Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-10-19

the library, which is entered either from the
gallery or by door leading from the vesti5ule
At the foot OF the main stairway. AT the end OF
the library, in the southwest corner Of the build
ing, is a smaller room, which will be used as an
office. Upon the right of the vestibule are SIX
small ROOMS, which will be occupied by the jan
itor. Upon the east side Of the building. be-
tween the janitor's rooms and the gallery above
described, is q smaller gallery communicating
with the larger one. The galleries upon the
lower floor will be used for paintings, statues,
AND other works OF art. The columns in these
halls ars pure white with Grecian capitals.
They will be lighted At night by large chande
hers. The doors are grained walnut, and elab-
orStely trimmed with the same material. The
floors throughout the building are Of North
CarUlina pine, laid over the brick arches, ex-
cept in the halls, which are tiled. The hal,
and ash, finished in oil.
TIE MAIN OR GRAND GALLERY,
is at the head OF the stairway, and is 95 feet long
by II vide. with thirty-five foot cove or dome
ceiling. The cornce is 25 feet from the floor, and
from this the ceiling arches, having a spring OF
ten feet above the cornice. Along its whole
length is sky-lght Of figured glass, giving
ample light to every portion OF the room. The
gallery is heavily wainscoted with walnut and
Upon the east side OF the building. commmi-
eating with the main gallery, is another, - by
10 feet in size with cove ceiling similar to th It
in the grand gallery. Adjoining this room, on
the southeast corner, is another hall, . feet
square. Upon the west front, communicating
with the larger gallery, is another IS by 10 feet,
Is feet square, In the southwest corner adjoining
it. In the front OF the building, Immediately
in the center and over the vestibule, is an octs-
sspe IoVm Tsh ssysh which Tba T
main gallery will be lighted At night with 2So
burners afr xed to pipes forming hollow square,
suspended P ten feet below the ceiling. The outer
by electricity. The building is heated by fur
naces in the cellar, and abundant.y provided
with registers in all the rooms and passa ses
The general superintendent of the impro ovement
was Mr.. VIM. b. Falkner, carpenter; Siouss *
Hardness, plasterers; George Crossfeld, paint
ing; f. French, tiling; - Evans. plumbing
and gas fittiaa; and Charles Wood, of Baltimore,
heating apparatus.
COST OF THE BUILDING.
The cost of the ground and building, com
plete, will considerably exceed $500, 900, before
the works Of art are placed therein. Neither
pains nor expense have been spared to make the
whole estabiishment the finest and most COM
provements have all been made by day work,
and not by the contract system. They have been
made under the personal SUPERVISE of Mr. Cor
Fsq, supervising architect Of lie 4 treasury re- ' De-
partment, and Edward Clarke, Esq, architect
OF the Capitol extension.
There is q large vacant lot in the rear OF the
building, SO that an addition can easily be male
to 1t 1t any time it may be required by the wants
OF the institution.
THE GALLERY BOOKS
have already been made, and are handsomely
finished. They comprise q register for visitors;
register of the works received and on exhibition,
with name OF artist, when painted, cost, &c ::
register Of all works belonging to the gallery
by whom contributed, name Of artist, when
painted, &c. These books are now in possession
OF the board, and will be placed in the gallery
upon its opening.
THE PICTURES
already contributed, and which form the nu-
cleus OF the art gallery, is the magnificent pri-
vate collection Of Mr.. Corcoran, now in the
gallery at his residence on Ii street. They con
sist Of about one hundred pieces, estimated to
be worth nearly half million of dollars Ameng
them may be found some rare and valuable
works by the most celebrated artists, and many
OF them cannot be surpassed by any in this
country.
First, on account of its subject, az well As its
mastery treatment, its wide reputation, and
ration OF the Shepherds" by Rafael Mengs
The next in order, because of its familiarity u
the public eye through copies, engrayings, sc,
Is duptingtons celebrated picture, E" Mercy's
Dream" Two master pieces by Thomas Cole
are also here, entitled respectively "The De
parture and The Return" the first repre-
senting the early spring season, and showing the
lord OF the castle with his retainers starting out
on some chivalric expedition; the second gives
the sombre tints CT autumn, and shows the
litter wounded, followed by his riderless horse
and a single cavalier. These pictures nav be
classed among the most important a we'll as the
most beautiful productions Of this celebrated
artist not even excepting his famous allegorical
plctnres, . The Voyage of Life" The next are
twolmrortant characteristic pictures by Leutze
one entitled Z" Milton al Home" which repre-,
sents the great poet sitting at an organ. with
Cromwell and his family sAd others scsetered
about the loom; the other is called E" The AM
azon and her Children Both are large and
attractive pictures.
There is also tropical scene by Church
showing lake with palms and other tropical
foliage in the foreground, with a snow-clad
mountain peak in the distance, cool in tone and
treatment, considering its subject, but never
tbeiess attractive and beautiful.
On the walls will be found also an original
Murlllo, which, though not large, would be
counted gem in any collection.
There are also two faithfully painte d interiors
Elliou's fine fun length life size portrait of
MT CoTcoran occupies the place of honor in the
library, but it viii doubtless be transferred -
the new gallery. where il would always prove
an attractive feature, not ess on ac count OF ITS
subject than the great reputation OF the artist
There are many other important and valuable
WORKS al the gallery, which We should like 10
dwell upon AT length had We the time and space
but this Is not necessary, a. a mere reference TO
tie IN will enable theinteili gent reader to under
stand their characteristics and merits.
PrOininent among these may be named two
handsome landscapes by Robbe-one Iatrodtc-
ing in The best sty'; OF that artist s. shepherd
With ms dog, goat, and iIeok OF sheep; rasrir
English scene by George Morland; ' yIoonrsse
at Madeira" 10y Hidetraudt, showing wonder
ful effects OF moonlight and Rre light; strong
stormy marine by Joseph Sernet; j. &. Browns
ceiebr ated little picture Allegro anu Pensero-
So, or learning to smose; = handsome Berk-
shire landscape by Oddie; a fine view
of the Pope's Palace, near Rome, by
Cranch; striking and beautiful breezy
north country English view, 10y Brewerton:
one OF kensett's best smaller pictures
giving distant view Of Mount washinatos;
faithfully painted and pleasing interior, by
Eastman johnson, showing Q little girl watch
ing her pets; Faed's celebrated picture Of ShaLs-
peaie and his Friends; Characteristic hunting
scene, by Ranney; well-drawn and csreftllly
painted type Of Oriental beauty, entit,ed Be
beccs, by Rossiter; two OF Gisnoux' earlier
works-one a winter scene, the other q lake
view; an attractive interior. inclHdinR Q teacher
and group Of scholars, by De Block; one OF the
besf Doughfy's in the country, showing early
autumn effects on the Hudson river; line In
terror, by HelInick; two good specimens OF
Bes,s; one Of Louis Lang. best efforts, Npr-
MAJ water color, by Hildebrandt, rSpfeseht-
ing A1mboldt in his library, accompanied by
an autograph letter from the dis&iDkuished
saval; small, bnt beautiful, pure and fresh
woodland view; BY Paul Weber; original por-