El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-19

!
"A United States IS years ago direct
4 ed the foundation of a gallery Of
art for the nation. it has been only five
years sine. the collections made by the
National museum achieved sufficient
Importance to justify the present title
Of the National Gallery of Art. The
assumption Of that title came through
the beauest Of certain art treasures by
the niece Of president Buchanan, Mrs
Harriet Lane Johnson. who was mis-
tress Of the white house during her IN
cle's term Of office
During her residence in the capital
city she collected some valuable paint
ings and other important objects Of art
including examples Of the work Of sew
eral distinguished masters. Upon her
death in 1903 IL was found that she
had bequeathed the entire collecJlon TO
the Corcoran Gallery OF Art, subject 70
the provision that in the event the
United States should establish In the
city OF Washington nauOnal ART gar
lery the collection should pass to that
institution and become the absolute
property thereof. Under the terms OF
her viii the CorcOran Art gallery re-
fused to accept the bequest.
Roosevelt Suggests Way.
The executors of the viii felt thaf
they had no right to deliver the collec-
ton to the Smithsonian institution IN
der the circumstances, and congress
failed to pass any law bearing upon
the subject President Roosevelt recon-
mended to congress that the collection
of objects of art then in the possession
Of the government should be designated
and established as national gallery
Of art and that the Smithsonian institu-
ton should be authorized to accept any
additions to such q collection InaI
might be received by gift or bequesL
Congress again failed to act SO me
executors Of the Johnson estate declo-
ed to bring a friendly suit Tor a con-
struction Of the doubtful clauses in the
viii. BY direction of the president the
attorney general Of the United states
entered an appearance for the govern
ment in the suit. claiming an interest IN
the matter It asserted that the united
States had established q National Cal
lery OF Art IN connection with Jno
Smithsonian institution years ago Ine
court decided in favor of that cOnten-
tion, thus definitely establishing the
fact that the collection OF art contern-
plated in the fundamental act rounding
the Smithsonian institution, IS the Ma
tiOnal Gallery Of Art within the intent
and meaning Of the law.
includes Gifts From Royalty.
The Lane collection consists or 81
pieces, one a miniature OF president
Buchanan by John Henry Brown, an
other portrait OF the late king Ed
ward presented to eX-president Buch-
anan by the late king when ne was
Drince Of Wales. as an appreciation OF
the courtestes extended him during MS
incognito visit to the United states IN
1850. There are also two letters from
queen Victoria in the collection aef
motherly spirit is shown BY the Iol~
lowing passage from one OF these Iee-
ters:
great cordially with which he has been
everywhere greeted in your country ana
the friendly manner in which you re-
ceived him; and whilst as mother
am most grateful for the kindness
shown him, I feel impeued to express
at the same time how deeply nave
been touched by the many demonslIe-
lions Of affection personally TOWARDS
myself which his presence has eal4eu
Freer Beaueafhs Collection.
On December %, Charles L. Freer, OF [
Detroit, Michigan, transmitted 70 me l
Smithsonian institution an offer TO De
queath or make present CONVEYANCE OF I
title Of his extensive art cOllecJlon, 10 4
the institution or TO the United states 1
government under certain spectre con-
ditions. A year later ne revised TINS I
offer, in accordance with suggestions !
made TO him by the Smithsonian au- !
thorities, so as to agree to present tne I
collection, and at the same time 70 au- I
thorize the expenditure Of s5OO'VUO /
after his death for the erection OF /
building for housing this cOllectlou-
The deed made by him, conveying the 1
collection to the Smithsonian institu-
ton, provides that the collection shaIl I
remain in his possession during MS Ire
time and in the possession OF his eXecu- J
tors until the building is ready to re- 4
ceive il. The instrument provides that I
after such delivery no addition snail /
be made to the collection nor any de-
auctions made from IL, and that no 9th
er objects shall ever be exhibited in
connection with this collection. nor in
the same building. Other provisions OF
the deed are, that no charge shall be
made for admission to the building or
for the privilege of examining or study
ing the objects contained therein; it
shall always bear the name of the don
or in some modest and appropriate
form; and the building shall be in &C
cordance with the plans and specifica-
tons made with special regard for the
Of students and others de-
sirOus Of uninterrupted study of the
objects in the collection. 1t is also pro-
vided that suitable space shall be given
for the maintenance Of the Peacock
room which is one of the features Of
the collection This room represents
the complete woodwork. including all
the famous creation of Whistler in the
London residence Of the late F. r. Ley
land.
Gives Work OF American Artists.
Following upon the heels Of the Freer
presentation came the announcement OF !
William T. Evans Of Montclair. New
Jersey, that ne desired to contribute to
the National Gallery of Art a number
Of paintings by contemporary Ameri-
can artists Of established reputation, [
naming SO pictures in his personal col
lection which he had selected for the
purpose. At the time of his announce
ment there was no room for the install
alton Of the collection in the museum
and Smithsonian buildings, so the
trustees Of the Corcoran Gallery Of Art
agreed to give the collection accommo-
dations in that gallery. Later Mr.. Evans
wrote that in order to make a credita-
bic showing i'm the large space allotted
IN the COrcOran gallery, he had decided
to Increase the number of paintings
constituting his initial gift to the Ma
tional gallery. In July, 1903, the Evans
collection was transferred to the Ma
tional museum. This collection con-
sists Of such paintings as The Black
Orchid" by Frederick Stuart Church.
High Cliff" by Winslow Homer. My
Day at Home" by William Henry
Howe, AN Interlude," by William Scar
gent Kendall and Eros ct Musa"
Since the removal of the collection to
the National museum, Mr.. Evans has
added number of additional works. [
bringing the total I'D to us naiutfues I