New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-02
GEORGE A. HEARN,
MERCHANT, DEAD
PIeurisy Proves Fatal After
an Illness of Ten
Days.
FAMILY AT BEDSIDE
WHEN END COMES
Member of Well Known Firm and
Made Business History in
New York.

George Arnold Hearn. merchant, phi
I lanthropist and patron Of the arts, died
at his home. No l6 East 69th street.,
! yesterday afternoon from an attack f
pleurisy. He was taken III ten days
ago. and despite all that medical sci
! ence could do ne did not rally. When
the end came most of his family were
at his bedside.
! Besides his wife. who was daugn-
ter Of tho late Howell Hoppock. Mr..
/ Hcarn leaves three daughters. Mrs.
, Herbert Spencer Grcims. Mrs. Clark
son Cowl and Mrs. George Edgar
I Schanck
/ The big dryEoods firm in West lith
/ street. James A. Hcarn & Son. Of which
| Mr.. Haarn had been the senior member
/ for years. was closed Yesterday as soon
as word reached there of his death.
{ Mr. Hearn's partners in the business
are George Edgar Schanck. Clar>son
| Cowl and Herbert Spencer Gr,ims
! In the death of Mr.. Hcarn American
art has lost one OF its best patrons.
/ WEI" a great admirer and noted coll
| Icctor of the work of the old masters.
he was one of the leaders in the move
ment to give contemporary American
art its proper place in public and pri-
yatc collections. Many struggling
! American artist obtained ms first pub
! lic recognition and received his first
! big price FOR his painting through Mr.
Hcarn's patronage.
Or tho - paintings that he gave 10
In, metropolitan Museum Of Art. of
which ne was trustee, scvent, seven
were the work of American painters,
and many other paintings OF American
artists We're purchased 10y the museum
through funds established for that pur-
pose by Mr.. Hcarn
Bu, Mr.. Hcarn did not oounne his
enrichment Of art museums To- Sew
York city alone. for many museums
throughout tho country contain memo
rails to his generosity. some given out
right and others purchased through
gifts Of money. Cooper union and the
Brooklyn Museum OF Art benefited
largely az his hands.
While it would Dee difficult 20 csti-
mate tho money Mr.. Hcarn expended
boo curichIng art museums throughout
tho country. the magnitude of his work
can bc imagined from the fact that q
conservative appraisal Of the pictures
ne presented TO the Metropolitan alone
places their value al $4,000.
Generous Patron of Art
His generosity To- the Metropolitan
and his patronage Of American art ""r"
tho reasons. many believe, Why the trus-
toes ~ the Metropolitan dcyiatcd re-
Gently from the unwrttcn rule Of the
musum never to commission painting
of any man other than the president
or the board of trustees of the museum
to hang among its priceless art treas
urcs.
lust what disposition viii be made OF
his magnificent collections Of paintings
Of old and modern masters and his
large collections of porcclans, minla-
lures bronzcs and period furniture and
other objects Of art IS matter "i
speculation, and will probably remain
so until his will Is read. His hom" on
Goth street Is filled with art treasures,
and the llth street store contains more
paintings than most museums IN the
co,lntry as well as the greatest collec-
,ion Of European worries in the world.
Mr.. Hcarn will be buried in Wood
lawn Cemetery THURSDAY morning after
services have been held in st. James's
Episcopal church, list street ana
Madison avenue.
Mr. Hcarn was distinctive figure IN
the life Of New York. For many years
he was the head Of one of the l'rsoSt
d,partmcnt .torcs in the city, directing
it's every detail. and yet he found Time
,o study pictures. of which ne was an
excellent Judge.
His business interests did not Keep
him from attending the exhibitions
and his lace Nds ~ lhiiil'"' N''r 80 49,
galleries Of the metropolitan Museum
az well as those of the dealers. lie
WAS also collector Of porceialns,
bronzes. furniture and rugs.
Mr.. Hearn was born in this city, in
broadway. near Howard street, on De-
ccmber /, 1880.
The name of Hearn was well known
T., the drygoods trade of New York le-
fore his birth. AS far back as 1877 IN"
firm of Arnold ~ Hcarn was in the te-
tail drygoods business at Canal and
Mercer streets. The firm was COM
poscd Of Aaron Arnold and his nephew.
George Arnold Hearn, uncle of the
merchant who has just died.
Firm Made Business History.
lanes \. Hcarn, father OF the man
tho became one of the greatest Of the
citv's merchants. was admitted TO the
firm of Arnold q Hearn in 1884, and the
name of the firm was changed to Ar
mold Hearn g. Co. This concern con-
,irued i'm business until 1912, when the
first George \. Hearn and his brother.
lanes 4. Hearn, formed copartner-
shin under the name Of Hearn Broth