Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-09

| last summer gave 1t legal status and es-
| adjustment within a notable assemblage
Mr.. Evans became interested in American
art more than twenty-five years ago, when
Its merits had received comparatively little
recognition and no one has done more to
encourage and stimulate it's Progress. Since
his patronage, buying directly from the art
lists and collecting only the best. In 1900
Mr. Evans sold his first collection in order
to procure new wall space and continue his
purchases. This sale together with that of
the Clark collection of the previous season.
set a commercial value for American works
ana marked the inception of number of
now notable American collections. The
dispersal of the pictures had a beneficent
effect In as much 1t awakened an active
interest in native production.
Again Mr.. Evans has assembled a note
worthy collection. Over 200 works by paint
ers of unquestioned standing are housed in
his beautiful home at Montclair. 1t is from
these-from the best of these-that the COL
lection for the National Gallery is being
drawn. There Is no other collection Of
American paintings which equals it either
in size OF in merit.
1t was Mr.. Evans who was largely re-
sponsible for the institution and success of
the well-remembered Comparative Exhibi-
ton of Native and Foreign Art" which was
held in the Fine Arts Galleries, New York
In 1904, and went a long way toward con-
stood shoulder to shoulder with the best
Nineteen Of the canvases displayed in that
exhibition were from Mr.. Evans private
connection. and several of these are to be
included in his gift to the nation.
Generous With His Possessions.
Indeed, from the first Mr.. Evans has
been generous with his possessions, feeling
as few other large-minded collectors do,
that he held the paintings in trust for the
artists and, therefore, stood at all times
ready to lend them for the advancement of
their interests and the good of the public
The opening of the National Arts Clubs
new nome in Grammercy square was inau-
gurated this fall by an exhibition from Mr..
Evans collection, and more recently the
splendid Winslow Homer shown In the
Pennsylvania Academy's annual exhibition
In Phlladelphia, and various canyases in
the Corcoran Gallery's current display were
likewise lent by him
Whlle this gift is manifestly public spirit-
eo ana generous, the more so because it is
acluated by national pride and a desire to
advance the cause of native art IFS full
slsnlhcance and Importance can scarcely be
grasped without some survey of the field
II covers and a suggestion Of its possible
effect |oss-oAe
American art is not an exotic This coun-
try mas genius for assimilation and as
from the riff raft of the old world ii has
made loyal citizens, SO from the schools of
Europe 1t has built up an art which is De-
culiarly its own. Ont of an era of Stygian
Se'i hiiSSS, ~ ldi DIS taste ana art knowledge
'Were concerned, came few men with
poetic poe vision, American independence and
the hardihood of pioneers-men who were
oestlned to lead a movement which in time
YOU'D affect the entire world. Though
BENJAMIN Constant said that George Inness
was the greatest landscape painter of his
day, few believed it, and only within the
past few years has American art won pre-
eminence. -
=. me last six months the lecture hall of
the National Museum has been remodeled
Tor the purpose of providing temporary
quarters. Mr.. William H. Holmes, already
chlef OF the Bureau of American Ethnoloey
mas, most fortunately, been made curator;
the Harriet Lane Johnston collection of
paintings by foreign masters has been in
stalled, the Lucius Tuckerman collection of
pictures has been loaned, a painting by
Lucien Powell of the great Yellowstone
canyon has been given; the largest collection
OF works in sculpture by Edward Kemeys,
the distinguished animal sculptor has been
put on view: and now has come Mr.. VIII
liam T. Evans beneffcent gift. Surely the
nation has reason for congratulation and
port.