The Washington times., 1903-03-01

] ulleu WIN Su'u AK treasures as Out rev
private museums OF the country can af-
+ ford or secure. The opening day was
I aNed for Washington Birthday. and the
number of tickets issued for his oc-
CasiOn was limited 10 2G0. From the
press accounts il seems that not even
I this small number OF tickets were all
taken. and il also appears that from the
restrictions that were imposed upon the
/ purchasers. that the reporters and those
/ who visit such museums for the pur-
pose OF making studies or the objects
exhibited. found themselves seriously
/ handicapped by the obnoxious rules. The
following gre me rules 10y which the
visitors were governed. large number
OF policemen being or hand TO enforce
them
You must not photograph any OBJ
/ jet in the museum.
| You must not make any sketch of
any object in the museum.
You must not take notes concerning
what is on view.
Having lest any part Of the museum
you must not return 10 that portion OF
the building again
I Persistence in disobeyinG any rule %
/ the museum is punishable by immediate
/ expulsion"
The only portion Of the rules that seem
al All capable Of being misunderst God is
TO what extent the rules could be violated
! without the offender being declared
guilty OF persistence" but IL is reported
, that even an attempt 10 check in the cat
Z aloguc the titles Of such art works as
seemed to he worth the while 10 remem-
Der was considered an infringement or
4 the rules. and promptly stopped
In some manner the reporters managed
by an unusual tax uf their memories 10
bring away with them n very fair under
standing Of the contents Of the museum,
and while there Is q slight tinEc Of Sar-
casm at the number OF policemen and at
/ tcudarts on duty. and a yelled insinua-
/ ton that the society OF the Back Bay
district has not gone in a mad rush 10 at
| tend this first opening OF the museum.
nevertheless, one can read between the
/ lines enough TO understand that the visi-
/ tors received full value for the price OF
] admission. and that even the restrictions
as to making sketches and photographs
| should be patiently complied with. so
/ long as the owner OF the museum has
conveniently placed on sale large num-
Der OF photographs of the principal treas
lures. and disposed OF these photographs
at a fair price
When we read that this art collection
ircludCs some Of the best examples OF
the art Of Raphael. Titan. PaolO Nero-
npse BotticclN. Rembrandt. Van Dyck,
! Holbcin. Durer. Rubens. TeTburg, Whist
Ter. Van Zorn. Sargent. ard many other
| artists Of note one is led TO believe that
such a collection opened to the public.
even under the restrictions imposed. Is
| no insignificant affair. and that the pub
lie may deem itself fortunate that a cit
izen Of Boston has shown such a devo-
ton 10 art as 10 collect such treasures
and give them such an appropriate
home The art treasures are not con-
fined TO paintings alone at, Fenway
Court Tho carpets. curtains, and wall
I hangines have been selected with as
much care as the paintings and the
sculpture. Textile art is represented by
the best that can be obtained, and In
many instances the decorations have az
some time occupied places in come OF
the palaces OF the Old World. The col
lecting and grouping of these objects OF
art in a building erected as their home.
the incorporation in some parts Of the
structure Of portions of some Of the an
cfent buildings OF Europe. has resulted
in general effect which is not only IN
common but also far more artistic than
is possible where the architecture and
furnishings tell only the story OF the
arts Of the present century
At Hartford. Conn. the leading art
event OF the week was the opening on
] February % OF the exhibition OF the
work Of Hendrix Wllen Mesdag, the
leading marine painter Of Holland. This
4 consists OF twenty-seven pictures, many
I OF them OF large size, and all from
/ marine subjects As a painter, Mesdag
Il seems 10 know but one thing, and that
IS the sea. and this he paints viii all Of
4 the varying conditions that exist al Diff
ferent hours. days. and seasons. He has
/ evidently studied his subject long and
| seriously. and paints with grave real
n ism that while Il scorns mere prctU-
I ness OF effect. interests and impresses by
4 the evident knowledge OF the subject
i and the skill with which the artist eN-
4 presses his story OF the sea on the can
vas before him. AS an artist he seems
| TO lack that imaginative faculty which
I leads some TO paint landscapes and sea
| scapes in the studio. His work seems
to be a direct sketch from nature, not
in those unusual periods when the waves
are mountains, and the skies spectacu-
lar but in those more common effects
when the sea is smooth. the skies quiet.
when the fishermen set sail at their
/ work All these the sky. the sea. the
/ fishermen and their quaint boats. he has
painted time and time again. and with
such success that at the present time he
stands as the most renowned painter Of
marines OF the modern Dutch school
The career OF this artist now in his
seventy-frst year is as interesting as
his work. Until thirty-five he followed
the banking business. With plenty OF
money. a rich vie and no need OF fur
Their work he commenced at an age
when the fame or many an artist has
been won. TO work by himself study
ing nature after his own methds. He
has never known the spur Of poverty
OF felt the sting OF having pictures re-
fused at exhibitions. His only incen-
tive has been his love OF art. and he
has followed her as devOtedly as though
she was his only joy His abundant
means has given him ample opportuni-
] " TO assist struggling artists who were
less fortunate and his recent gift to
the Dutch nation OF his palace at The
| Hague in which seven rooms are filled
/ with masterpieces from some OF the
most famous artists or the centuries
past. proves his satisfaction with the
content that comes from love OF art
and his desire that the blessings may
| brighten the lives OF others
CHARLES f. FATRMAN