Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-11
Of the New Corcoran Art Gallery
Laid Yesterday.
SIMPLE BUT IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES
DR.. yelling Makes an Eloquent
and Appropriate Address.
THE OTHER EXERCIS ES

ceremonies the cornerstone or the new Cor
coran Gallery of Art was laid yesterday
afternoon at 3 o'clock in the presence OF
large crowd of well-known Washington peo-
pie who are friends of the institution and
believe firmly in the future of Washington
as an art center. The old gallery at the
corner of 18th street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue., large as 1t is. is now inadequate for
the purposes OF proper exhibition. to such
an extent has the collection Of treasures
grown. The new building win be man.
moth in proportions. and even the portion
which is to be built first will be far larger
than the present building, and the plans.
while contemplating complete structure
in the beginning, allow for future additions,
which will simply complete the original
plan without detracting in the least from
the harmony OF the whole.
The new site is at the corner of New York
avenue and 18th street. only short dis
lance from the place originally selected by
Mr. Corcoran himself After several months
work the foundation is complete and the
walls were made ready to receive the cor
nerStOne.
Its Silver Anniversary.
Around the point where the stone was to
be set was built a platform capable of ac-
commodating several hundred people. and
on this was gathered a crowd OF ladies and
proceedings that marked new era in the
history of art at the capital. 1t was a note
worthy fact that yesterday was the twenty
fifth anniversary of the founding of the
Corcoran Gallery of Art. 1t was fitting
celebration OF the occasion that II should
be marked by the laying Of the cornerstone
OF a new palace to be devoted to art. Some
idea of the size of the building may be had
when II is said that the foundation walls
are to be 215xl5O feet and the building will
be Of two stories and a basement. The main
entrance will be on 18th street, and the i'm
posing doorway will be thanked by the Can
oya lions that are at the entrance of the
present gallery, and there will also be two
large categorical figures in bronze, the de-
signs or which have not yet been selected.
The lower courses will be of cut granite,
and in the basement will be located the stu
dos and drawing rooms of the art school,
the grill room for the convenience Of stu
dents and the janitor's quarters. The main
gallery will be above, occupying the full
height of the main building. with lateral
galleries on the upper floor and the offices
of the institution on the level with the main
entrance.
On small stage around the cornerstone
yesterday afternoon were seated the trus-
tees of the gallery. DIR. James C. yelling,
president; Mr.. Edward Clark, Mr.. Frederick
b. Mcguire. Judge Walter 8. Cox Mrs.
Charles c. Glover, Mr.. Calderon Carlisle,
Mr.. Matthew NJ. Calf and Mr.. William Cor
coran Eustis. The remaining member of
the board. Mr.. s. H. Kaufman, was abb
sent from the city. Besides these gentle
men on the platform were Rt. Rev. William
Paret. bishop of Maryland; Rev. Alexander
Mackay Smith of StJohn's Church and Pres
ident Gallaudet OF Kendall Green. The ex-
ercises were commenced by an address de-
hvered by the president Of the board, DR..
yelling.
DIR. WeIling's Address.
DIR. yelling said: Ladies and gentlemen,
in reverence for the beautiful and beloved
-
great and good man whose name gives lus-
ter to the Corcoran Gallery Of Art, and re-
| ceives luster from the munificence with
which he endowed it; in the name of my
colleagues in the board of trustees, to whom
| the execution of a great trust In the inter
| est of American art Is confided, l bid you
! cordial welcome to the public ceremonies
| by which We this day commemorate the
/ foundation of new edifice to be here erect
| ed for the better fultillment of the high de-
| signs conceived by our honored founder.
1t was on the 10th day Of May. 1861. just
| a quarter of century ago, that Mr.. Cor
coran. in pursuance OF what he declared to
| have been "a long-cherished DESIRE" estab-
l'shed in this city an institution to be for
| ever dedicated to art" and TO be used
| solely for the purpose of encouraging Amer
| lean genius in the production and preserva-
ZION OF works pertaining to the fine arts and
| kindred Objects"
| OOilpSlcu, as we nave Deen, 10 seek a new
| site in which to find ample room for carry
| ing out the designs of our founder we re-
\ iolce to have obtained one so eligible be-
| cause of its close adjacence to the spot
originally selected by Mr.. Corcoran, and be-
/ cause 1t is in still more sensible touch with
| all that is most typical OF this national cap
/ itaL In the very shadow of yonder marble
shaft erected by the American people in
/ horror OF the man first in war first in
peace and first in the hearts of his country
| H.en; full in sight of the Executive Man
sion; in near proximity to the public de-
[ partmentS OF State, OF War of the Navy of
Justice of the Treasury and of Agriculture:
with the domes of the Capitol and of the
National Library in front of us; with the
/ towers of the Smithsonian Institution to the
| right of u.s. we shall here erect a palace IN
which to preserve and to display, so far as
I our means shall allow, specimen products
/ of that highest form of human Inspiration
/ which comes to expression in sculpture and
in painting.
The Gallery and It's Contents.
Concerning the temple of art which we
| here purpose to erect, and which we hope
may not seem unworthy of the high mis-
| sion assigned to 1t, beg leave to say that
| the architect who, under our Instructions,
has designed 1t, is Ernest Flagg of New
York; that in it's style of architecture it will
| be Neo-Grec; that on a basement of gran
lite it will be built of white marble; that in
feet wide; that 1t will cost half a million
of dollars; that II will contain a hail of
sculpture, gallery for paintings, a school
| for instruction in drawing, in modelling and
in painting in oil and water colors. q hall
for the delivery of public lectures on art in
It's history and its technique and a salon
for the annual exhibition OF paintings and
statuary, to be contributed by artists from
all parts of the country.
Concerning the present treasures of the
gallery, beg leave to say that, In the sum
absolutely paid for them, they represent q
money cost OF $346.03S exclusive of dona-
tions)-a cost value which, Of course, is
greatly below the real value which these
treasures represent today. The total cap
ital of the gallery, in its treasures. in it's
endowment, and in it's buildings, is esti-
mated today at 81 926, 93S. The total number
of visitors who have inspected the paint
ings and sculptures exhibited in the gallery
from the date of its opening down to the
beginning of this month was l, I34, 452-
In fair city, which, like ours, is adorned
with much of magnifcence in it's public
architecture; in a city whose squares and
circles and parks are studded with the
statues of heroes and of statesmen, of
sages and of scholars. from Winfield Scott
on his wa horse to Joseph Henry in his
college gown, from Lafayette in his mill
tary uniform to John Marshall in his
judicial robe, 1t would seem most fitting
that A suitable home should be here erected
for the proper housing of those choicest
fruits of genius, which spring from the