Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-15
ANAT|ONAL GALLERY
Over ST 900, 900 Worth of Pic
lures Owned by Government.
SOME RECENT DONATIONS
Generosity of Mrs. Johnston, c. L..
Freer and w. 7. Evans.
ROOM IN NATIONAL MUSEUM
Building Rapidly Approaching Com
pletion and Will Be Opened to
the Public Next Fall.
SOME RECENT DONATIONS
ROOM IN NATIONAL MUSEUM
Ely WILLIAM L. CIRTIS.


Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The United States will soon have a ma
tionai gallery. like England. France. Ger
many, Austria and other nations. The gov
eminent owns more than million dollars
worth Of pictures and quite a collection
of sculpture and other examples of the
fine arts entirely distinct from the mag
nificent display of the industrial arts
which overcrowds the National Museum.
There IS no finer collection i'm the world.
Every expert will tell YOU that not only
the contents. but especially the instala-
ton and arrangement of the National
Museum, are superior to those of most
institutions OF the kind. and equal to
the very best, notwithstanding the limit
ed area and the crowded conditions OF
the aiCoves and aisIes. The great new
building, which has been under construc-
ton for four years. is rapidly approach
ing completion and will he open to the
public next fall. A quantity of new ma
terial is now being installed there, and
Richard Rathbun, assistant secretary of
Tire Smithsonian Institution in charge of
the National Museum, is now fitting up
one of the great galleries extending from
the main entrance. on Il street at the
foot of 10th street. to the rotunda, for the
department of fine arts, which will be
opened in February under the direction
of William ii. Holmes. the we'll known
artist who has recently resigned the
position of chief OF the chronological bu-
reau to accept the new position The hall
is 169 feet long and 10 feet wide. and it
Is to be divided into q dozen or more
rooms in order TO secure wall space for
the pictures.
The question of providing quarters for
the National Gallery of Art has been a
serious one The regents of the Smith
Sonian asked Congress to furnish the
means IN fit up the second story of the
old Smithsonian building until special
building could he erected. 1t was argued
that such recognition of the subject by
Congress would undoubtedly lead to many
and important contributions of art from
private collectors. but the committees on
appropriations have thus far taken no in
terest in the matter, and 1t has been nee
essary to fit UP provisional gallery of
sufficient size to accommodate the eX-
listing nucleus of a collection. and such
additions as may be expected within a
period of several days. until some definite
conclusion can be reached as 10 the flu
ture. Mr.. Charles l.. Freer whose gem
erosity seems TO be unlimited. has already
provided for the erection OF a special
building in the neighborhood of the new
museum, to contain the collection he
has given TO the government and to pro-
vide studios for the use of students who
may come to take advantage of it.
North Hall Suitable.
The north hall of the new building has
favorable light from the roof and suffi-
cieHt room TO provide for a dozen or
more small alcoyes. which have already
been partttioned off and are now being
hung with burlaps OF terra Gotta and
green. At the end OF the hall, opposite
the main entrance, covering the door
which leads into the rotunda, and which
Will be permanently closed, will hang a
large picture twenty-four by eleven feet
In size, representing The Diana of the
Tides. which has recently been pre-
scented to the government by Mrs. Larz
Anderson of Washington and Boston as
her tribute to the National Gallery and
a hint TO other patriotic citizens of
means that new method has been
opened to show their patriotism and their
desire to promote the culture of the peo-
pie.
The Diana of the Tides" is painted by
John Elliott of Boston. who by the way.
is the husband of Mrs. Maude Howe FL
lott, the we'll known authoress and the
daughter of Julia Ward Howe, who wrote
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
There will he room in the provisional
gallery for few pieces of sculpture, and
the government owns quite a number.
Sixty-three years ago Congress directed
the formation OF "A gallery of art for the
nation, ard. although there have been
SpaSmodic attempts, with greater or less
success, 10 carry out those instructions,
this is the first time that the movement
has assumed anything like the proper
tions that are appropriate to a nation of
our wealth and population. And even
now the gallery will be very small COM
pared with those of other nations and
could not exist but for the generosity OF
the late Harriet Lane Johnston of Wash
tngton. Charles J.. Freer of Detroit, Will
.1.,Sx-
other generous and patriotic patrons of
art. 1t Is especially noteworthy that
neither Mr.. Evans Mr.. Freer has
ever resided in the city of Washington
and neither of them ever intends to
do so.
Assemblage of Art Objects.
The assemhlage Of art objects by the
government began in 1910. and they were
placed in charge Of the regents Of the