The Washington times., 1904-10-19
JOHNSTON ART
WORKS DECLINED
COrcOran Gallery Unable TO
Accept Bfquest.
THE CONDITIONS PREVENT
Collection Must Be Sold in New York.
Proceeds to Go to the
Estate.

Directors oil the Corcoran Gallery Of
Art have unanimously declined the art
collection Of 2he late Mrs. Harriet Lane
johnston, which, under certain condi-
tons, was bequeathed 20 the gallery IN
Mrs. Johnst0u's VIII
These conditions were such as the
directors were unwilling to comply with,
and the collection VIII therefore, be
sold IN New York and the proceeds re-
vert 20 the residue Of Mrs. Johnston's
estate.
In her win. dated June J. 1895. Mrs.
Johnston bequeathed her collection 70
the Corcorsn Gallery of Art, with the
provision that It be installed In a room
to itself. and that IL be known as the
Harriet Lane Johnston collection.
Mrs. Johnston's StipulatioHs
In a codicil. dated April q. 1892. Mrs.
Johnston stipulated that a separate
building should be erected BY the trus-
tees Of the C0rcoran Gallery for the
housing OF the collection.
No means Of artificial heat were to
be provided, no matter how cold the
weather might be. In addition 20 this
separate provision for her works Mrs
Johnston inserted clause IN her orig
inaI viii 20 the effect that should the
United States ever build a national art
gallery in Washington, her art cOllse-
ton should be turned over u the ma
tional institution By the trustees Of the
CorcOran Art Gallery.
A Hard Condition.
Although the trustees OF the latter in
stitution felt that the erection Of an adj
dition 70 the gallery would. iu ITSELF be
a provision which they could not COM
ply, the condition of Mrs. Johnston
that the collection, would, IN any case,
revert to the Government should a ma
tionaI gallery be built was suf1eieut 10
bring them TO an agreement not 10 ac-
I cept the collection. again. IL was con-
Ceded that. despite the fact that Mrs.
/ JOhnstOn's art works are exceptionally
valuable they do not warrant the cree
ton OF a building which would I'm order
to conform with the main gallery, cost
far more than the collection demands.
Paintings and Medals.
The exhibits az the Corcoran Gallery
are arranged in classes, the paintings
in one apartment and statuary I'm auoth-
eT. Mrs. J0anston stipulated that her
collection must be exhibited as a whole,
as it contains paintings, marbles, letters.
medals etc, and the directors did not
/ feel that they could disturb the principles
which govern the institution.
In Mrs. Johnston's collection are many
valuable and historic works Among
these is a portrait OF Lady Essex as
Juliet" bv Sir Thomas Lawrence. one
/ of Airs Hammond" BY Sir Joshua
Reynolds. James Watson Gordon.
painted for President Buchanan and
1 presented 70 him 6y the King, then
Prince OF Wales With this portrait ls
the letter Of presentation from King
Edward
Another painting. by Rossiter. shows
{ President Buchanan and king Edward
AT WashiuEtou's tomb, Mount Vernon
surrounded by the then Princes suite
and the Presidents Cabinet There IS .
portrait Of President Buchanan. painted
( By EiChhOltz, before leaving America as
I minister to Russia
Gifts to Buchanan.
/ Other notable works are a marble
I bust OF Buchanan BY Dexter. OF Boston,
a miniature Of the former President by
/ Henry Brown, OF Philadelphia;
framed photograph Of Queen Victoria,
/ presented 10 Mrs. Johnston by the Queen
I in 1888 q large engraving Of the Queen
/ and Prince ConsoTt, presented 70 Mrs.
I Johnston by the then Prince OF Wales
an old framed engraving OF q portrait
I OF John Hampden, presented 20 Eresl-
dent Buchanan by Mr. MacGregor. h
Z F. Tor Glasgow a me Roman mosaic
I framed. marble figure OF James Bu-
chanan Johnston. when Two years DID,
as Cupid strinEtnE his bow the letters
which passed between Queen Victoria
and PRECEDENT Buchanan on the occasion
OF the visit TO the United States Of the
Prince OF Wales the gaTel used at In
ciunau when Buchanan was nominated
the Bible on which he took IN oath II
Office March 4 1876, ana paintings ~
Beecaey r. A.: Frans Bourbus. John
{ HonDuer, and BeruadiuL