The Washington herald., 1908-03-29
ADMIRES ART WORKS
Two Queens Visit ]. PierpOnt
MOrgan'S London House.
ALEXANDRA AND HER SISTER
Royal Women Delighted with the
Beauty of the Priceless Pictures
Displayed for Their Inspection.
One Painting Is valued at S2OO, 900.
Clever Lighting Device Is Used.

Clever Lighting Device Is Used.
London. March 2S-Delighted by the
beauty Of the priceless pictures and works
OF art which were displayed fo- her In
spectlon. her majesty the Queen, accom-
panied by the Dowager Empress OF Rus
sta, spent an engrossing two hours this
Tcek at 15, Princes gate. Kensington,
the inconspicUous, plain-fronted town
house" which Pieroont Morgan has filed
practically from foCr TO ceiling with such
collection OF art treasures, miniature
and curios as is admitted by connoisseurs
10 be OF value practically beyond esti-
mate
When, shortly before o'clock, the roy
al visitors drove Up in a closed carriage.
Mr.. Morgan was waiting 10 conduct them
from room TO room Of this wonderful
mansion. which is guarded night and day
by stan OF custodians.
In the magnificent hall. where the Queen
was received by the millionaire. she
paused with an expression OF open admi-
ration. ''Wcn5erful.' was her exclama-
ton as she glanced around at the beauti-
fully poised statuettes and mail-clad fg-
ures which portray the rarest art OF the
sculptor and armorer.
Then. after smiling expression OF dis
may at the limited time which was at her
disposal for an exploration OF this fairy
palace. the Queen and her royal sister fol-
lowed the millionaire into lofty cham
Der. 1t was softly Illuminated by con-
cealed electric lamps, and upon its walls
hung masterpieces of art from the
brushes Of the most celebrated painters
the world has known. Each picture in
this gallery possesses a history OF its OWL
the history OF a worldwide search by
the experts whom Mr.. Morgan has en-
ployed. and each represents the expendi-
ture Of many thousands OF pounds
Clever Lighting Device.
AS the two Queens passed from one pic
ture 10 another each work Of art was
flooded with a soft. natural radlsnce-ap-
parently by an invisible hand. Her mai
esty commented upon the clevernesss OF
this device. which throws every detail OF
the paintings into an artistic relief. and
she was informed that the effect is pro-
duced by the switching on Of number
OF tiny electric lights which are dexter
ously hidden from view in the wide
frames OF the pictures.
| While ascending the spacious staircase
70 the first floor the Queen made a briet
halt 10 inspect some quaint cases Of an
cient church ornaments, which. although
they can be held in the palm OF ones
hand, have a value Of close upon s15o,c
Then Mr.. Morgan led her majesty into
the luxuriously appointed rooms which
contain HIS famous collection OF minia-
lures, and here again the Queen stood
still for a moment in wonderment
Costly inlaid cabinets. which, despite
their appearance Of weight, move noise
lessly upon tiny wheels. stand around the
walls Each contains series Of shelves,
upon which. lying in exquisite cases, are
the miniatures themselves, gIittering in
| iewelec frames. What their exact value
is no one can say-a million pounds is one
OF the sums which have been estimated
At any rate. one beautiful specimen has
been valued at $4,000.
Although her intention had been to stay
but an hour, two hours had flown before
her majesty stood again in the entrance
hall.
Priceless Treasures.
Though many Of Pierpont Morgan's
priceless art treasures are now housed al
various museums and picture galleries
this energetic American collectors house
at Princes gate still contains such a
wealth OF art treasures as TO astonish the
eyes OF a visitor who is familiar with
the masterpieces that are accumulated al
Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace
Mr.. Morgan's roof shelters GainsbOr-
ough's chef-d' oeuvre, the famous Ouch
ess of Devonshire." which. after being
bought by Messers. Agnew at Chrlstie'S
in 1915 for lo.1Oo guineas. was stolen from
their premises and returned from America
after the lapse Of a quarter of a century
During this period the early English por-
trait school experienced an enormous rise
In market value. and Mr.. Morgan finally
had 10 pay more than treble the earlier
price to add this coveted work 20 his col
/ lection.
Morgan's wonderfully complete collection
Of miniatures. from Holbein 20 Rossct;i
There is no gathering like ii in the whole
world. and & would be next 10 impossible
to mention a single miniature painter OF
/ Importance who is not represented in the
collection
And then there are untold treasures
stored UP under HIS roof that illustrate
the artistic triumph Of the great medieval
renaissance, and French eighteenth-cen-
tury craftsmen and sculptors; tapestries
I from the looms OF Flanders and France
pair Of unique marble busts by Houdon
which Mr.. Morgan bought for $1,000
marvels of Oriental and old Sevres pOrce-
lain-indeed, a veritable museum OF thC
highest achievements OF the worlds art.
and crafts.