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"ST. MARTHA INTERCEDING FOR A CESSATION OF THE PLAGUE AT TARASCON."-[VANDYCK.]

the lamented Kensett, which were presented to the Museum, are for the present in the westernmost gallery.

lery, is intended to hold an exhibition of | floor. The works of the last summer of American art in painting, and the next is for the present devoted to the loan collection of paintings, which there is no reason to doubt the well-known treasures of New York will from time to time make amply rich and enjoyable. From the latter two doors open upon the broad iron galleries which run along the sides of the great hall, some twenty feet above the

If we now choose the north gallery door to lead us across the grand hall to the eastern picture-galleries, we pass out from among the pictures into the light of the glass roof, reflected in a thousand exquisite colors from the Oriental porcelains

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THE WAGES OF WAR."-[HENRY PETERS GRAY.]

These are the latest acquisition of the Museum, purchased from S. P. Avery, Esq., and gathered by him with rare taste and judgment.

The galleries are an immense relief to the appearance of the large hall, and we are not without hope that in time others may be extended across from north to south, virtually dividing the room into two stories. The view from either is now good, and will be brilliant on days when the attendance is large, and many persons are moving on the floor below. Against the wall, from end to end, runs a series of ebony cases containing the porcelains, among which are a few recently received as gifts. They form a very complete illustration of Chinese and Japanese ceramic art. It is marvellous to see this splendor of color and delicacy of workmanship. No acquisition by the Museum could be more important in practical value, none more gratifying to the public. This and the opposite gallery will be favorite places of resort for lovers of the beautiful. Table cases and upright cases contain a splendid array of Oriental carvings and lacquers-a part of the loan collection. In the south gallery, opposite, in similar wall cases, are the glorious specimens of iridescent glass from Cyprus, surpassing diamonds and rubies and opals

| in brilliancy and tenderness of color; while in the table cases are the exquisite gold and silver work of the Phoenician goldsmiths, and the collection of engraved gems, concerning which Mr. King, the highest living authority, has written: "It is a true revelation of the history of the glyptic art in its rise and progress from the earliest times down to the beginning of the fifth century before our era."

By whichever of the iron galleries we have crossed the grand hall we now enter the eastern picture - galleries, where is placed the collection of old masters. It is always surprising to see what a difference is effected in the appearance of an object of art by a respectful and appropriate disposition of it. A Raphael standing on a chair in an ordinary room is a mere picture, but when properly hung, it becomes a speaking image. The Dutch and Flemish masters have never since they lived found more effective positions for their works than are here assigned them. The old woman of Franz Hals leans out of her canvas to laugh in the faces of New York ladies. The grief of the exquisite head by Greuze never seemed so pitiful. Flemish ladies in quaint costumes make young people wish they could wear just such laces and dresses now. Rubens, Vandyck, and other mas

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ART STUDENT COPYING DESIGNS.

ters have pure and abundant light, and exhibit their powers in pictures which will stand any amount of criticism.

Descending the broad staircase to the main floor, and passing it, we arrive on what is called the basement floor of the building. Here are four rooms for the uses of the institution-one a trustees' meeting room; another for the assistants of the director, who are at work on catalogues and other essential labors; a third for the reception, storage, and unpacking of objects; a fourth for a repair and work

shop. These rooms, with the entrance vestibules between, occupy below the same space with the picture-galleries above; while underneath the great hall, and of the same size, 109 by 92 feet, is a noble exhibition-room, amply lighted by large windows on each side. This room occupies the space originally intended to be entirely, and three years ago partially, filled up with rock and earth as the support of the floor of the hall above. It has been assigned to the Industrial Art Department. It is the intention of the trustees to make here, as time and means may permit, a complete illustrative exhibition of various useful and ornamental arts, the materials used in their natural and in their manufactured conditions, the progressive state of the materials and the objects produced from them, together with all such illustrations of incomplete and complete industry as will serve for the practical instruction of the young or the old. This department will be of the highest value to all industries in our city and country. In connection with this have been organized schools of industrial art. These schools have always been a part of the plan of the Museum, but hitherto it has been impossible to undertake them.

