The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-29
AN AMERICAN ART GALLERY
Plans for an Institution National
in Character.
Washington Considered the Proper
City for ITS Location - Francis
Howard Discusses the Movement
Hope to Interest the President.

The movement for the establishment of
an American National Gallery, somewhat
after the model of the National Gallery
in London and similar institutions IN the
capitals Of Europe has reached stage
where it can be said to be well begun.
It's most enthusiastic supporters are not
vet so sanguine that they would say II
is half done" but they assert that Tor
the first time since the inception Of the
plan they are able to see their road plain
ly to its end.
The chief interest washingtonians have
in the movement arises from the iact that
it is intended to locate the institution
here Those at the head of il have can
vassed the ground thoroughly, and have
reached practically unanimous con-
clusion that no place in the United States
would be more suitable than Washington
Washington is said TO possess many re-
ouirements which m1i-e it particularly
suitable for the location of national
gallery. II is urged that it is the home
of the Government. and that the wealth
and culture of the country is bound TO
eventually centre here. Rich people VINO
can afford to foster art are more ana
more inclined to take up their residence
here 1t is the most ''unlocalized place
in the country, and no other city is Jeai-
Gus of it If a gallery were situated III
New York it is claimed that it could get
no pictures from Chicago, and vice versa.
Established in Washington, the national
gallery would receive bequests of pictures,
money, and objects dart from rich peo-
pie all over the country.
The movement for the establishment OF
the gallery has been promised govern
mental support. 1t is now assured that II
the promoters can present DEFINITE
scheme. and show their ability to finance
it at least partially. tie President Will
make the matter the subject of a mes
sage to Congress. urging that the plan De
assisted by legislation in whatever way
possible, and that appropriations be mace
if required. Some of the most prominent
capitalists in the country have been in
terested in the subject, and when II
shapes itself it is understood they stand
ready TO contribute literally. The people
behind thI proposed National Gallery are
American artists many of them tempor-
arily resident in Europe The list of the
organizers contains the greatest names IN
the art world of the United States 1t
numbers such celebrities as Whistler, Sar-
gent. Mocmonnies, Hitchcock, La farge,
Alexander, Melchers. Muhlman, Diehi-
man, shannon Fisher, Harrison, Hum
phries-J Johnson Chase. and Howard
Francis Howard, the last named, is the
Secretary, and has taken upon himself
the active work of organizing the insti-
tuition, laying the groundwork, SO to
speak, by arousing public interest in the
matter and obtaining assurance OF heip
from the Government and from private
individuals.
The American National Gallery has for
its purpose centralizing. stimulating, and
Siignifying American art 1t is proposed
as a nucleus of the art life of the United
States. as a gallery which will hold the
best pictures that the country affords, TO
stand as models for the education of the
layman and the student. II is expected
that around it will group themselves
many schools. and that as a sort of cor
rollary 10 the institution will be estab-
Iished national school of art.
Ii will afford TO the young American,
with leaning toward art an opportunity
TO study in his own country, where now
he is obliged TO go to Europe, and will
assist in a further development of the true
American art, with all its qualities of
fineness, delicacy, and strength. 1t is
expected also that such a gallery would
bring TO Washington, as teachers. the
best American artists, who would find it
more profitable to live in their own coun-
try than o be eXpatriates, since they
could find at home a congenial art atmos-
phere.
Washington would become an art centre
and students would flock here from the
whole country. 1t is considered not be-
yond the bounds of probability that stu
dents from Germany and France would
find it profitable to spend some time here.
The pictorial art would naturally bring
with It the other arts. and music and lit
erature would find themselves centring
in Washington, as part of the art life
fostered by the National Gallery
Because Washington has already such
d large university population-in this re-
spect it stands second in the list of
cities in the United States-it is consd-
cred that the National Gallery would find
here Il much more rapid growth and a
much more wide influence. This is one
of the strongest reasons which the COM
mittee finds for looking favorably upon
this city as a location.
Mr. Howard has been in Washington for
several days, quietly looking over the
ground. and interviewing people. 81 had
a short audience with Secretary Hay" he
couraged by what he said. 1 had had
some correspondence with him, and,
though it was not enthusiastic. it was not
particularly discouraging. But i received
all the encouragement / could have ask
ed at this time, when | had my talk with
him. He took great interest, and finally
assured me that If we could present TO
the officials of the Government some well
digested scheme, with assurance that
under favorable conditions we could car
~ II through, he had no doubt the Pres
idsnt would send a message to Congress
on the matter, urging that we be given
assistance. That Is all we need just now,
and we shall go ahead perfecting our ar
rangements.
The American National Gallery scheme
may need some explanation. 1t is not in
tended to be a gallery devoted to pictures
by American artists. II is intended, on
the contrary, to be gallery filed with
the best productions Of the old masters,
and Of recent workers whose ability is
unquestioned. There may be an annex
In which pictures by living American art
lists could be exhibited transiently. but
the main portion Of the gallery would be
composed of pictures reaching a recog-
nized standard
The building would be the best possible
and we would have no thought of even
beginning the final organization of the
gallery until We had 100000 in hand
The scheme could not be carried out with
any idea Of completeness with less than
SlVHV,"yY. Inal, however, Wnen you come
to consider il, is small amount The
building OF a national gallery Is inevitable.
The United States cannot afford to be
without one. Every nation in the world
except the United States has its national
gallery. and it world he rather a strange
thing this counlrT should consider it.
self too poor to afford one
We have started to work with a COM
mittee of American artists who have the
interest Of American art at heart The
committee is only the nucleus of a much
larger committee which Will include many