ART, METROPOLITAN MUSEUM

OF, an art museum in New York City which is the largest and most inclusive in the United States. It was established in 1870 and $500,000 was appropriated by the State Legislature for a building in Central Park. The first building was completed in 1879. To this have been added, from time to time, other wings until the total cost of the building has reached about 20 million dollars. The museum is governed by a Board of Trustees and is administered by a Director, Secretary, Treasurer, and other officials. About $200,000 is appropriated annually by the city, while the remainder of the expenses are met through contributions. The museum contains many collections of the first rank. The department of painting is especially notable, and in recent years the department of Egypt ology has received contributions which makes it one of the largest and most inclusive fn the world. The William H. Riggs collection of Arms and Armor in scope and quality ranks with European National Collections. The museum has received many large legacies and bequests and also many important collections of paintings and other objects of art. An additional wing to house the Pierpont Morgan collection was completed in 1918, and an additional wing is to be erected in which is to be placed the Altman collection of paintings left to the museum by Benjamin Altman. (c. 1612-73), original of character d’A. in Three Musketeers and other tales of Dumas. king of Persia, younger s. of Xerxes; he made peace with Athens in 448, but did not take sides in the Peloponnesian War; is famous in Jewish history.— Artaxerxes II., king of Persia (404-359), s. of Darius II.; many rebellions took place in his reign, and for long the empire was weak under him.—Artaxerxes III., king (359-338); name adopted by Ochus, s. of preceding; he ruled sternly, compelled Athens to make peace, and tried to conquer Egypt.—Artaxerxes IV., or Ardashir I. (g.v.).