When our citizens reflect on

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tions of the world. It is believed that the success of this beginning will lead to the provision of abundant means for its extension. Another school for workers in metal is also in progress. These schools are needed, and their support must be insured.

the amount of personal attention and time | himself and the country in the art exhibiwhich has been given for ten years past to this institution by the gentlemen who have brought it to its present state, it may seem very ungenerous to ask why have they not sooner done this or that. They have worked steadfastly, cautiously, hopefully, and, they believe, thus far successfully. They have opened a school for workers in wood, not on an expensive scale, but economically, as an experiment. The funds for this opening have been provided by a member who has distinguished

The Museum of Art, although now located in a permanent position, is not what New York wants it to be, and must have it-an established institution beyond danger of total extinction. Its expenses are largely increased. Its supervision can no

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longer be by trustees as voluntary work- | Fourteenth Street was 353,421. men without pay, as was possible when it chases of works of art have been made exwas down town. A director and assist- clusively by private subscription among ants, a larger number of watchmen and the members. The number of subscribers workmen day and night, a vastly increased to these objects is indicated by the memwinter expense for fuel, longer and there-bership. These ladies and gentlemen, less fore more expensive cartage for each object in the loan exhibition-these are some of the annual burdens. But the institution needs, above all, the means of increasing its possessions for public instruction.

The appropriations of the British government in the year 1873 alone for art institutions, art explorations, art purchases for public instruction, and art schools for the

young, were over a million and a half dollars. Nor was this an unusual year. England finds such expenditures a hundred times repaid in those industries which enrich her capitalists and employ her arti

sans.

than 375 in all, have contributed from time to time, for the purchase of various objects, $324,675. Donations of works of art have been made to the Museum, the total value of which is estimated at $74,245. The annual expenses have been met in part by the receipts for annual memberships, the price of which is fixed at ten dollars.

A few ladies and gentlemen have thus given to the American public a museum of art which, by its possession of the Cypriote collections of Cesnola, takes rank among the most important museums of the world. It is without a dollar in its treasury for the purchase of another object. It should have an annual income assured for its extension. With proper appreciation by the people whom it instructs, its progress for the ten years to come should be at least as great as during the ten years past. It is to be a free museum to all at least four days in each week, for visit, study, and copying works of art in all departments.

I

“SALGAMA CONDITA.”

The Museum of Art, incorporated in April, 1870, opened its doors to the public in its permanent location just ten years after it was created. During this time it has accumulated treasures very much beyond all reasonable expectations of its founders. In 1873 the Park Department was authorized by the Legislature to expend a sum not exceeding thirty thousand dollars per annum for the keeping, preservation, and exhibition of the collections SHALL always persist in thinking it of the Museum of Natural History and the coziest fruit-room in England, and the Museum of Art. In pursuance of this you would have concurred with me had authority, the Museum of Art has from you seen it that ripe October day, when time to time reported to the Park Depart- the slant beams of the afternoon sun were ment a class of its expenses which were sifted through warm red curtains, which properly included under this provision, glowed like slices of some luscious jelly, which have been paid by the department. and glinted through the honeycombBut these were only a portion of the an- shaped panes above the little lead-set nual expenses. So long as the Museum glasses not of the dead sea-water-color was in Fourteenth Street it was opened of ordinary cheap glass, but mellow and free to the public at first one and after-yellow as honey itself. The room which ward two days in each week. It was the sunlight flooded with such a glory hoped that a reasonable revenue might come from a generous public who would willingly pay the twenty-five cents admission fee on the close days. But the chief reward of this arrangement has been in the manifest pleasure and profit of the crowds on the free days. In 1878 the total number of visitors was 29,932, of whom 26, 137 were on free days, and 3795 paid for admission. The receipts from this source did not pay cartage and other expenses attending the borrowing and return of articles in the loan exhibition. The total number of visitors for six years in

of ruby and amber was irregular in shape, having its corners cut off by a fire-place and various cupboards with glass doors. No gloomy array of theological volumes was ranked behind these doors, but a goodly array of jars and cans, bottles and boxes, bearing labels suggestive of good things, or giving through their translucent sides a mouth-watering view of preserved damsons, tamarinds, plantains, sapodillas, medlars, peaches, quinces, apricots, citron, and cranberry. How they glowed, like the gems of Aladdin's garden, through all the gamut of red

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