New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-02
MIR. HEARN DEAR TO
AMERICAN ARTISTS
His Name Will Live Long
as Friend of Modern
Art Here.
MANY MASTERPIECES
IN HIS COLLECTIONS
Museums Had Benefit of Mer.
chants Generosity - Fine
Pictures in Store.

Pictures In store.
1t is as a patron Of American painters
that George A. Hearn will be long remem-
bered in art circles. Many Of the pictures
by modern American artists in two gal
leries Of the Metropolitan Museum were
given by him. while the rest were bought
with the incomes of two funds which he
established for the advancement Of Amer
lean art. Besides this. his own house con-
tanned one of the best private collections
Of American paintings in the country.
His interest. however, was not confined
TO this country. He was the owner OF
many old masters. and one gallery In the
museum represented his taste in this di-
rection, being largely made up OF eish-
tenth century English paintings. Ills
home collection also contained many
masterpieces from abroad, together with
numberless porcelains, miniatures, bronzes
and the like.
Many Of Mr.. Hearn's most valued paint
ings adorned his 14th street store, where
day after day they gladdened the eyes OF
thousands OF weary shoppers.
Mr.. Hearn's wide interests were also
shown by the aid which he gave TO the
Cooper Union museum, which devotes us
efforts chiefly to the spread OF the IN
dustrial arts. This aid was largely none
tary. according to information given 10
The Tribune last night.
AS one Of its most active trustees and
the chairman of its auditing committee
for a number OF years. Mr.. Hearn VIII DC
soreiy missed by the Metropolitan speak
ing on behalf of the museum last nlght'
Robert w. de Forest, its president, said:
.He WAS one Of the museums most
useful and valuable trustees for many
wears. He was exceedingly generous. Two
large galleries, both Of which bear his
name. are filled with pictures which ne
presented outright TO the museum. lie
also gave the principals of four funus'
largely for the encouragement or Amer
lean art. amounting in all 10 S2oo'VVo.
.'He has been named one of the benefac-
tors of the museum. of whom there are
limited number. most of them now dead.
short while ago the trustees bestowed
sit for a portrait 10 any artist whom ne
might select 1t is the only time the
trustees have ever asked any one not
their president to sit for portrait.
Edward Robinson. director of the mu-
conn, EXPRESSED his personal sorrow over
the death Of Mr.. Hearn, and added;
.1t will be a great loss 10 the museum
.or he was its devoted friend for many
wears and was heartily interested IN us
growth and welfare He always TOOK an
active part in it's development
The funds which Mr.. Hearn gave to the
museum, were known as the George A.
Hearn funds Nos. I, . and 3, and the
Arthu. Hoppock Hearn fund, in memory
of his son, who died. The first and last
amounted to 100000 each, while the
other two were Of $4,000. The incomes
of the larger funds are devoted TO the
purchase of American art and have been
largely administered under the direction
of Mr.. Hearn
The incomes from the other funds are
devoted 10 the care OF the paintings which
have come to the Metropolitan through
him. Among the most famous OF these
is Edwin A. Abbeys king Lear, his
last gift to the museum. He bought II IN
London last spring for something over
$4,000 and presented it TO the museum IN
June At the same time he gave Two
famous pictures by J. j. Shannon asso-
ciated with London artists, but an AneTl-
can by birth.
The museums collection Of Winslow
IIoner's art. the richest in the United
States. was given by MIR. Hearn. George
Ipness's peace and Plenty was also
gift from him. Other famous pictures IN
the Hearn galleries include landscape
by Thomas Gainsborough, John Con-
stables Bridge on the Stour' sir
Joshua Rsynolds's Portrait of Mrs. An
CELLO" William Hogarth's THE Shep-
herdess" and Van Dycks Portrait OF
Nobleman."
In all Mr.. Hearns gifts to the museum
number fifty foreign paintings ana sew
enty-seven paintings by American arusts.
Tventv-six more have been purchased
with the income Of one Of his funds.
When Mr.. Hearn offered his first gifts
10 the museum, in 1905, there was doubt
for time as to whether they would be
accented. on account OF the condition at
tacne0 tDdJ the pltlHiVo ShVN'N ~ hNPN
together permanently. When II was
finally decided that the condition would
he accepted with the gift the museum
made one OF its frmest friends OF recent
years.
Another institution which has profted
by Mr.. Hearns generosity is the Brooklyn
Institute of Arts and Sciences. Among
the paintings which he has presented TO
The museum across the river are Golden
Sunset" by Henry Golden Dearth;
Moonlight Venice" by George II. b.
CERT: The Flower Girl" by ]. Alden
Weir: THE Yellow Jasmine" by August
Franzen. and La Mercellerie," by
Gaines Ruger Donoho.
Among the American artists whose
works Mr.. Hearn's funds have added TO
the collection there are Richard L. Miller,