Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-30
A LONG STEP FORWARD.
Important Additions, Changes and I'm.
provements at the Corcoran Gallery.

provements at the Corcoran Gallery.
| During the summer months a number OF
| measures have been adopted by the Board OF
Trustees of the Corcoran Gallery which are
calculated to greatly increase the Importance
and usefulness of that institution, and make it
al the same time more attractive to the gen.
eral public In the first place, it may safely be
said that at no time since that institution was
first thrown open have there been, in the same
length of time, so many costly and really valu-
! able paintings added to its collection as have
been acquired i'll the last four months First
! to be mentioned in this list. chronologically if
not not in Importance and artistic merit. is the
! somewhat famous Farm in the Woods" by
Rousseau, purchased at the sale of the great
/ SeCretan collection, which took place in Paris
| III July. and which has been exposed to view
for some time. This was followed a few
weeks later by the purchase of three
| canvases by artists of little less renown viz:
| Dupre. Daubigny and yibert. and these in turn,
| by superb Landscape with Cattle" by Van
| Marcke. and a remarkably fine figure piece by
| Henner, both bought during the present week
! OF the tirst-named painting it can be said
| that. while 1t possibly may not appeal strongly
\ to popular taste, 1t is ranked very high by ar
| fists and cOnnoisseurs. both as a characteristic
example OF RouSseaus best work and as q work
/ OF art Its coming to this country was the oc-
! caslOn of much regret i'll the art-loving circles
OF Paris. and, high as was the price paid for it,
! repeated offers have since been made to pur-
chase 1t at large advance by dealers both in
Europe and this country. The Dupre and the
/ Daubigny mentioned have never been ex-
hibited in this country until exposed in
/ the Gallery, and they cannot fail to
/ be classed with the very choicest landscapes on
/ Its walls. The Dupre would be notable
| picture anywhere. Simple in subject, broad
| and mastery in treatment, deep and rich in
/ color. with values perfectly maintained
/ throughout, II strikes the eye of the visitor on
| first entering tine great hall as most noble
| achievement in landscape painting The
| DaubigHy is believed to be the largest canvas
! by that artist owned III this country. as it is
also one OF the finest 1t represents one
/ of the river scenes of France which
I little hamlet in the middle distance a
I lovely bit of country beyond, and a narrow
| valley carpeted in the rich greens of early
| summer III the foreground. in which are dis
| posed just enough figures to give an air of ami
! nation 70 the scene without detractng from
| its dignity. The Vibert possesses all the
charm of the best efforts of that careful
draug htsman and rich colorist. while it Is free
| from those features which often make his paint
/ ings Objectionable to a large class of picture
! lovers. 1t Is entitled The Schism," and rep
| nts two priests, who. having engaged
| in a discussion of some doctrinal point at the
close OF a repast, have finally quarreled and
turned their backs upon each other in a huff
/ The face oi the one exposed 10 view tells the
story admirably. That of the other is not
seen, but 1t Is us easy TO tell its expression as
If turned fully to the spectator. All The details
/ OF the room and It's appointments are elaborated
with the greatest care, and, though compare
lively small in size, II is every quality as de-
sirable any painting by the same ar list, what
| ever its proportions or subject may be.
The picture by Van Marcke, just acquired,
was painted i'll his best period, and though not
of his larger canvases, II may we'll be doubted
! whether he has ever painted anything superior
| to 1t. In composition. color, atmosphere and
perspective it seems to be beyond criticism
| and IS sure to become prime fagorIte with all
! classes of visitors. Almost equally high praise
might justly be given to the canvas by Henner,
though differing as widely from the
both in subject and style. 1t represents
Joan of Arc. at the age of eight;
and the artist has put into the sweet little
childish face an expression absolutely marvel
Gus III its spirituality and solemnlty. 1t fore
tells like the voice of prophecy the strange and
sad career held IN store by the future tor the
humble shepherds inspired daughter.
But II Is not alone in the acquisition of works
OF art that marked progress has been made
Other improvements are contemplated and in
course OF realization. As the public well knows,
the Gallery has not been opened for night ex-
hIbitions for several seasons past. This, it may
not be generally known. was owing to the great
| damage done to the paintings by the use of
Illuminating gas. To obviate this difficulty
and yet to afford facilities for that large
portion of the community which is not able
| TO visit the Gallery in the day time, arrange
ments have been made to light the who'd build
ing in the most thorough manner by incan-
| descent electric lights. This improvement,
| will be made at expense of several
thousand dollars. but it is believed that the
expenditure will be abundantly justified by the
ends in view, and if the public shows its appre-
citation of the opportunities thus extended by
large evening attendances the money must be
! regarded as well spent.
The new annex IN the rear of the main build
ing is nearly finished, and will, when completed
afford much better accommodations to art stu
dents than they have ever enjoyed in Washing
ton. and equal in every respect it is believed
to those afforded anywhere. The large main
room, well equipped with casts etc., admirably
lighted from above, and capable OF subdivision
at will, will accommodate several classes at the
same time, if need be. In the rear of this fine
apartment and reached by an easy flight o.
steps, is another spacious room, likewise sup
p led with ample sky lights, intended for life
classes, and capable of being used also as q lee
tGre hall. Underneath this room, and reached
from the halls of casts and statuary in the mair
building. is another apartment, of the same
size, well lighted from the side. To this room
the Tayloe collection of works of art, books
and other objects has been transferred. Thi
arrangement allows a much better display O.
that collection than it has heretofore enjoyed
and at the same time restores the southwes
gallery 10 the uses for which it was original,
intended.
The paintings loaned to tie artists WHIT
painted them for exhibition in the Exposition
Uniyerselle recently closed in Faris are ex
pected shortly. When they are once more il
place, and the Barge bronzes now loaned fo
exhibition IN New York are again returned, tn,
Gallery Will be far more attractive than il ha
ever been, and its usefulness as an educationa
and eleyatIng factor, both direct and indirect
will also be greatly increased.
The KSABE IN FAvoR.-Secretary Blaine ha
recently purchased one Of the famous Knab,
concert grand pianos in rosewood case, to b,
placed IN the large drawing or music room
knabe Co. have also lately received rom tn,
Convent OF the Sacred Heart at Manhattanyille
NY, an order for sixteen of their superio
: upright pianos IN oak cases. They are now OF
exhibition at the Knabe ware rooms in New
| York.