The Washington herald., 1913-10-18
CAPITOL BUILDING
AN ART GALLERY
New Publication Shows Many
Paintings Are Exhibited
Under Dome.
WORKS OF OLD MASTERS
Collection Has Been Acquired BY Gift
and Purchase National Gallery Of
Arts May Be Assisted BY Congress.
WORKS OF OLD MASTERS

Many epithets and nicknames have been
connected To the United States Capitol,
but 1t Is infrequently called an art
museum. However, IL is shown to be that
in a compilation OF paintings. mosaics,
and statuary recently completed oy
Charles z. Freeman, Of the office Of the
superintendent of the capitol building and
grounds. There are 40 paintings and 2o
pieces Of sculptured stone in the building.
according to this exhaustive catalogue.
The list. which is 70 be printed as q
public document, not only contains the
executed them, but also contains brief
biographical sketches OF the men who did
the work
John Singleton Copley, Benjamin West.
Gilbert Stuart Charles Peale. Rembrandt
Peale. AIRY Scheffer, John Sergeant and
scores OF other names famous in Ameri-
can and continental art are tnclhded in
the list OF painters. Excepting perhaps
those who have achieved eminence in re-
can and continental art are included In
painter of first class rank who is not rep
resented by one or more canvases in the
Capitol
Many Gifts Received.
The collection has been acquired by gift
the Federal government. Practically all
purchases by the government have been
made under specific appropriation bills,
there being no fund which can be drawn
upon at will for the purchase Of either
paintings or sculpture.
Aside from those acquisitions which are
distinctly of national historical interest. IL
Is probable that Congress will not provide
more literally for the acquisition OF paint
ings and sculpture. as the foundation of a
real national art museum has been laid
In Washington, the existing collection.
made up in large part Of loans. being
housed in the museum building in whicn
a large part OF the specimens, artistic and
otherwise, in the possession of the Smith
sonian Institute have been lodged.
In one room of the Capitol. the hall of
representatives in days past, are lodged
forty-one statues, which, despite the fact
that some OF them are of line execution,
and are the work Of great sculptors, COM
prise the chamber OF horrors" according
to the opinion OF some critics.
In this chamber Of horrors" known
officially as statuary hall. are the efigies
OF the great men OF the nation. as their
qualities have been viewed by the in
dlvidual States. The chamber was desig-
mated and set apart for use as a statuary
hall by act OF Congress July Q, 1854. and
the President was authorized to invite
each State to place there the statues of
two citizens whom, 'for historic renown
or from civil or military services" the
State should deem worthy Of commemora-
ton. A living citizen may not be 30
honored-
The statuary is limited to the effigies OF
those who are dead. Both marble and
bronze statues are included In the collec-
ton. Twenty-four States have responded
to this invitation in the last forty-nine
years, although several of them have set
up only one statue in the hall As listed
by Mr.. Freeman the statues presented by
States have cost from 5000 to 81, 900 each.