The evening times., 1897-01-28
GREEK GODS EMGRATIN6
The Apollos and Yenuses at the
New Art Gallery.
SOME OF THE LADIES MIXED
Many Of the superb Marbles i'm Po-
sitiOn in the Hall of Sculptu res
CIytie Talks American Slang to
an Old Friend-The Paintings to
Adorn the Galleries


the CorcOran Art Gallery Will have been
transferred TO the beautiful new gallery
at Seventeenth and New York avenue
Something has been said about the celebfa-
ton Of the event OF opening the institu-
tion 10 the public, and that committee
was now engaged in preparing program
for the occasion. DIR. Ba rbarin, the curator
OF the gallery, however, said yesterday
that no such committee had been appoint
ed, and when SO appointed il would be 10y
the president and the board of trustees.
1t has also been stated that there would
be Some difficulty experienced in the trans
fer of the larger paintings to their new
home DIR. Barba rim said that he knew of
10 such difficulty, and that approxin ately
All OF the paintings would be IN the new
building about the lstof the coming month.
In fact. the paintings are now all that re-
main TO be transferred.
% far the sculptures which will occupy
the main han have been. n.placed in ositioB
although there may be some interchange
OF places of these beauties. Certainly the
effect already is very fine in this hail.
There are two particularly striking points
of view in the sculpture hall, either Of
which is superior 20 the view obtained
as one enters the han from Seventeenth
street. At this latter place there is "a
fine view OF tie grand stairway leading
10 the west gallery, tut the place to
observe the splendid effect OF the fine
array OF marbles and casts is ifom either
the south or north end of the han. There
are row on their pedcstals the fine, ex-
quisitc marbles OF casts of King Arthur
the GraCes, the NTcstlers. the Dying Glad
iatoF the Fighting Gaul. Antonious, the
Discus thioEer, Meleager. ana Minerva
From this distinguished company one misses
oale Of the other famous pieces which were
tse delight of visitors TO the '-Gurcoran Art
Gallery such as Ariadne. La cocoon, Diana,
the Huntress, the famOas Apollo Bel
vjdere, and the Venuses, in which the
collection excels nearly every other in
America.
Quite a large number OF these are in
the side rooms. In the southwest room
there are the Venus OF the Capitol, VenGss
al the Beth, Venus from tie Bath, Venus
AnadvGmene, Venus Kallipyge, and sew
eral other OF the celebrated Boms de plume
Of that much painted and chiselled typical
nirt.
An accidental juxtaposition of some
sculptures in the room on the right OF the
haIl OF sculptures, entering from New York
avenue. presents a rare mixture OF people
and events. Venus, the Victorious, with
the apple in her hand, is face to face with
the i'll fatcd ClYtie, who can be imagined
as saying to Venus Victrix: well, yyu
haven't got the only apple on the tree"
Near these two is the cast OF the Sacrifice
OF Isaac by Father Abraham, and in the
same group is q Roman youth playing a
game Cf crap solitaire 1t would be hard
to beat this if the whole collection was
shaken up and scattered at random.
There is, nevertheless, some historical
propricty in the position of Ariadne. She
has gone off into a corner by herself TO
think things about Theseus, who shook her
for a better looking girl. All these are
only accidents the only evidence OF orderly
arrangement so far being i'm the main hall
This han. however. even in its present con
dition. with its marble walls Boric col
umns and natural-wood finish, is a Gor-
geouS setting for the superb works OF art
it contains.
Visitors to the old gallery will remember
how the individual effect was diminished
by the crowding OF the pieces. and espe-
course, that in halls for the occasional
exhibition OF pictures or marbles, all of
| the space will be utilized at the expense
| OF the best effect. The new galleries and
arrangements will, however, afford ample
room for tasteful and artistic and perfect
| exhibition OF the wealth OF the old build
ing.
It is the intention OF the new institution
to place all the paintings in the galleries
which have a very large mural extent 50
that the paintings will have the same ad-
vantages OF individual display as the
marbles, bronzes and curios 1t will be
some time yet before it will be possible
to give any but a general idea of the rare
attractiveneSs of the new art gallery
when all the contemplated arrangements
have been made. Work is progressing
rapidly on the lecture rooms and study
rooms. and although all Of the works will
have been removed by the st of the month.
to their new and beautiful home, the in
stitution will not be appreciablc in full
measure until the formal opening, of
which due announcement will be made.