Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-10
WORKS BY OLD MASTERS
Exceedingly Fine Portrait of Lady
by Rembrandt.
FAMOUS CANVAS BY BOUCHER
Which Were Painted for
Madame du Barry.

Senator w. A Clark has loaned TO the
Corcoran Gallery of Art ifty-six extraordi-
nariIy interesting and valuable paintings
from his private collection, which have
been congregated in a single room and
formed into a special exhibit. This in art
circles will doubtless prove one of the most
notable events of the winter. and to stu
dents and art lovers it will afford uucom-
mon privileges.
The exhibition was opened last evening
by a private view. TO which the Vice Presi-
dent and officers of the Senate, the sena-
tors and their families. members of the
cabinet. directors of galleries in other cities
and many prominent are collectors of the
country vere invited.
About a year ago Senator Clark loaned
TO the COrcoran Gallery twenty-five
recently acquired-canvases and these form
the nucleus OF the present collection. n col
lection which II has been said few museums
could duplicate. Its value as it now stands
is estimated conscrvatively at 500, 900 but
Its intrinsic worth far exceeds its CONNER
cial valuation. Ii comprises not only mod
ern Paintings. but works by the old mas
tiers, and it boasts rare examples of the
several great schools. 1t has been well Sc
lected and nicely arranged. Each picture
seems to be a unit fitted into a large CO.
ordinate scheme. The general effect is har-
monious and pleasing, and the single eX-
hibits are OF rare and of lasting interest
a large portion of the collection was ac-
CURED at the time of the great Preyer ga e
in Vienna, the senator supplementing his
own knowledge at that time by the expert
advice OF DR. Bredius, the director of the
Amsterdam gallery. A number of the mod
ern works were purchased last winter
when the j. w. kaufman collection was
disbursed IN New York. and several of the
important recent accessions were procured
through Mr.. " q. Fischer of this city. 1t
reflects unquestionably the taste and judg-
ment of the owner. and while there may
be among connotsseurs discussion and dis
agreement as to the merit of single exhib-
It's, collectively II will be conceded by all
10 maintain an uncommonly high standard.
Portrait by Rembrandt.
Interest will necessarily focus upon the
portrait OF lady by Rembrandt which CEN
tiers the south wall. This alone should Gre
ate a sensation. Not only is It the work
OF great master. but an exceedingly fine
example. In It the last word has been said.
the consummation Of painters craft arrived
at. 1t might have been differently done.
but it could not have been better. Nothing
remains to be asked-every demand is sat
isfed. The Dutch painters. II has been said,
were given to realism-were reproducers OF
nature-snd II is true that Rembrandt here
presents a living reality. The woman he
has pictured literally stands before the
observer in lifeike semblanoe. Her per-
sonality is more insistent than her mere
person: she becomes instantly vital and
credulous to the observer. Who she was
no one knows; possibly the painters sister.
in-law, Saskia's own sister. some say. But
her name and Identity are OF little conse-
Quence. The face is typically Dutch. YET.
very individual The eyes are frank and
seeing, the mouth firm. but sensitive. The
features show much character. and yet
the expression Is inscrutable. 1t allures
and at the same time battles
According TO the accepted code, this lady
IS rot beautiful and yet she charms. She
s. a human document to whose pages one
might gladly turn with reyerent regard.
II all this while II has not occurred to the
enlooker 70 admire the art Of the painter