The New York herald., 1921-09-07
VILFIED ART Lures
THRONC TO MUSEUM
Metropolitan Directors Ig-
more Attack on Modern
istic Paintings.
EXHIBIT TO CONTINUE
Will Close Sept. Is as Was
Planned Despite Blast,
Says Mr.. Robinson.
CRITICISM Is RESENTED
Writers of Anonymous Circu-
lars Classed as Ignorant
and COwards-
CRITICISM IS RESENTED

against the exhibition OF paintings of
the modern French schoolen the Met
ropoiitan Museum of Art was a great
increase in the number of persons who
went to view them. Not since the
early days of the exhibit has the at
tendance been larger.
The protest OF the anonymous com
mittee of citizens and supporters of
the museum" who complained that
many of the paintings were degener-
ate and vulgar and horribly executed
apd reminiscent of the efforts of
lunatics, will receive no official notice
from the trustees of the museum. The
exhibition will not be shortened a
minute. 1t began on May and will
close on September Is, as originally
scheduled.
Edward Robinson, the director, said:
"The anonymous circular noticed in to-
days New YORK HERALD and delivered
at the museum this morning is the first
intimation the museum has received Of
any protest against the present loan ex-
nlpltlOu VI lHiPltSSiOuiSl diiA Ppoe-hh-
pressionist paintings. although 1t has
been opened to the public since the be-
ginning of May. In accordance with the
original agreement made with the lend
ers the exhibition will close on the 18th
OF this month"
Attack Is Resented.
At this season of the year 1t is diff
cult to reach the we'll known artists and
art patrons. as they are still scattered
among their sunimering places. Those
with whom this newspaper communi-
Gated yesterday uniformly resented the
attack of the anonymous committee
and approved of the museums course In
gathering together this loan collection
in order to let the people see and judge
for themselves what the "mcdernists'
have been doing. A sizzling statement
came last night from John Quinn. law
yer and art collector. and one OF those
who lent paintings for the exhibition
OF the anonymous circular and It's
signers, whoever they are. he said:
This is Ku Klux criticism. ! was
amazed that any New York paper should
publish such a screed. One does not
argue with degenerates who see nothing
but degeneracy around them. The au-
VI
exempted from their condemnation the
works of Puvis de Chavannes. Courbet
and Manet but everyone knows that
Puvis de Chavannes, Courbet and Manet
were attacked and abused In precisely
the same way when they were doing
creative work. A new way OF stating
truth or depicting beauty Is always q
scandal to some men. In their panic
and impotent rage they have recourse
TO denial and abuse. / should no more
think of replying In detail to that state
ment than 1 should of answering the
rawlings of lot of lunatics.
"The fact that the author or authors
Of this absurd. malicious and filthy state
ment contained in that article added
cowardice to mendacity makes me turn
from the article with nothing but dis
gust. The whole thing reeks with ig-
norance 1t Is rancid with envy. 1t Is
filled with shrieks of impotent rage. It's
vulgarity is equalled only by its coward
ice. No one will be influenced by the
attack of self-admitted towards. No one
argues with anonymous libelers. Let
these Ku Klux art critics stand up and
take off their masks and give their
names and show their credentials. Then
IL they are worthy of an answer, II nee
essary 1t will be given. At that we may
leave it."
aRot," Says II. r.. Field.
Hamilton Easter Field of Brooklyn,
another lender to the exhibition, ridi-
culed the fears OF the anonymous PAM
phleteers that these forms of so called
art are Bolshevistic and intended to
help in the destruction of the present
social system.
Pure rot said Mr. Field. He
pointed out that Cezanne, special
target of the circular. was a conserva-
rive and an ardent Catholic. and died
twenty years ago. The only artists OF
the lot still living are Derain and
Matisse. and they are 80 years old and
have no sympathy with the ultra mod
ernists. MIR. Field said. ITO speak of
, thsse men as having been Bolshevists.'
he added. destroys whatever possible
weight the circular might have. They
were not Bolshevists nor were they
insane. as the circular would have us
believe
Many Got Circulars.
Copies of tile anonymous protest
were apparently mailed on Monday TO
every conspicuous artist as well as to
great number of other persons. who
were asked to write to the Metropolitan
Museum their disapproval In the name
of "our community and OF civilization"
They have aot yet penetrated TO the
/ artists colony at Woodstock In the
CatsiSills over the telephone from
Woodstock Robert Henri. well known as
a teacher as well as a painter, said he
had not seen the circular. THE NEW
YoRK HERALD gave him the gist OF Il.
II regard the exhibition at the Metro
politan as particularly fine one" Mr..
Henri said MANY OF the artists there
represented are nnen OF the highest stand
ing. such as Monet, Renoir. Cezanne and
others. In a sense some OF them are
old masters. their regulations are so well
established. The older men and the
newer men are excellent. and we should
be thankful to have an opportunity to
see works of such distinctive character.
The protest OF the writer's of the circu-
lar seems to be In keeping with the
modern idea OF prohibiting. Good
heavens we can't drink any more sure
~ we ought To be allowed 20 ruin our
selves looking at pictures"
In the circular was quoted an article
from the American Art News reporting
that several alienists and pathologists,
in studying an exhibition OF modern
istic art" held In Philadelphia last
spring, had found indications that the
perpetrators were mentally diseased.
The writer's OF the circular contended
that one of the moving forces In mod
srristic art is "a well known form of
insanity" evidenced by mutilation Of