THE WALLACE COLLECTION.
(TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR.")
Sin,—May I be allowed to protest in your columns against the admission of schools of young children to Hertford House ? I met recently a tribe of little ones, certainly all under thirteen, with one young teacher to look after them. They wandered about aimlessly as children always do in museums unless some one directs their attention to special objects, and explains them; and it is no disparagement to the intellect of their teacher to say that she probably knew as little as they of art in general, and of French eighteenth-century art in particular. The collection is unique, and is housed in rooms which are not too large. It is also of that kind which can only be appreciated by the cultured artist or connois- seur. It affords endless opportunity for study to men engaged in all trades bearing upon house furnishing and decoration ; and it may be hoped that our " Jerry-built " villas will, at least in the future, be furnished better than they are at present through the object teaching of Riesener and Gouthiere, and Fragonard and Watteau. But surely this exquisite art is neither profitable to the young, nor in any way a part of elementary education. The National Gallery, the Tate Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, and the British and South Kensington Museums are much more fitted for teaching art to infant minds, and, indeed, more entertaining. The latter museums contain examples of most of the objects exhibited at Hertford House, and there is plenty of space for the children to walk about and profit by any explanations that their teachers may be able to impart.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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