Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-15

The exhibition of tapestries, textiles
and embroderes. which opened last even
ing with a private view and reception in
the Corcoran Gallery of Art. is an event
Of unusual interest Not only private in
dividuals have contributed generously to
it. but two of the leading art museums of
America have made important loans from
thei. permanent collections, which is far
from customary.
The exhibition SIS given by the National
Society OF the Fine Arts and was ar
ranged by a committee of which Mr.. Will
liam II. Holmes. curator o. the Naoional
Gallery. is chairman. An illustrated
catalogue has been issued which takes the
form Of a handbook and contains a brief
history of the art of tapestry weaving
as well as copous notes on the exhibits.
A Pleasing Arrangement.
In arrangement this exhibition is par
ticularly pleasing. the tapestries. which
are peculiarly decorative: being chiefly
hung below the balconies in the courts
OF the sculpture hall and on the walls Of
the staircase. while the textiles. embroid-
cries and laces are set forth in the hemi-
cycle. In other words. the exhibits have
been placed in such a manner as to be
to-ially attractive. Without noting de-
tail the visitor is increased by masses
of harmonious color and finds qualification
in the suggestion of sumptuous effect.
The famous Flemish French and Ital-
ian Ateliers are represented and modern
work. both foreign and American. is
shown. Indeed so wide a field is covered
that in describing the exhibit it is diff
cult to know where to begin and almost
impossible to proceed without reviewing
"a CT nf thp II has hopO truly
said that tapestries appeal to the poetic.
artistic. historical. archaeological and
romantic elements in ones nature and in
vite study from all these points of view:
Tapestry weaving is certainly one o the
oldest arts; the Hebrews claimed that 1t
was discovered by the daughter of Noah.
but the Greeks claimed the honor for the
daughter Of Apollo Tapestries are men
Homer. in the Sagas of the northerni
lands and the romance of medieval and
modern times and. curiously enough. the
methods of execution have varied very
little during the entire period of their pro-
duction. Three model looms. such as are
now in use in the Gobelins ateler al Paris,
have been loaned for this exhibition by
Mr. Charles M. Ffoulke and are virtually
the same as one pictured a tablet
which was found in Egypt dating back to
about 5000 years before Christ.
Some Early Tapestries.
The earliest examples of tapestries
shown in this exhibition are Coptic and
Peruvian fragments loaned by the Mu-
scum of Fine Arts. Boston. and woven be-
tween the first and seventh centuries.
These are however. merely strips or
bands probably intended for the orna-
mentation Of dress. and far removed in
beauty and importance from the wonder
full textile pictures which during the
fifteenth. sixteenth and seventeenth CEN
turtles were woven in Flanders and
France. Perhaps to the modern eye even
these may seem somewhat grotesque. but
the limitations of the medium must be re-
called and the purpose for which they
were produced brought to remembrance.
The great tapestries--such as now be-