International studio (25.1905)

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antiquary and archeologist of the Nineteenth Cen-
tury. Franks was for many years the keeper of the
British and Medieval Antiquities at the British
Museum. He was a bachelor, blessed with a large
fortune, with the income of which for many years
he bought objects of vertu and presented them to
the British and other museums. Indeed, there is
hardly a museum in Europe which Sir Woolaston
Franks did not enrich by some gift. Sir Purdon
Clarke's transfer from the temporary to the per-
manent staff of the South Kensington Museum was
due to Sir Woolaston's strong recommendation.
Such were the noble enthusiasms and traditions
under which Sir Purdon was trained, and it is
certain that, had it not been for the influence of
Franks, he would not have been in the position to
acquire either the knowledge or the office he now
enjoys.
Sir Purdon comes of a West of England family
(which settled in Ireland for several generations) and
was born in 1846. He was brought up as an archi-
tect. It would be interesting to obtain his views on
the architecture of this country, and it is a signifi-
cant fact that he occupied two of the very few days
of his stay here, twenty-one years ago, with a visit
to Albany, not wishing to return home without pay-
ing a tribute of respect to Richardson and his work
on the Capitol. I shall be much mistaken if he is not
impressed by the great progress made in that most
vital art of America—architecture. To me the most
impressive grandeur of this country is in the unique
kind of its buildings, which are so evidently the
natural outcome of the conditions of its national
life. In England, in spite of the publication of
this magazine, we are profoundly ignorant of
the originality and dignity of American architec-
ture. However, steps are being taken to remedy
this. It is true that Mr. Joseph Pennell has made
some fine drawings of a few of the skyscrapers of
New York, but there are other phases yet un-
touched. We should like to hear the expert views
of Mr. Ricardo and Mr. Roger Fry's impressions
of his recent visit; and we shall await with interest
the comments on American architecture which
naturally will form part of Mr. Henry James's
survey of his country during his prolonged absence.
It is said that there are many disappointed here
because the appointment was not given to an
American. Surely such disappointment is unrea-
sonable, as it is difficult for America to produce
such an all-round man. She is too far from the
centre of things—too remote from the old world.
This is not yet the right atmosphere to breed such
men. There are many distinguished American


SIR C. PURDON CLARKE
FROM THE PAINTING BY C. L. BURNS
connoisseurs, both here and in Europe, say of
one or two subjects, men like Bernhard Berenson,
George F. Kunz and Charles Loeser, but these
gentlemen have not all the requisite knowledge
or training for such a position. Both the con-
noisseur and the high-class dealer should rejoice
in having at hand an expert so well qualified
to detect spurious antiques, for it is stated that
there has been a thriving trade for many years in
objects of this class. Indeed, it has been mooted
that there are examples within the sacred precincts
of the museum itself, but, if this be so, it will be
some consolation to know that hardly any collection,
be it national or private, is without its percentage
of—shall I say—fakes.
Some say that Sir Purdon's appointment will be a
menace to the dealer, both here and in Europe, but
I prefer to look upon the position as one making for
international purity.
The first time I visited the Metropolitan
Museum I had the honour of being escorted by the
late director, General Di Cesnola, a courteous
man, though somewhat narrow and not without
prejudices. I was amused to see a piece of English
papier mache inlaid work labeled as "Persian."
Yes, the new director will have to relabel many

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