Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-29
WATTS "LOVE AND LIFE"
No Decision as to Where the Picture Shall.
Be Hung.
The President Alone Can Determine
If 1t Shall Grace the Walls of
the White House.

1t is probable that the question of the dis
position of Watts allegorical painting of
Love and Life" Will be determined by the
President in few days. His time has been
taken up with the consideration of other
more important matters since his return to
Westinghouse much so that he has not
been able, so 1t is said, to give a thought to
the picture. There is no special occasion
for haste in this matter. The painting was
packed up at Chicago at the close Of the
worlds fair in a manner to insure its pres
ervation in it's entirety for many years to
come and a few weeks more in It's present
state will not affect 1T in the least. 1t has
never been opened since 1t left the exposi-
ton grounds. 1t was stored at the George
town custom house for several months and
was removed from there to the basement
of the White House soon after its accept
ance by Congress- late In the session.
Col. Wilson's Position.
Col. J. NJ. Wilson, commissioner Of public
buildings and grounds has been misrepre-
scented and very unjustly criticised in con-
nection with this transaction. In some
quarters he has been held responsible for
not hanging the painting in the White
House, a matter over which he has no con-
troll whatever. At the request of Secretary
Gresham, Col. Wilson consented to store
the painting at the White House. as the
purpose. The painting belongs to the gov
eminent. and 1t was thought proper to have
the President decide where 1t should be
hung. The custom house was considered a
bad place to keep such an art treasure and
IT was removed to the White House the
best place for 1t, pending the selection of
permanent quarters Col. Wilson has no
control over the furnishing or ornamental
ton of the Executive Mansion, except in so
far as he executes the wishes of the Pres-
dent, and he would no more think of hang
ing picture on any of its walls, take down
any of the paintings that are there, or
change their positions without first consult
ing the wishes Of the President, than he
would attempt to interfere in the decoration
of the residence of private citizen.
1t Rests with the President.
According to the present status Of the case
1t rests entirely with the President whether
Mr.. Watts beautiful painting shall hang In
the White House or whether it shall be ex-
hibited to the public in some other place
In presenting it to the United States Mr..
Watts expressed the hope that 1t would be
the nucleus of a National Academy of Arts.
Outside of the portraits of all the Presi-
dents and the wives of a few of them, the
only paintings that now grace the walls of
the White House are two of Bierstadt's
views OF the Yellowstone Park. These are
in the main corridor of the second floor,
and are not open to public inspection. They
do not belong to. the government. During
President Arthurs administration the
fist obtained permission to hang them
there, and they have since remained undis-
turbed.
No Decision Yet Made.
1t therefore Is plain that neither Col.
Wilson nor any one else has passed on the
question of the propriety Of hanging Love
and Life" in the east room or any other
parlor of the White House. and conse-
quenty ii is not true that any one has de-
clded that it is not proper subject for
hibition in those classic halls. Col. Will
son may have views on the subject, but his
military training will prevent his express
ing them unless the President invites him
to do SO. 1t is said that Secretary Gres-
ham promised Mr.. Watts that the paint
Ing should be hung in the White House, and
that II must be hung there in order to keep
faith with the donor. So far as known, he
was merely authorized to accept the paint
ing in the name of the President, in &C
cordance with the action of Congress, and
that If he said ii would be hung in the
White House ii was entirely on his own re-
SponSibility. His enemies cite this case as
another example of the capacity of the Sec
rotary of State for making ineXcusable
blunders.
May Go to the COrcOran Gallery.
There is a strong sentiment in favor Of
having the mnch-discussed painting exhib-
tied in the CorSoran Gallery of Art, as a
place decidedly better suited for its exhibit
ton than the White House and the proba-
bllites are strong that a proposition of
hat kind will be made to the trustees of
that institution The only building in the
city owned by the government said to be at
all suitable or worthy of such display is
the National Museum. but IL 1t was sent
there it would be solitary and alone of its
kind.