The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-10-26
CAN'T APPRECIATE IT
SUFFICIENT UNTO THE COLONEL
Is IT'S NUDITY.
A Grand Work of Art Is Refused a
Place in the Gallery by a
Lackey.

NEW YORK, oct. IA special to
the Recorder from Washington says:
''There is Il lively issue of art and
morals between the state department
and the White House. In the last
session of congress an act was passed
accepting on behalf of the nation one
of the choicest paintings in the art
exhibit at the worlds fair. Visitors
to the fair will remember that hang
ing on the west wall of the British
exhibit was a symbolic picture by G.
f. Watts. the English artist, whose
genius has raised him very near the
head of his profession. One of these
ideal compositions was Love and
Life the other Love and Death The
first of these represents very nearly
the highest achievements of it's ere
ator. 1t consists of two figures-Iife,'
a youth, athletic and handsome, with
wings; the other Love woman,
trifie lower down, leaning against
Life beseechingly. The figures are
nude. After the close of the fair, Mr..
Watts offered to present these pic
lures to the United States government
to serve as nucleus of a national art
gallery, and those with whom he spoke
about it told him that his pictures
would be welcomed and that it would
be Il most fitting foundation for the
national gallery he had in view. Ac-
cordingly the presentation was made
and congress accepted the gift with
expressions of gratitude Secretary
Gresham wrote Mr.. Watts, convey
ing to him information of the action
of congress. In this letter the secre
tary assured the artist that. while the
national gallery was not yet a taDgi-
BILE probability, Life and Love would
De hanging in the White House. there
to remain until more suitable SUI
rOundings could be given it. In max
ing this promise Gresham went too
far. The picture is now in the White
House. but whether it will ever hang
there. is Il very grave question. 1t is
boxed up there in the cellar, and will
stay boxed up there until the presi-
dent gets back to Washington and
has an opportunity to apply his artis-
tic taste TO the determination of a
knotty problem. After the close of
the fair, Love and Life was in bond
in the Georgetown custom house. A
few days ago Assistant Secretary
Rocklill, of the state department,
took it out of the custom house and
sent it to the White House. with the
information that it had been accepted
by act of congress. and that, in ac-
cordance with Secretary Gresham's s
letter to the nor, it was to hang
in the executive mansion. The man
in charge of that sort of thing in the
White House during the absence of
the president is Col. John NJ. Wilson,
the superintendent of public buildings
and grounds. Colonel Wilson does not
pretend to know much about art, but
his army training has given him a
very keen sense of prOpriety, which
sprang at once into dominance when
Mr. Rockhill informed him of the new
addition to the White House gallery
and described the painting. He de-
clared that he would be blessed If any
such indecent thing should disgrace
the walls, confronting the eyes of
young and innocent persons and
clergymen on the occasion of every
White House reception. RockhiI AZ
gued that there was nothing indecent
either in the conception of the paint
ing or it's suggestions. The figures
were nude. to be sure; but they lacked
entirely the sensuous quality which
might have made them Objectionable;
they were pervaded with poetry, not
with passion, and much more of the
same sort, but he argued in vain
Wilson was obdurate. So long as he
was in control he declared that the
picture should remain boxed up in the
cellar. If President Cleveland wanted
to assume the responsibility of placing
the Objectionable thing on view, very
we'll: but the president should not be
permitted to do it without warming OF
! the storm of criticism to which tie
| hanging of the picture in the White
] House would subject him."