Evening star., 1896-09-12

west sides. There is also on this floor at
the northwest corner a large, splendidly
lighted class room or studio.
First Imprcssions.
On the main landing of the central stair
way inside the building on the west of the
atrfum provision has been made for a large
piece Of statuary facing all incomers. 1t
was the thought of Mr.. Flagg, the architect
of the building, that this would be an ideal
position for the famous and beautiful
statue of the dying Napoleon which now
occupies a central position in the sculpture
hall of the old gallery.
1t Is not the taste of the trustees how
ever, DR.. Barbarin said, to give visitors SC
gloomy an impression as would apt to be
produced by sight Of this unhappy sub
ject. While the dimensions of the statue
and Its half recumbent position fit 1t to rest
in the place thus provided it is thought that
a far better subject can be found a well
coming figure upon which the eye will frs!
alight, and DIR. Barbarin thinks that he has
such a one in a magnificent fragment that
he recently received from Paris, called
Victory" He thinks the posture and the
subject combine to ma Ike a splendid effect
that will be far happier at this particular
point than the more mortuary suggestion
of the dying emperor of the French.
One of the most unique features of the
gallery Is the device adopted for covering
the walls. The visitor today receives the
for in every room and on every floor above
the open waincoting the walls present
nothing but the rough, gray tone of COM
mon plaster, in which pine boards appear
TO have been sunk at intervals of about nine
inches, extending from the wainscoting to
the picture rods high above the floor.
AS a matter of fact these walls are COM
plete, except for the stretching upon them
of the textile material that will take the
place of white plaster and of wall paper
DR.. Barbarin believes that when finished
these walls will be not only as artistic, but
far more serviceable for the hanging OF
pictures than those Of any other public art
gallery in the world. In fact, he says he
knows of no other gallery where the same
device has been utilized and he predicts
that 1t will result in the most happy and
pleasing arrangement OF the canvases.
In Hanging Pictures.
The wooden slips are three inches wide
and thick enough to give firm hold to
any nail that may be driven in for the
suspension Of a picture. From the center
Of one strip to the center Of another is
iust one foot, and the result is that prac-
tically any combination can be made, both
as to horizontal and vertical position, for
any sized canvas in the collection. The
sustaining nail can be driven at any point
in the wall. practically speaking, and a
perfect support is thus given to the picture
without the display of an inch of wire ex
cept In the case of the heaviest frames.
| II it should be desired to change the
position Of picture thus hung the nail nal
| which it is driven. the textile material
covering over the hole thus formed, and
all trace of the change is lost.
This material Is nothing more nor less
than burlaps, which was obtained in Phila
delphia in great quantity. aggregatins
about 5000 yards. 1t was then taken to a
dyer and was given beautiful terra Gotta
tint that 1t Is thought will harmonic fine
ho r01don fra of the niCtllreS
and will give the best value to the lights
This material. which is forty-eight inches
WIDE will be fastened securely and neatly
to the wooden strips on the wall, and thus
the spaces between the pictures will pre-
sent a practically neutral tone. This meth
| cd of dressing the walls will be followed
throughout the building, and it is thought
| that a great saving will be made to the
Device which Is calculated to rest the
| eyes and economize the illumination.
For Special Purposes.
Several of the smaller rooms on both the
main floors have been set apart for special
PURPOSES For instance one Of the east
rooms on the first floor has been designed
in DR.. Barharin's mind as an excellent
| plAce for the display Of the splendid collec
ton of Barge bronzes that are now shown
| along with other objects of art and many
curiosities in small room on the western
side Of the old gallery. Another room
that is peculiarly well lighted on the sec
ond floor will give a fine opportunity fcr
the collection Of water colors, which do not
need as strong light as oils and can be
hung more closely together.
There are many valuable devices about
the building intended to add to the comfort
| Of visitors and Of the students as well
One Of these is refrigerating water cooler
by means OF which spigot turned In any
part Of the building will give an irstan'
fow Of ice-cold water, which comes from