3. Figure 8 represents the elevation of an hexagonal pyramid upon Appendix B. Fig.8 REPORT ON TION FOR CATES. any given inclined plane, the plane of projection. Required, the projection of the pyramid, after it has made one-eighth of a revolution. 4. Figure 9 represents a circular vessel of any given dimensions and Fig.9. thickness. Required a sectional 1 α Fig.10 a 5. a b, figure 10, represents the elevation of a curved line, every part of which is parallel to the plane of projection. Determine the projection of such a line when viewed at any given angle, supposing the line to have revolved upon a as a centre through an angle of 60°. The motion of the figure being such that any point such as b would describe a plane which would be at right angles to the plane of projection. b Three hours allowed for this paper. Appendix B. REPORT ON CATES. EXAMINATION PAPER, No. 2. Mechanical Drawing.-Group 6. In the Model Room of the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street, St. James', there is in the south-east corner, a flight of winding stairs, constructed with ornamental framework, and of cast iron. Required an elevation of the stairs, drawn to a scale of an inch to the foot. The direction of the visual rays will be given to each student going up for examination. Required the front elevation and edge view of a bevil wheel, to contain 54 teeth of 3 inches pitch, the wheel being intended to work with another of 2 feet 7 inches diameter. Scale 3 inches to the foot. For these subjects six days will be allowed. DOCUMENTS relating to ADMINISTRATION of MUSEUM OF ART at 1. Curator's Report. 2. Report of the Keeper of the Casts. 3. Table of Returns of Number of Visitors, &c. 4. Returns of Number of Visitors to Circulating Museum Collection in Provincial Towns. 5. Lists of Objects acquired by Purchase. 6. List of Objects acquired by Purchase from the Bernal Collection. 7. List of Donations. 8. Catalogue of Loans. 9. Extracts from the Catalogue of the Circulating Museum Collection. 10. List of Objects specially selected for Exhibition at Sheffield. I. REPORT of the CURATOR of the MUSEUM. January 1, 1856. Appendix B. REPORT OF CURATOR OF MUSEUM OF ART. collection from public dealers; 2, Purchases IN presenting the Report on the Museum, the increase of Increase of the collection seems first to require notice, the acquisitions generally by made in the past year having been unusually numerous. 1, Purchases These additions have been made, first, by purchases from public sales and sales and from dealers, both in England and on the continent; secondly, by acquisitions at the sale of the collection of the late from sale of Mr. R. Bernal, M.P.; and, thirdly, by the purchase of articles of Bernal colmodern art-industry from the Universal Exhibition in Paris. 3, Purchases The entire number of specimens acquired during the year is Universal upwards of 1,300, of which detailed lists are appended. On the second of these heads, (Bernal Collection), I would beg to offer a few remarks. Although that collection contained much that would have been superfluous in a metropolitan museum, it is, perhaps, to be regretted that it could not have been wholly secured, for, setting aside the portion that might have been permanently retained, the residue of specimens would have formed an ample store for distribution to provincial museums, on loan or otherwise; and the pecuniary result of the sale has proved, that the acquisition of the entire collection would have been justifiable on the terms proposed by the proprietors previously to its being brought to the hammer,—it having been offered to the nation for 50,000l., while the amount actually realized at the sale was 62,690l. 18s. 2d. It was, however, determined that the nation should purchase the proportion of specimens deemed especially desirable, at the public auction, and, accordingly, a careful examination of the collcetion was made, and a proper selection lection; from Paris Exhibition. Bernal sale. Purchases from Bernal sale for Marlbo rough for the decided upon. The British Museum, being at the same time authorized to make purchases, it was arranged that the action of the two institutions should be in common, and Mr. Franks, of the DepartHouse and ment of Antiquities of the British Museum, and the curator of this collection, were instructed to concert together with that view, whilst Mr. John Webb was commissioned to bid for both institutions.* In sanctioning the purchase the Treasury further resolved that the purchases should be exhibited together in London and together in the chief provincial towns. British Museum, made in concert, and to be exhibited London and the chief provincial towns. Amount ex pended at the Bernal sale. Average prices per lot realized at the Bernal sale. Donations and objects on loan. Every separate lot selected for purchase was estimated at a maximum value previously to the sale, and only in comparatively few instances were these prices exceeded, whilst by far the greater number of lots were purchased under the estimate; the entire number of lots acquired for Marlborough House was 730, and of the grant of 12,000l. only the sum of 8,6587. 