Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-05
A Day at the Walters Gallery.

A Day at the Walters Gallery.
On Wednesday morning last party OF lady
COIyists and others connected with the Corco-
IAN Gallery OF Art went to Baltimore by card
Invitation OF W. T. Walters, ESQ.,, to visit his
collection Of art treasures, recently extended.
Tie patty, numbering twenty-five persons. of
whom eighteen were ladies, was in charge OF
Curator Macleod, accompanied by Assistant
curator Barbarin, Mr.. f. F. Andrews. artist,
VINO has for two seasons gratuitOusly given his
professional aid to the cOpyistS; MeSSrS. Miller,
Seitelt and Forsberg. artists. The day was
beautiful, and at 10 O'Clock the visitors were re-
celEed Dy attentive servants at Mr.. Walters
residence, 65 Mt Vernon Place That gentle
man preferred being absent, but devOlved the
Guttes Of "host and principal" upon Mr.. Mac
party for the whole day, all other visitors being
excluded so that there should be no Interrupt
ton TO the free enjoyment OF his guests.
THE WALTERS MANSION.
After surveying the SumptuOus elegance of
the paIlors. wherein the mere upholsterer's art
was notably subordinate to the pictures,
glass, Sevres and Vienna porcelain, the visitors
ascended TO the famous Marie Antoinettc room.
IN the third story, fitted up with veritable fur
nlture of The time of Louis XvI-all It's blue dra-
pe1ies and hangings being of courtly ELEGANCE
IN shape and style; thence to the no less famou5
Du.ch Chamber, with its solid bedstead carved
chesi. ana Delft porcelain, all genuine Dutch
furniture of the sixteenth century, STRANGE
ahtlthesis to the couftly style of the French
rooms. 80 complete are the appointments of
these rooms, that one might well imagine Marie
ADto1nette radiant In youthful beauty and regal
dress. encountering On the stair burly Burgo-
master ana his rat vrOw In black garb and
square cut collars. The Chinese and japanese
rooms are part OF the novelties of Mr.. Walters
collection, containing every conceivable type OF
the bronZeS ard porcelainS OF those countries
some Of them covering a space OF 500 years Mr.
Walters is preparing a full catalogue of these
that viii add materially to the interest OF an
examination.
THE PICTURE GALLERY.
Inc VlSlt0fS were naturally more attracted
by the picture gallery, containing about one
hunored and fifty pictures, chiefly OF the French
roche. down TO the latest gems OF Meissonier
Dcta1le, Gerome, Jules Breton, Milet. Corot, de
NeuViile, 1royoD. Knaus, Fortuny, Won Marhe
Eico,and others are also represented. while no.
Die landscape by Durand, ReiDbrandt-like head
o1 Elliott by himself, and other American exam
pies, are not at all unworthy OF being alongside
OF II foreign list. There is not an Indifferent
picture In the whole collection. II Is essentially
an eclectic one, In which for thirty years its
owner has gradually replaced Inferior works
WIN ,ne pest examples OF current art. There Is
one picture. however, not OF the highest order
that has withStOOd all changes because il is
Mr.. Walters first love-the first picture he ever
bougbt-''Ihe Retreat from Moscow showing
TIE long train of the French army hurryin9
over snoW-covered plains, headed by Napoleon
what treat for the visitors 1t was to surrey
this, the choicest collection Of pictures In any
alieliCdu private gai!eiyI
THREE FAMOUS PICTURES
To most OF them all were new, bit their
interest settled down upon the late additions
ard three 81 would select from that proud
Potato Harvest" by Millet represents a man
pouring basket OF potatoes into sack he'd by
a woman; other peasants digging In tine dis.
tance; Tie principal figure is relieved against
scOwlng clouds, whose trailing skirts sweep
over the fading light OF rosy sunset The
leehng OF this picture is sad and solemn. It is
Its rival is 1.-The Close OF Day" by Jules Breton,
showing another group OF toiiers, but at rest:
TWO women standing in the soft sunset, leaning
VIII WI. % Iolded ROBUST arms upon their implements,
stamp is not on their faces, but there is a pen
siVe dignity In these sturdy peasants, ilumined
by the setting sun. It was said OF this impress
tant curfew-"the knell Of parting day." The
third competitor for the palm OF supremacy is
"Diit Pies" by Knaus, OF Berlin. 1t shows a
slopiDg hillside, On which peasant herds lot
OF starved pigs, the leanest kline imaginable
In tie foreground lies the trunk of large tree
on which ioI OF merry girls and boy
are making dit pies. Another boy ais t.
them to take tie ''pi!e" he has collected: one
little ei;l STOPPING burfes her hands In the mud
and another is hurrying Off with her .oad The
TIER happy. gieesome group is a strange contrast
with The starved pigs and peasant beyond
Anotier novelty excited particular interest In
the Neutrality-suspicious. "Wane OF the Honey
moon.'' young married couple in the dress
OF sixty years since, seated back to back on OD-
pos!te sides OF circular stone seat around a
large tree In the centre OF the foreground The
husband, in tasselled high boots, with his head
buried In the cravat OF The period. Is absorbed
In DOCK, While he careSSeS his dogs ear, and
net the tresses OF the young wife, who equipped
for walk, looks sadly before her-nOt at him.
Beyond, two dfverglng roads or lanes receding
further and further from each other are prO.
pEetic OF their future separate journeys through
life
1t is impossible to note others OF the new pic
lures or allude particularly to the crayon-
drawings and water cOlorS OF the inner room.
AS an evidence OF how Mr.. Walters keeps on
adding to bis collection, there Is on the floor a
Lew RicO-a view OF Venice. realistic but
charming In its sky and water, that has been
bought since the reopening OF the gallery a
month ago. and now awaits hanging.
ANOTHER PLEASANT FEATURE OF THE DAY.
After careful study for hours OF these pic
lures the party partook OF an elegant repast,
ali being comfortably seated at the board, Mr..
MACLEOD presiding, at the request OF Mr.. wal
tiers. 1t is but just to say that the creature
comforts were served In style corresponding
with the art-treaSureS of the gallery, and were
pleasantly accompanied with the rareSt vim
tage OF the French school. Suitable tOaStS were
given to their absent host, to Mr. lorcoran, the
ladies' and others. The ladies were then given
each handsome bouquet from the floral Orn-
aments Of the tdble-all from Mr.. Walters
country seat, and leaving written expression
OF thanks to Mr.. Walters, whose presence was
alone wanting to complete their enjoyment,
the party left and after spending nearly an
hour In the Art Loan Gallery, returned to
Washington by the 3:15 pm. train, not one in
cident having occurred to mar the pleasure OF
the day.