New-York tribune., 1897-07-23
MONTPELIER'S NEW JOYS.
THE YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN AssoClA-
TION BUILDING COMPLETED.

OPENING OF THE ART GALLERY PRESENTED BY
T. W. WOOD. PRESIDENT OF THE MA
T1oNAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN
The little town Of Montpelier, VT, with but hWo
inhabitants, will in future enjoy artistic ad-
vantages In many respects unique In TINS coun"''
July rs and IS are red-etter days in its history
marking the completion Of the new Young Mems
Christian Arsociation Building. in State-st' nearly
opposite the Government Building and IN co''hec-
ton Herewith the opening OF the art gallery "'ich
T. w. Wood. president Of the National Acaoei'S VI
Design, has presented TO the municipality MI
Wood has Furthermore given copy OF Muriios
celebrated painting La Madonna del Rosario, TO
the Church CT st Augustine. in Montpelier. Inc
art gallery Is located in the gymnasium Vi 'he
Christian Association in the rear Of the nam
building. the money for which was loaned py rro-
fessor Burgess. of Columbia University.
Mr.. Woods original idea In starting the gahery
two years ago TO aid the association which al
that time was in hired rooms. Since then. however,
the collection has grown rapidly. until AT present
II contains sixty-four pictures All OF THESE Win
but five exceptions were painted by the donor OF
the gallery, although nearly half are copies OF
European masters. OF the original pictures. four
teen oils, seven water-colors and eleven etch-
ings. The remaining thirtytwo pictures in the col
lection made up OF the copies and the fve orig
inal works donated by other artists. III Is III re-
spect OF these copies that the gallery Is unique
Perhaps nowhere else in this country-certalny
in no other small town-wll students of ar, tnd
opportunity TO study representative pictures OF so
many and varied schools as is here the case.
Fourteen European masters in all are represented,
showing the style of the u tch, Flemish. french'
English and Spanish schools. OF Rembrandts
work alone are b. fourteen specimens.
Among other painters OF worldwide renown whom
Mr. Wood has brought within reach of his fellow
countrymen Sir Joshua Reynolds. Sir Edwin
Landseer. Louis Deschamps. Charles Robert Les
lie Murilo, Peter Pau! Ru5ens Sir Thomas Law
renee, Joseph Turner. the marine painter van
dyke and Gerard Douw. OF these America may
claim Leslie, who Of American parentage, al
though born in England. Turner is represented In
the gallery b. two canvases. "The East Cowes
Castle and Ulysses Deridinc Polyphcmus. The
latter picture is especially interesting in view OF
the fact tnat the original has never been photo-
graphed and is therefore but little known outside
Of art circles IT Is a most striking conception
showing Ulysses and his companions sailing away
triumphant from the blinded Cycops. who is
dimly visible. towering above the mists surround
ing the shore. The whole scene is sufised IN "a
wonderful food Of golden light
As is shown by the catalogue OF the gallery MI.
Wood has spent but three summers abroad In max
ing this large collection of copies Already three
of the gallery. Frederick :. Church. Mrs Ruth
PAYNE Burgess and William J. Whitmore having
added specimens of their work to the collection
Besides the pictures. the gallery contains repuca
several of the most celeDrdltu cIdSSiC STATUS
and composite frieZe in imitation OF that orig
nay in the Parthenon. the facade OF Donateio
Bardi Of the organ gallery in the Cathedrai IN
Florence, and the facade OF I.ucca Della Robba;
in the same cathedral The aim OF the donor OF
the Montpelier gallery Is to offer opportunities OF
study to lovers of art at the same time that an
incentive to further and broader work Is s'l'hu-
lated. r,,,, u,ooD
Thomas Waterman Wood was born In Montpelier,
W in November 1923. He was entirely without
artistic surroundings in his boyhood yet he early
showed love of art. and as soon as financially
practicable he entered student in the studio OF
chester Harding in Boston. After painting por-
traits in Canada Washington and Baltimore, he
went 10 Europe in 1858 10 pursue his studies. on
returning to this country he painted portraits In
various cities until at last he set up his easel in
New-York as a figure painter. Mr.: Wood nrst eX-
hibted AT the National Academy OF Design In ls5S,
the work being The Baltimore News Nender
eleven wears later he was elected an associate OF
the Academy and shortly afterward an Acade-
mician He was president OF the American water
Color society from 1878 to 1887 vice-presdent OF the
Academy from 1879 1891. and president OF that
institution since that date - .
Mr. Woods reputation rests mainly upon his fig