"THE GREAT ARTISTIC WANT OF ENGLAND."
[TO TER EDITOR OP THE ',srscrevoit.1 ;Sin,—In two letters printed under this title in your issues of April 21 and May 5, Mr. Perry has called attention in just and forcible terms to a conspicuous gap in English culture. The neglect of all systematic study of classical art and archaeology, in a country priding itself justly on its devotion to classical literature, is a fact as unfortunate as it is surprising. The study of art and archaeology, it is hardly too much to say, constitutes a half of the whole science of antiquity, and a half which at every point illuminates and gives qife to the other half,—the study of ancient languages, literature, and history. Other countries, and especially Germany, have long ago found out this, but England has not found it out, and our -classical education loses accordingly both in vitality and in com- pleteness. There is nothing to be added to what Mr. Perry has said on this score ; I only wish to point out that he does not speak alone, and that some of us have been long endeavouring, at any rate, to move in the direction which he advocates. It is several years, for instance, since Mr. Oscar Browning has in various quarters pleaded bard for the introduction of classical archaeology into schools. This year, 1 believe, representations 'having the same view were made by some Head Masters to the authorities of the British Museum. And the object on the importance of which Mr. Perry particularly insists,—viz., the -establishment of a "complete scientifically-arranged museum of casts" for the historical study of Greek and Roman sculp- ture, is one towards which (if I may be pardoned for quoting myself) I have been for some time working here. I shall be grateful if you will allow me to support Mr. Perry's plea with the following extract from an answer sent by me to the inquiries of the " Syndicate appointed to con- 'eider the requirements of the University in various branches of study," and published more than a year ago in the University Report( r, March 17,1876. After urging the necessity of ultimately subdividing the whole of art and archaeology, for University pur- poses, into at least four departments, with proper appliances and separate teachers for each, viz., Pm-historic and Primitive, Biblical and Oriental, Greek and Roman, Mediaeval and Modern, I go on to say, with reference to the third division :— "3. Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology are the departments in which I would plead most earnestly the pressing urgency both of more
• complete appliances and more systematic teaching. I think it is one • of the weak points of our education in general, that we study too ex- 'elusively by means of books, and too little by means of monuments. And there is no branch of study in which the latter are so much needed to supplement, illustrate, and give life to the former, as in the :study of Greek and Roman antiquity. Until very recently, the works
• of fine art, in which a full half of the spiritual activity of the ancients was put forth, have been practically ignored as a means of University 'education in England. It is not so on the Continent ; and among the most illustrious ottign scholars within the last hundred years, a large propor- tion havedevetA themselves entirely to the study of art and archaeology. 'That study, as any one who has attempted it can vouch, requires not only a minute and retentive familiarity with large ranges of ancient literature and history, but a special and refined discipline of eye, taste, and judg- ment. I by no means wish to advocate the study of Greek and Roman antiquity from this side, in opposition to its study from the side of litera- ture, philology, and grammar, which has formed and must continue to
form the staple of a classical education at Cambridge. But I do wish to claim a place, and an important place, for the science of classical monuments and works of Sue art alongside of the sciences of classical
literature, philology, and grammar I hold it urgent that every possible encouragement should be given, both in the form of 'teaching' and ' appliances,' to those students who might choose, either before or after their degree, to take up the study of classical antiquities. At present, neither the one nor the other are provided, except incidentally and imperfectly. Both the Disney Professor and the Slade Professor are at liberty, if they please, but are by no means bound, to choose the subjects of their courses from the antiquity of Greece and Rome; and both, if they do choose this field, are at present compelled to provide the greater part of their materials from their own resources. It seems indispensable that Greek and Roman Archaeology, as a separate and extensive science closely connected with one of the two main branches of a Cambridge educa- tion, should be represented in the University by at least one resident Pro- fessor, whose stipend should be not less than that of the most important of the established Professorships. The holder of such a Chair might properly be ex officio a member of the Board of Classical Studios in the University. But the Chair could bo constituted to no good pnrpose until proper appliances for the use of the Professor had been provided. These must consist of works of art, and reproductions of works of art, in the several great classes of sculpture (including bronzes and terra cottas, as well as marbles), gems, coins and medals, and vases. Now, in all these classes the Fitzwilliam Museum has collections which are of considerable value, but too fragment .ry for systematic use. It ought to be the aim of the University to increase and develop these collections, until they become sufficient for the proper equipment of such a Pro- fessorship as I have indicated. And it ought to be distinctly recog- nised that in at least two of the above classes, viz., marbles and coins, reproductions are as good, for educational purposes, as originals. The Fitzwilliam Museum already possesses, besides a certain number of ancient marbles, a few excellent casts of statues. But it ought to possess a complete gallery of such casts, as- sorted for the scientific and historical study of ancient art from its earliest to its latest period, upon the scale at least of that directed by Professor Kekule" at Bonn, or of that which has been organised in the last few years by Professor Michaelis at Strasburg. The groat museum of this kind at Berlin is well known by Dr. Friedrichs' learned work, Berlins A alike Bildtverke ; and at Paris, Mons. Ravaisson has just been
advocating a similar institution If it were practicable for the University to contribute from its funds towards the building and stock- ing of such a Museum of ancient art, the work might be begun and completed within a year or two ; if not, I am of opinion that the Fitz- william Museum fund ought in the immediate future to be saved and administered as much as possible with a view to providing for this urgent need. So soon as the gallery approached completion, the Pro- fessor ought to be appointed ; and if his teaching was successful, there would presently grow up students competent and desirous to take up, and in their turn to teach, special parts of this vast and attractive order of studies, with its subordinate branches of numismatics, epi- graphy, &c., in which at present English scholarship is left behind by that of the Continent."
To the above, Sir, I would only add now, that one of the great
Universities seems a site even more appropriate than London for a Museum such as that of which Mr. Perry and I have alike urged the formation. Such a Museum would be nothing if not educational. With proper teaching and exposition, a collection of reproductions from ancient sculpture provides the essential and necessary materials for one of the most fruitful and delightful as well as most exact of studies ; but without a competent exponent or teacher, such a collection is to most people rather be- wildering than instructive. Hence, in part, the failure of all that was hoped from the collection at the Crystal Palace, which was formed at very great cost and with very great spirit, in days
when casts were harder to get than they are now, but which the public has never cared for. In order to care when they are grown up for a historical museum of ancient art, people must have learnt something of the history of ancient art when they are young. Such a Museum would best answer its educational purpose if it was established at one of the great seats of education, and used in connection with the study of classical languages and literature already carried on there. For the present, all we can do here is to try and make the most of the scanty materials we have; but if the friends of art and archmology both at Cambridge and elsewhere will interest themselves in the matter, it need not be long before there are forthcoming the two great requisites, ground and money, which are necessary for putting this admirable and neglected study on a proper footing and furnishing it with proper appliances.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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