The Washington times., 1904-09-15
Mr.. WAGGANAN'S
FINE PAINTINGS
Richard n. Brooke Tells
How Collection Grew.
OFFERED "TRE AMGELUS"
He Sought Advice Of Trained Artists
and Kept From Being In
posed Upon.
OFFERED TIRE ANGELUS"

Interest in the recent financial en-
barrassment Of Thomas J.. Waggauan
ras directed attention to his splendid
collection OF paintings. some of which
are widely famous. Speaking Of them
Richard y. Brooke, the Washington ar
tist. who selected almost every picture
in the gallery, says:
MY acquaintance with Mr.. Wagga-
man began years ego. when 1 occupied
a studio on Mount Vernon Row. There
We're a number Of other artists in the
same building, and coming to it seek
ing advice in regard to a painting which
ne had couditionaly purchased. he was
shown into my apartment.
Some time after that there was an
auction sale Of pictures in washington.
among which We're a great many shams.
and again Mr.. WaggamGn applied 10 me
20 confirm his selections being always
frank with him, and endeavoring TO
protect him TO the extent OF my ability
Collectors are apt 10 develop buying
mania. and generally require 20 be mode
rated, and 1 urged him. instead Of
getting fifty fairly good things. to buy
one really fine picture. 70 which he could
point with pride
Went Abroad for Him.
"In 1857 he suggested that I should
go abroad for him. SO as 10 be able 10
select at the fountain head. The ar
ransements We're made accordingly. my
plan after reaching my destination be-
ing 10 present myself, notebook in hand.
on the first day of the salon. I then
made the circuit Of the gallery. studying
the pictures as ranidly as 1 could, and
jottmg down what seemed to be to be
most desirable. then drove directly TO
the artists studio. and negotiated q
purchase. In this way I never failed TO
secure picture either receiving q medal
or honorable mention
''Air. Waggaman began collecting
rather too late for the first choice of the
Barbizon school, which lasted about
thirty-hve years and produced a dozen
very strong men Their work began
10 be understood In this country be-
/ tween twenty and thirty years ago. and
being limited in quantity was absorbed
by such collectors as Vanderbilt. The
Angelus, which afterWard sold for
$4,000. was, indeed. offered TO me for
S4NOOo put Mr. Waggaman was not then
paying such high prices.
"The Close of Day.
I later got for him The Close Of Day.
which would rank among the first doz-
en Of MiIlets paintings, and has been
a great deal engraved and etched. 4
sheep picture in his collection by
( Charles Jaque contains the most per-
feet reproduction of moonlight I know
| anything about I never saw so much
light in painted moon. Ii is superb.
Another picture. sheep Coming out
OF the Forest by Anton Mauve, which
got the medal at the Paris Exposition. is
also IN the gallery Joe Jefferson was
under the impression that he got
MauNe.S medal picture. and he did get
{ q sraaN
the medal The Judges however. as I
was told by his widow, thought IL too
mOnotonOus as to color. and decided in
favor OF the sheep picture
Mr. Waggaman's splendid painting,
FAITH, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, is one
I OF three produced by that artist as de-
Signs Tor the stained glass windows IN
oxford University. Sir Joshua was IA
nous for the Nominations above his
| pictures. and when i came upon this one
I IN New Ork there seemed 70 be some
thing out OF balance about it.. When
therefore, IL was uupacked no Washing
Z ton I discovered that some vauddl, in
I order to get it into a frame Of GER
tain size. had folded back fifteen in
ehes OF the canvas and tackled il down
hLouSh the euortS OF reStorer the
/ tack holes were filled I'D. the canvas
stretched and Ieveled, and the symbolic
hight streaming down upon the upJurn-
&C faces doubled the value OF the pic
ture."
( In regard to Mr.. Waggaman's Jap
anese collection, which ten years ag0
/ had cost him $550.OJO. Mr. Brooke SAYS
His Japanese Collection
There may be other collections in this
country which are larger and more
I snowy, but his is the most scholarly
and would teach more. 1t goes through
) eighty districts of Japan. EIr. Wagga-
man being assisted in his selections by
/ the late Edward Gray of the navy;
I Mr.. Schuzio. and Prof Moss. OF B0s-
with the art history and technical value
I OF japanese things. Prof. Moss went
abroad merely in search of pOtteries.
and Mr.. Waggaman's collection of these.
embracing specimens from Korea ana
/ China as well as Japan, is second to only
one IN the United States