Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24
ART NOTES.


Waggaman has generously opened his art
gallery at stated times every year to the
general public, and always every Sunday
afternoon to artists and their friends, there
are comparatively few persons in this city
who realize the value of his art collection.
1t consists of two large groups of Oil and
water-color paintings and several thousand
oriental art objects. For twenty-five years
Mr. Waggaman has been getting it to-
gether awaiting himself at all times of the
best expert assistance. In the selection OF
his paintings he has been guided by the
critical judgment of Mr.. Richard N. Brooke,
the president of the Society of Washington
Artists, who in 1887 he commissioned to go
abroad and make purchases for him from
the salons and artists studios. AS a re-
suit Mr. Waggaman has now in his collec-
ton some of the finest examples of the MOD
ern Dutch school of painting which are to
be found in this country-pictures which for
their sterling worth and present popularity
Will today command high values. Notable
among these is an oil painting by Josef
1sraels, representing an old man with his
little grandchild seated upon his knee,
which is considered by many to be the most
finished work of the great Dutch master.
There are also an extraordinarily interesting
Mauve and an exceptionally fine Maris.
Millet and Jacques are both represented at
their best and Corot. Daubigny and Rous-
Seau have made notable contributions to the
collection. OF the English school there are
a magnificent Richard Wilson, two unusual
ly interesting Constables and a more than
interesting David Cox, and from the mod
ern French have come meiodramatic war
scene by De Melville, brilliant technical
performance, young girl reclining after
the ball in an easy chair against simmer
ing pillows, by Doucet, and an equally real
istic presentation of a Duet in a Studio
by Dagnan-Bouveret. There are besides
these a quaint and remarkable triptych,
which was painted by Hans Memling be-
fore America was discovered; beautiful
Interpretation of the Madonna by Van
Dyke, and the original study made by Sir
Joshua Reynolds for portion OF the
famous window in New College Chapel,
London, as we'll as many others of note.
But in the end 1t is not the paintings as
much as the oriental art objects which give
to Mr. Waggaman's collection exceptional
import.
1t has been said, indeed, by well-known
connoisseur that of the four greatest orr
entail art collections in the world this Is
one. In the elaborate and exhaustive cata-
logue of Japanese ceramics prepared by
Prof. Edward S. Morse for the Boston Mu-
scum of Fine Arts the great scientist re-
fers his readers to the catalogue of Mr..
Waggamans collection compiled by Mr.. ii.
Shugio for concise and reliable 1nforma-
ton concerning the several wares, and 1t Is
interesting to know that this same little
catalogue in French and German transla-
tons is to be found in almost all the lead
ing museum libraries abroad Mr.. Wagga-
man in making his oriental collection has
been governed almost entirely by oriental
tradition, and has sought objects which
were beautiful rather than merely curious.
No one therefore, who is alive to the
charm of harmonious colors and graceful,
rhythmical lines could fail to find delight in
his Chinese and Japanese porcela1ns his
exquisite fades or his richly wrought
bronzes. The collection of Satsuma ware
is specially choice. and the egg-shell china
is peculiarly interesting. Among the
peachblows is a small vase which is said
to compare most favorably with the IA
nous specimen in the Walters collection,
and among the sang-de-boeufs is one whose
only rival is to be found in the British Mu-
scum There is curiously interesting old
fire braZer made of a huge gourd lined
with copper and ornamented on the exte-
rior with gourd vines and butterh1es IN
LACQUER and mother-of-pearl, by the great
Ritsuo; there is an eagle, whose mate is in
the South Kensington Museum, made or
iron with neck, wings and tail art1culated,
and there are swords by three or the rour
greatest swordmakers. The dispersal or
this collection, which owing to Mr.. Wagga-
mans financial embarrassment Will IN all
probability take place within few months,
will undoubtedly prove an event or very
wide interest, but that it cannot be kept
together and remain in this city must be
deeply regretted by all who even in small
measure appreciated it's real worth.
X
A reception will be given in the Corcoran
Gallery this afternoon between the hours
of 4 and 5 o'clock by the board OF trus-
tees in the name of the Churchman'S
League, to his grace the Archbishop OF
Canterbury. who is paying brief visit
to this country. This is merely courtesy
extended to the churchmen of this diocese
and their distinguished visitor, and will
partake more of the nature Of a social
than an artistic event, but a week from
today, on October /. the main doors of
the gallery will be thrown back once more.
and the Corcoran collections will be re-
opened to the general public. During the
past three months. while the gallery has
thorough cleaning, repairs where needful
have been made some of the exhibits have
been rearranged and a new edition of the
catalogue. brought up to date, has been
issued.
4 X
The winter session of the Corcoran
School of Art will likewise begin next
Saturday. Mr.. E. c. Messer will again be
in charge, with Mr.. Richard N. Brooke as
vice director. Mr.. James Henry Moser will
conduct the water color class and Miss
Mathilde Mueden will resume the instruc-
ton of the antique classes. The course of
study will be virtually the same as that
pursued last year. and applicants for adj
mission will find Mr.. Messer at the school
during the forenoons next week
X X
For the first time In number of years
Mr. Moser has spent almost the entire sum-
mer in Washington. To him it, In its mid
summer garb, has proved as fresh an in
spiration as any new locality, and week by
week his enthusiasm has grown more ar
dent over the charm of our local scenery.
He has been out early and late. visiting
Arlington before sunrise and drifting down
past the arsenal In little dingy as even
ing settled down; he has explored Piney
Branch and the shores of Rock creek, and
he has tramped all over the fields along the
upper Potomac. As the geologist would
have collected specimens, so he has picked