13s. 6d. was expended. A certain number of lots were, it is true, unavoidably lost, but generally speaking, nearly all the really important specimens originally marked for purchase were acquired; and it is satisfactory to state that, although the proportion of objects purchased unquestionably represented a higher average in point of interest and intrinsic art value than that of the collection generally, the average price per lot paid by the nation was nevertheless considerably under that of the entire sale, the relative prices being as follows: £ s. d. Average price of lots (730), purchased for 11 7 0 Marlborough House } Average price of the entire number of lots, (4294) 14 11 0 This result may be explained by the fact, that in frequent instances individual caprice, and the greater number of competitors for certain classes of specimens to which a temporary vogue or fashion more especially attached, caused many of the lots to run up to extravagant prices. With such specimens, however, the Museum had naturally less concern than with many others, which, although of greater intrinsic importance, were from their nature less eagerly coveted by the great mass of connoisseurs. The donations and the objects contributed on loan have been less contributed numerous than in previous years; the falling off in the latter class, however, has not arisen from any indisposition on the part of collectors to lend objects of interest to the Museum, but simply from the fact that the rapid increase of the permanent collection has left scarcely any available space for the exhibition of such contributions. It is, however, greatly to be desired that the system of loans should be continued, and indeed in every respect more completely developed with this view I would suggest, that * It appears desirable to specify these arrangements, as an answer to the reports circulated to the effect that Marlborough House and the British Museum had competed with each other at the sale. It is scarcely necessary to say, that no such opposition did or could take place, and that, on the contrary, the officers deputed, and their agent, acted throughout in perfect concert. when increased space can be obtained, a distinct area with the Appendix B. requisite fittings should be set apart for objects exhibited on this REPORT OF footing, so that they should no longer be placed in indiscrimi- OF MUSEUM nate juxta-position with permanently acquired specimens. CURATOR OF ART. cimens by electric de cess, &c. Progress has been made, since the publication of the last report, Reproducin the reproduction of specimens by photography, moulding, and tion of spe the electro-deposit process, for the use of the provincial schools of photogra art. The collection of reproductions indeed will soon be suffici-phy, the ently numerous to warrant the framing of some special arrange- posit proments, with the view of rendering it available to the public, both as Arrangeregards inspection and the purchase of specimens at the lowest ments for possible rates. Space for the exhibition of the series will, of course, enabling the be necessary, before any further steps can be taken in this direc- procure tion; but when this can be procured, there will be no difficulty copies of in organizing a system, which, with little or no cost to Govern- produced. ment, will effectually meet the end. Success in this undertaking, I beg to suggest, would, in fact depend entirely on the facilities afforded to the public for procuring the reproductions, without let or formality of any kind. public to objects re visitors. It will be observed that there has been a falling off in the Number of number of visitors to the Museum as compared with previous years; the decrease, however, I feel convinced, is only temporary*; the same result has indeed been noticed in almost every other public exhibition, and is probably to be ascribed to the engrossing nature of the events of the past year, which have unusually absorbed public attention. open to the The Museum is now open during six days of the week; in Periods during former years it was closed on the Fridays for the convenience which the of cleaning, &c.; it was, however, perceived that there was no Museum is valid reason for the exclusion of visitors on that day, the neces- public. sary work being easily performed after the hours of closing to the public; an extra "free" day was therefore added, the arrangement being now as follows: Public admitted free-Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays. I would here observe that the system of requiring a small payment for admission on three days of the week, appears in our case to have satisfactorily secured the desideratum, more or less requisite in all museums, viz., that of keeping the rooms comparatively free from visitors on the days set apart for study; the low fee being merely a nominal tax, excluding few, while it is found sufficient to deter the merely indifferent crowd. Public admitted free. Do. on pay ment of 6d. each person. In the last report I suggested the opening of the collection in Suggestions the evening; the only serious objection to this, while the on opening * Since the preparation of this report the average number of visitors has again increased in a considerably higher ratio than that of the decrease in 1855, the numbers during ten weeks, up to the end of March 1855, being 17,589, and during the same period in the present year 1856, 35,937, showing an increase of 18,348 or more than double the attendance in 1855. and greater, in fact, than that of any previous year. the collection in the evening. |