The Washington times., 1908-07-19
ART EMBROIDERY
A FINE EXHIBIT
Now Occupies a Prominent
Place in the National
Museum.

.tra.1ce, devoted 70 the display of the
art works % the National Gallery, there
has been placed on view recently a con-
spicuOus collection OF art embroidery
and needlework as we'll as examples OF
articles of a popular interest illustrat-
ing to a high degree the work of skilled
craftsmen or craftswomen While not
particularly related 70 the generally
accepted term of the fine arts, these
miscellaneous objects are none the less
interesting in that they mark the prog
ress and condition of the particular
craft at early periods of development.
In order TO provide for the display of
this varied collection, some twenty new
cases have been installed in the room
assigned to the art objects of the Ma
uonal Gallery. The additional space
thus occupied, while it furnishes a rare
opportunity for those interested in the
art of needlework and lacemaking to
examine many rare and beautiful speci-
mems in these classes of work, at the
same time lessons the opportunity TO
examine at the best advantage some of
the paintings which have been painted
as exhibition pictures, and therefore re-
quire the distance 20 be found in large
exhibition halls 70 permit of a proper
The present crowded condition is not
an argument against the admission 10
an art collection OF examples Of lace.
embroidery. and specimens OF needle
work for such art objects have a place
rightfully in an art museum. 1t is,
however, an argument Tor more room
to display the articles already deposited
with the new National Gallery. an in
stitution which has found a new recoB-
milton during the past two years, and
for which there are now in addition
10 the pictures and statuary on eXhibi-
ton at the National Museum a choice
collection Of slxty-six paintings by
American painters being temporarily
cared for by the COrCOran Gallery OF
Art.
II is hut recently that several import
ant articles belonging to the Harriet
Lane Johnston collection have been ar
ranged for exhibition This collection
which has formed Ihe nucleus around
which other gifts have been encouraged
WAS not entirely confined TO paintings
and statuary. II large horizontal case
several objects Of popular interest. and
OF a museum. rather than art quality
have been placed on view.
This case contains a Photographic
portrait Of Queen Victoria with her au-
tcgraph; an old engraving Of a rare and
quaint quality of John Hampden, an
English statesman. who was prominent
in the affairs of England In the early
half Of the seventeenth century; an au-
tograph letter of the Prince Of Wales
G&ing Edward NID, TO President Buch-
snan of the date or March q, 1852
the congratulatory message Of Queen
Victoria 20 President Buchanan. and his
reply, the two first messages sent across
the ocean upon the occasion Of the lay
ing of the first Atlantic cable; minia-
ture Of Presiden: Buchanan by J. Henry
Brown. the Bible used to administer the
cath OF office to President Buchanan
upon his entering the Office OF President
March 4, 1851; the gavel used nt the
Cincinnati convention in June 1855
where Mr.. buchanan was nominated as
President OF the United States. and the
commemorative silver medal made Al
the time Of the marriage Of Victoria
Princess Royal of England to Frederick
William. Crown Prince Of Prussia, OF
January .. 1855. containing in relief the
grouped portrait heads of the contract
ing parties.
The exhibition of Iaces and embroid-
cries is far too extensive for a spe-
cifc enumeration. much less a critical
review In these columns. The articles
included in this exhibit have an ap-
pealing quality to the entire class Of
womanhood without regard to their sta
ton IN life. There are none so humble
but that the beauty OF this collection
will attract There are none so high
in the social scale that will not feel a
sense Of delight at both the beauty and
rare quality Of this branch Of feminine
art. To some it may bring a longing
for possession. To others new ideas
in a direction in which they have q
natural tendency for expression TIC
the connoisseur, and the expert the op-
portunity for study and comparison IS
one which has not been afforded in
this city at any previous exhibition.
The larger number OF examples o.
art needlewOrk. lace. and embroidery
have been loaned by Mrs. Pinchot
who exhibits altar cloths. filets. Iaces,
and embroideries. examples Of italian
drawn worlI-some or the seventeenth
and early eighteenth century designs.
The specimens by this one exhibitor
III several large cases and some OF
the examples Of Spanish and Italian
faces are Of rare patterns and OF a
quality which cannot fail 70 appeal 70
those to whom this art IS more or
less OF n mystery.
The exhibit Of Mrs. James S. Harlan
includes examples OF italian and French
embroidery In designs of butterIys and
flowers. Landscapes in embroidery by
Italians OF the seventeenth and eight
zenith centuries. large pieces OF en-
broidery for wall decorations in which
flower designs have been conventional
lied, all in the best ideas Of the period
and thoroughly beautiful as arrange
ments Of color and line
Among these exhibits may be seer
rare handkerchief, so delicate If
texture. so exquisite in design that II
seems hardly possible that work OF
such fragile character could ever
have been completed This handker-
chief, the gift Of Senior B. Leonardo. IS
exhibited by Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt
Mrs. Whitelaw Reid exhibits. as a
gift 10 the National Gallery. collar and
cuffs of Italian lace OF the period OF the
late eighteenth century. and the Misses
Trapier exhibit Flemish point lace OF
the period Of the fifteenth century.