Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-19
The NATIONAL MUSEUM.
XI-NATIONAL ART GALLERY.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

: Although the Congress Of the United
States sixty-five years ago directed the
foundation Of gallery of art for the ma
tion, 1t has been only five years since the
collections made by the National Mu-
scum achieved sufficient importance to
Justify the present title Of the National
gallery Of Art. The assumption Of that
title came through the bequest Of certain
art treasures by the niece Of President
Buchanan, Mrs. Harriet Lane Johnston
who was mistress of the White House
during her uncle's term of office.
During her residence in the Capital
city she collected some valuable paint
ings and other important objects of art.
dncluding examples of the work of sew
seral distinguished masters. Upon her
death. in 1903, it was found that she had
bequeathed the entire collection to the
Corcoran Gallery of Art. subject to the
provision that in the event the United
States should establish In the city of
washington a National Art Gallery the
collection should pass to that institution
and become the absolute property there
of Under the terms Of her will the Cor
;coran Art Gallery refused to accept the
;bequest.
The executors of the will felt that they
had no right to deliver the collection to
the Smithsonian
Executors Obtain Institution under
: Authority to Act. stances sas and com nm
'gress failed to pass any law bearing
upon the, subject President Roosevelt
recommended to Congress that the COL
lection Of objects of art then in the
possession Of the government should be
designated and established as a National
Gallery of Art. and that the Smithso-
.nian Institution should be authorized to
accept any additions to such a collec-
ton that might be received by gift or
bequest-
! Congress again failed to act. so the
Ito bring friendly suit for a construc-
4ion of the doubtful clauses in the will
By direction of the President. the At
torney General of the United States
ment in the suit. claiming an interest
in the matter. 1t asserted that the
Omitted States had established a national
gallery of art in connection with the
Smithsonian Institution years ago. The
court decided in favor OF that conten-
zion. thus definitely establishing the fact
shat the collection of art contemplated
IN the fundamental act founding the
Smithsonian Institution is the National
Gallery of Art within the intent and
meaning of the law.
The Lane collection consists Of thirty
one pieces. one miniature Of President
Buchanan by
Letter From Victoria John Henry
u.u Brown, another
the late King Edward presented to ex-
President Buchanan by the late king
when he was Prince Of Wales, as an ap-
probation Of the courtesies extended him
during his incognito visit to the United
States in 1860. There are also two let
ters from Queen Victoria in the collec
ton. Her motherly spirit is shown by
the following passage from one of these
letters:
He cannot sufficiently praise the great
cordially with which he has been every
where, greeted in your country and the
friendly manner In which you received
him, and whilst as q mother l am most
grateful for the kindness shown him, i
feel impelled to express at the same
the many demonstrations of affection
personally toward myself which his !
presence has called forth
Charles L. Freer of Detroit, Mich, |
4
tiCn an offer to bequeath or make present |
conveyance Of title of his extensive art |
collection to the institution or to the |
United States government under certain 1
specific conditions. A year later he re-
vised this offer. in accordance with sug
Eestons made to him by the Smithso-
nian authorities, SO as to agree TO present
the collection and at the same time TO
authorize the expenditure Of 100000 aft
er his death for the erection of building
for housing this collection.
The deed made by him, conveying the
collection to the Smithsonian 1nstitu-
tion. provides that the collection shall re- |
main in his possession during his life J
time and in the possession of his exec
utors until the building Is ready to re-
ceive IL. The instrument provides that
after such delivery no addition shall be
made to the collection nor any deduc-
lions made from it, and that no other
objects shall ever be exhibited in connec-
ton with this collection. nor in the same
building.
Other provisions of the deed are that
no charge shall be made for admission to
the build