The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-03-06
The Proposed Wood Art Gallery.

Editor Of Watchman:-I gather, with great
satisfaction, from the recent numbers OF
your esteemed journal that Montpelier is
to have the gallery Of paintings of the ar
fist who now holds the highest position in
the world Of American art, and with it the
future services Of the great donor for its ar
rangement and development.
L assume, of course, that Montpelier will
not fail to secure it by meeting the very
reasonable requirements of Mr. Wood. To
OF art intended for this gallery the posi-.
bility of such failure hardly suggests it.
self. Demented indeed would be the COM
munity which would let such an opportu-
nifty to make itself seat OF art and culture
escape. l should consider 1t an imperti-
nence to assume upon myself the task OF
urging so cultivated community as Mont.
pelier to avail itself of this truly magnifi-
cent and munifcent offer, or to believe, for
moment, that it will not do 30 of its own
motion. Ny purpose in writing you these
lines is very different one. 1 desire SIM
ply, as one who has already had the priv
ilege OF viewing these superb paintings to
assure you Of the great pleasure and the
good fortune in store for you from having
them in Montpelier. Allow me to speak OF
two or three of them very briefly.
The gem of the collection-if any lone
may be called the gem where all are gems
is, In my opinion, the splendid portrait of
Rembrandt and Saskia, from the famous
original III Uu6 DreSu6u gallery. rive nun.
bred thousand dollars have been offered
and refused for the original. have often
seen IL, and have spent hours, almost days,
in studying it, and can say without hesita-
ton that this copy by Mr.. Wood, intended
for you, gives me as much artistic pleasure
as the original ever gave me. In drawing
it is better; in execution it is equally az
free; and in coloring it is equally as rich.
| Next to this l would place the great
Turner landscape; ULYSSES Deriding Poly
phemus." This is perfect marvel OF color.
The original OF it is England's greatest art
treasure. 1t could not be bought for one
million of dollars. The copy OF it intended
for you Is pronounced by everybody who
has seen 1t the finest scheme of color to be
found anywhere in New York city to day.
1t is OF itself and alone almost picture
gallery.
Then you will have the most superb copy
/ have ever seen of the gem of the Land
graves gallery at Cassel: The Velvet
Hated Saskia." The sweet innocent face
| OF the woman is an object lesson in virtuous
living and thinking sufficient to Danish vice
and vulgarity from an entire community.
The work upon this picture is so genuinely
Rembrandtesque that, If the name of Rem
brandt were put upon 1t, nothing but its
4, freshness could lead the most discerning art
critic to suspect thar it was not the Old
| Masters own production.
| / will not claim your space to describe the
many others, all OF which, trust, you will
| yourself see, and describe to your readers,
before another half year passes. j must
however, refer to the magnificent portrait
of himself, which Mr.. Wood painted for the
present winter exhibition of the Academy
OF Design here, and which, as l understand
from him, is to be placed in the Montpelier
gallery. / speak moderately when l say
that IL was the sensation of the New YORK
art world this winter. Unqualified praise
Of 1t was upon the lips Of every artist and In
the art notes OF every journal and magazine
1t shows most Enthusiastically the effect o.