tue
Altman Rembrandts.
Another sculpture shown yesterday was
relief by Ptetro Lombardo. who n a
little known Venetian contemporary OF the
Rellinis. 1t shows the Santa Clara and
The Christ Child. a work of ability: full
q grace.
Two enormous and important toinbs OF
gray stone with interesting incised fig
ures and other carvings exceedingly well
preserved were also shown for The first
tine in the main entrance hall upon the
Filth avenue side Of the building.
Director Robinson said. that the mu =
ssum authorities were still hoping to open
me Morgan collections to the public early
in February and later the Altman collec
tons, but that positive date could not
yet be fixed.