The times., 1901-04-29
AN AMERICAN ART GALLERY
Plans for an Institution National
in Character.
Washington Considered the Proper
City for HIS Location - Francis
Howard Discusses the Movement
Hope to Interest the President.

Hone 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
canitals Of Europe. has reached a stage
where it can be said to be well begun.
lis most enthusiastic supporters are not
vet so sanguine that they would say II
is half done" but they assert that for
the first time since the inception Of the
nlar they are able to see their road plain
" to its end
The chief interest Washingtouians have
in the movement arises from the fact that
il is intended to locate the institution
here Those at the head of it have can
vassed the ground thoroughly, and nave
reached a practically unanimous con-
cIusion that no place in the United States
would be more suitable than Washington,
Washington is said to possess many re-
uuirements which make it particularly
suitable for the location of a natlohal
gallery 1t is urged that it IS the nome
Of the Government. and that the weaith
and culture Of the country IS bouho 10
eventually centre here. Rich people VINO
can afford to foster art are more ana
more inclined to take up their residence
j 4
in the country. and no other city is jeal-
Gus of it If a gallery We're 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 a definite
scheme and show their ability to hnance
it at least partially. TIE President Will
make the matter the subject of 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 beeh IN
terested in the subject, and Wheh II
shapes itself it is understood they stand
ready TO contribute literally. The people
behind The 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 Fargo,
Alexander, Melchers, Muhlman, Diehl-
man. Shannon, Fisher, Harrison, Hum
phries-Johnson. Chase, and Howard.
Francis Howard, the last named, is the
Secretary, and has taken upon himself
the active work of organizing the iHstl-
tuition laying the groundwork, SO 70
speak. by arousins public interest in the
matter. and obtaining assurance OF help
from the Government and from private
individuals.
The American National Gallery has for
its. purpose .centralizing, stimulating, and
dignifying American art II 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, 10
stand as models for the education of the
layman and the student. It is expected
that around it viii group themselves
many schools and that as a sort Of cor
roIlary TO the institution viii be estab-
lished national school Of art.
1T viii afford to the young American,
with a 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 10 Washington. as teachers, the
best American artists. who would find it
more profitable TO live in their own coun-
Try than 0 be eXpatriates, since they
could find at home a congenisI 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
lind it profitable to spend some time here.
The pictorial art would naturally bring
with IL the other arts. and music and lit
erature would find themselves centring
in Washington, as a part Of the art life
fostered by the National Gallery.
Because Washington has already such
a large university population-in this re-
spect ii stands second in the list of
cities in the United States-it is consid-
cred that the National Gallery would find
here a 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.
Ar. Howard has been in Washington for
several days. quietly looking over the
ground and interviewing people. Il had
a snort audience with Secretary Hay" he
said yesterday, and ] was much en-
couraged by what he said I had had
some correspondence with him. and.
though 1t was not enthusiastic. it was not
particularly discouraging. But ] received
all the encouragement j could have ask
ed at tins time, when / had my talk with
him. he took great interest. and finally
assured me that II we could present 10
the officials of the Government some well
cigegted scheme. with assurance that
under favorable conditions we could car
HE ln Z ba
ident 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
Tangements.
The American National Gallery scheme
may need some explanation. it is not in
tended 10 be gallery devoted 10 pictures
by American artists. il Is intended, on
the contrary TO be a gallery filed with
the best productions of the old masters,
and Of recent workers whose ability is
unquestiOned. There may be an annex
n which pictures by living American art
lists could be exhibited transientiy. but
the main portion Of the gallery would be
composed OF pictures reaching a recog-
lIZed 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
SlUo9o.UpJ. That, however, when YOU come
TO consider II, is a 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 IL would be rather a strange
thing II this country should consider il
self too poor to afford one
We have started 10 work with COM
mittee Of American artists who have the
interest OF American art at heart. The
committee Is only the nucleus of much
larger committee which VIII include mann,