New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-09
ABBEY PLANNED FUND
TO BUY PICTURES
Artists Will Provided Money to
Purchase Works for Cor
Coran Gallery.
WIFE WILL HEED WISHES
Leaves Some of His Own Pict-
ures to Metropolitan Museum,
Boston Museum and Brit
ish National Gallery.

The will of Edwin Austin Abbey, the
! American painter who died in August in
London. was filed in the Surrogate's
office Yesterday. Mr.. Abbey gave his
large estate. much OF which is in Eng
| land to his wife, Mrs. Mary Gertrude
Abbey.
However, the testator provided that al
case his wife died before him fund
was 10 be created from the residue Of
| his estate. from the proceeds Of which
pictures were to be bought for the Cor
coran Art Gallery. I'm Washington, TO be
the property of the United States. he
also left some of his own works to the
Metropolitan Museum of Art the Boston
Art Museum and the National Gallery
of British Art. in London
| To the Royal Academy the artist gave
a furnished house and a library. Al
though these large bequests are now not
IN force, because Mrs. Abbey is still
alive, it was said last night that Mrs
Abbey. who lives at No. | West o6th
street. would carry out the wishes Of her
husband in her will The couple had no
children.
Mr.. Abbey left Chelsea Lodge his
home i'm Tite street, London, to the
members of the Royal Academy for the
use of the president Of the academy
He stipulated that the house be known
as the Abbey House, and that the bronze
bust by Onslow Ford. r. A.. his portrait
l 4. - A nj mic ht. An
gustus nt-Gaudens he permanently
placed in the house. All the furniture
and plate must remain in the house.
Mr. Abbey gave his library at Morgan
Hall. Fairford, Worcestershire, under
the same contingency To the members
of the Royal Academy, 10 be removed to
Chelsea House or, If the members pre-
fer. 10 the students room. The testator
set aside a fund of $4,000, the income
TO bc used to keep Chelsea Lodge.
To the Metropolitan Museum OF Art
the artist bequeathed his original draw
ings made for the illustration of the
comedies Of Shakespeare, 1873 i'm num-
her. and the original drawings including
the color designs for the illustration of
the tragedies Of Shakespeare. He also
gave to the Metropolitan Museum his
painting entitled Hamlet" and n por-
trait of his wife's mother, Mrs May T..
Mead. the latter by =. :. Sargent, r. A.
To the Boston Museum Mr. Abbey left
his original drawings made to illus
trate Goldsmths Deserted Village"
while the contingent legacy to the Ma
tional Gallery Of Art, London, was the
testator's painting The Crusaders
Sighting Jerusalem
Mr.. Abbey disposed of the residue OF
his estate In these words: Having had
long experience of the care and integ-
rity with which the business of the
Roval Academy is conducted by its mem
hers. I give the residue of my estate to
create the Mead-Abbey fund. the income
of which is to be expended in the pur-
chase Of the best works of art from the
annual exhibition of the said Royal
Academy such works of art so pur-
chased To be forwarded at the expense
~ the said fund To the Corcoran Gallery
q. Washington, u. c.. and which shall be
the property of the United States Of
America. and label is to be fixed to
each picture stating that it was pur-
chased with the Mead-Abbey fund"
He provided that his interest in the
uroperty known as the Dyckman prop
or,v i'm this city be held i'm trust or be
sold on the consent of his wife the pro-
cecds to be used in the investment in
sound and safe American or English
securities, including bonds and mort
cages on New York City real estate.