New-York tribune., 1922-04-15
Statue
SuggsgestsChrist
As Royal Heir
Gothic Conception of
Jesus Lineage Revealed
Among Medieval Speci-
mems at the Metropolitan
St. Paul Sculpture Also
Stained Glass Window of
khenish School Completes
Museums 3 Purchases

Museum S s Purchases
Ihe purchase Of three important OK
an Piles of medieval art is announced
by the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ihey were placed on view Yesterday
for the first time and include a French
Gothic statue of king, fine sculp-
ture of st. Paul, attributed to Claude
dc Werve, and a rare stained glass
window Of the Rhensh school, repre-
senting "The Tree of Jesse" These
and other additions and new exhibits
are described in detail in the April
bulletin, released to-day.
The gallery of medieval art has been
rearranged to give prominence to the
new specimens. The statue of the king
Is significant because it shows the de-
velopment of French sculpture in the
first half Of the thirteenth century.
1t is representation Of a royal an
cestor of Christ seated on a massive
throne of Romanesque design. The
left hand originally held scepter.
winch Is missing, as is the right hand.
Otherwlse the figure is well preserved.
though no traces remain Of its original
painted decoration.
Inc work represents a favorite sub
Ject of medieval artists who set forth
the royal lineage in various forms. in
Guiding stained glass The present
window is an example The statue is
attributed to the Provencal school and
IS thought to have come from dc
stroyed church of the thirteenth CEN
tury at Avignon.
Represents st. Paul
ne other statue, representing st.
Paul erect in flowing robes, is attri-
buted to the school of Claus Sluter.
but bears the earmarks of his nephew
and chief disciple, de Werve, who col
laborated with him. The figure is of
bearded man who holds a book in his
right hand The features and beard
are especially realistic. A few vestices
OF the original polychrome decoration
remain. The statue is from the ancient
church of the Dominican convent of
Poligny, little town in the Jura
mountain region. 1t dates from the
early part of the fifteenth century
and is 47ia inches high.
The museums collection of stained
glass has gained distinction through
the purchase of the three panels rep
resenting "The Tree of Jesse" This
beautiful work. dating from about
1900, has been set up in replica of q
medieval chapel, where its rich color
scheme and lofty symmetry of design
snow to advantage. The latter con-
slsts of two large medallions in each
OF the three sections. The bottom
medallion represents the reclining
Jesse from whose side symbolical
tree springs. This sustains the other
circular panels representing King
David, the Presentation in the Temple
the Last Supper, the Crucifixion and
the Ascension, in succession. Orig
inally the three sections were mounted
one above the other, making window
II feet 10 inches high and 13 inches
wide.
From birmingham Collection
The stained glass was formerly the
rarest item in the Costessey collection
| of Costessey Hall, Norfolk, England,
formed by Sir William Jerningham. If
is ascribed to the early Gothic period
of the lower Rhenish school. The sub
Ject is one of the earliest and most
popular in mediaeval iconography. In
Style the window is monumental, with
drawing and design subordinated to
the 6 lowing areas of fiat color in
which ruby red and apple green pre-
dominate. 1t is exceptional for deli
cacy of deliberation, being unusually
small in scale
1he most important recent loan is
the collection of Cretan sealstones.
lent anonymously. These cover range
OF LOO years, from the times of our
earliest knowledge of Cretan civiliza.
tIon to it's decline. They are notable
Tor showing the beginning of ATTEMPTS
to create written language in Europe.
Inc inscriptions are varied and mod
ern investigation has not been able
10 interpret them. They are small.
usually rectangular blocks Of stone.
carved in relief. The collection repre-
sents findings of the early Mnoan III
t2ooo B. CO. and later periods.
Japanese Prints Shown
There is also special exhibition
OF Japanese color prints in room Hill
representing the best pieces in the
museum by various artists of all peri
DDS. From the bequest of the late
William Mitchell the museum acknowl
edges the gift Of an English long-case
clock and two pieces of French silver
of the eighteenth century The clock,
from the same period, is of oak and
walnut and was made by Windmills,
master of early clockmaking. The sill
yer consists of ever and a basin
bearing the mark B. Samson, of Tou
louise.
Two portraits by Sir Peter Lely said
to be Of the Duchess of Cleveland and
the Duchess of Portsmouth. and ten
other paintings are reported as the
joint bequest of Harriet K. Wilkes and
Grace Wilkes. Among the ten are an
interesting American painting by Trum-
bull of George Washington and a pair
Of halflength portraits attributed to
the Colonial artist John Wollaston. A
group of porcelains is included.
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