New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
Research and Interpretation

Now .tI. nus ANt UtlttllAtis VA NNL-
,ti5rs for the study Of art been more
admirably marked than at the Metro
roli.aa Museum For years it was only
= repository for pictures, statuary and
ether objects. Then it became the
scezc Of manifold activities. tangibly
serying tho life Of the community. The
collections are now more than ever
what they ought 10 be, q fructifying
force. And one important source Of
this new usefulness is 20 be found in
the Museums publications. It has
formulated an enviable standard in its
catalogues and manuals. There is no
Europcan museum which would not be
rroud 20 have issued certain Of the
Metropolitans recent volumes. There
IS. f5r example, the handbook 20 the
Cesrola collection Of antiquities from
Cyprus. prepared by Professor John l..
ylvrcs. Of oxford. Never was there q
more Grabbed subject, and in this par
tieulsr case, too, there we're old and
trying controversies 70 be reckoned
with. Professor Myres overhauled the
whole tangled problem with consum-
mate skill-and neutrality-suspicious. q
work which is much more than & hand
book; IL is a solid contribution 70
archaeological science. That exemplary
work was followed by Miss Gisela VI. A.
Riehter's Greek, Etruscan and Roman
Bronzes,' O catalogue which has also
something Of the quality Of an essay,
illuminating the subject with which it
deals, and 70 this has succeeded "The
Tomb Of Senebtisi," in which Mr..
Arthur c. Mace and Mr.. Herbert Z.
Winlock commemorate notable
achievement Of the Museums Egyptian
expedition. This IS a folio, but not Of
the old style 70 which we have alluded.
The book Is printed in stately form
because only with the aid Of numerous
plates on O large scale could an ade-
ouate account have been given of the
important discoveries described in the
text. The site and the tomb having
been traversed, the authors minutely
examine ell the appurtenances Of the
lady who was buried at Lisht centuries
ago, her coffin and her jewelry, the
Jars and magic slaves which were part
Of her Itinerary ritual. Their pages
make clear to the student some Of the
ancient mysteries Of Egyptian life, and
with the aid Of their illustrations, ex-
tracrdinariiy full and rich, he may re-
create for himself a significant episode
in past civilization. Decidedly the
picture book tradition is exploded
b. a work Of this practical character.
Il IS, in its broad purpose and in its
perfection of detail, an eNhilarating
testimony 20 the thoroughly modern
Iolicy followed by the Metropolitan.
In the sphere Of painting a new type
Of book-new in this country-has
come into existence. During most Of
bis long life the late John G. Johnson
was content 20 90 without even list
G the paintings he accumulated in his
Philadelphia home, but before he died
he repaired the omission, printing
catalogue 20 which Mr.. Berenson and
Dr. Valcntiner gave the qualities OF
a scientific inqmsition. AT Yale Mr..
Sergeant Kendall strenuously promoted
a similar handling of the Jarves col
lection. with the result that DR.. Oswald
Sirens catalogue really enhanced the
interest Of the pictures forming New
Hsyen's one resplendent artistic mon
ument There IS nowadays in the air
something like a passion for exact
knowledge on the more obscure chap
ters Of art history. 10 is there, per-
hsps, for the reason that We now have
an amazing mass Of material on the
subject accessible in our own galleries.
The pioneers like Jarves and Johnson
have reared up followers. SIR Beren-
son published last year a valuable book
on fifteenth century Venetian paintings
IN America. lie couldn't have pub
hshed IL ffteen years ago; the docu-
uents were not here. Nor would there
have been q public for it.
The soil fortified by divers collec-
icrs and writer's has now reached that
s:age a. which 70 may be expected 10
flourish the most daring ventures. At
cambridge the Harvard University
Press has just issued book on "Giotto
and Some Of His Followers" by DR..
siren, based on some lectures delivered
by him az the university. Again we
nay remark that fifteen years ago a
publication Of the sort would have been
impraeticablc here. But to-day the
presses at Princeton, Harvard and
isie take such works as matters Of
course. DR.. Siren is nothing if not
'horoughgoing scientist. His book is
"a TWO volumes, the first confined TO
~At and the other 20 illustrations. lie
ans at the outset briefly 10 state the
.ahoanental virtues Of his master, the
.ssion 10 him Of creative power with
Ns hhest, most essential, Of realistic
S4't' Iheneeforth his monograph is
iva 20 o searching analysis Of the
$500 iall survey Of Giotto's own
p''eeetions being followed by chapters
~ ns school, terse yet luminous crit
''s1s Of IaddeO Gaddi, Bernardo Dad