Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-28
HE exhibition of portraits by
members of the National AS
ISOLATION of Portrait Painters.

He eXQlDltlOn OIL Dy
members of the National As
sociation of Portrait Painters,
which opened with a private
view last Saturday evening in
the National Museum, has been of chief
interest during the week. This exhibit
ton, which continues until the 21st OF
April, and Is open to the public every
week day, is held under the auspices of
the National Gallery Of Art and for Its
| excellent arrangement and display the
curator, William H. Holmes, is RESPONSE
BILE.
1t was first thought that in order to
give these portraits the entire main gal
lery 1t would be necessary not only to
displace but temporarily store the paint
ings in the Evans collection, which usual
ly are shown therein. By Encouragement
and entire rehangins OF the other galleries
it was found possible. however, to keep
the whole Of the Evans collection on
view and at the same time set forth this
special exhibit. This was most fortunate
and felicitous. for it enables those who
are attracted by the special exhibition to
see and fully estimate the value of the
permanent collection now forming the
nucleus of what in time will be a great
national gallery of art.
England 8 splendid national gallery, one
Of the finest in the world, is not yet a
century old. America is still young
nation, but her private citizens have ac-
qriired no small amount of treasure, es-
pecially In the last decade, and as soon as
attention is actually turned toward the
upbuilding of national collection there
is no doubt that it will take form rap
idly. The fact is that the United States
cannot long afford to be behind other
nations in such matters. To those out
side progress seems slow, unreasonaoly
slow, and perhaps it is, but, glancing
back, 1t will be seen that good deal
has been accomplished in the last ten
years. First. the Harriet Lane Johnston
collection was given, and the establish
ment of national gallery legally de-
clared a fact, then came the gift of the
Freer and Evans collections, both unique
and calculated to give impetous to de-
velopment; then the National Gallery col
lection was given quarters in the New
National Museum building, which, II i'm
provised, were at least dignified and ap-
propriate. This was followed by series Of
valuable loans. and now has begun a
series of special exhibitions.
The portrait exhibition is interesting
from several viewpoints. 1t contains
much material Of an engaging char
acter. some notable paintings. but at
the same time it illustrates the strength
and weakness of American art in this
particular field. Great art is invariably
produced to meet a demand, and there
has been comparatively little demand
in this country for painted portraits
This is partly due to the rivalry OF the
photographer. the excellence of result
obtained by means of semi me cha meal
methods-partly also. however, to the
American disregard for the future. In
England. where to the greatest extent
portraiture has f1ourished. the opposite
tendency prevails. everything is re-
garded from the standpoint of the flu
ture. Portraits in England are painted
for posterity-here each generation is
apt to live unto itself Furthermore,