The Washington times., 1915-11-25
Charles l. Freer, Of Detroit,
Gives Views on Disposal Of
Widener Treasures.
FACILITIES FOR STUDENTS
Collector, Whose Gems viii
Come Here On His Death,
Plans Building.

A National Gallery OF Art for WASH
ington to be housed in an adequate
building. afrording ample study rooms
for art students. is needed by Washing
ton, In the opinion OF Charles l.. freer,
OF Detroit whose art treasures will
come to the Smithsonian institution
here upon his death.
In answering an inquiry about his
opinion regarding the disposal OF the
famous Widener. art collection, MIR.
Freer telesraphed! Il have already
Gallery OF Art and intend soon to erect
In Washington a suitable building in
which to exhibit It permanently.
would like to see additional privately
acquired art collections OF high quality
presented to the National Gallery and
exhibited permanently in one large
building or IN smaller building. as cir
cumstances might require. The build
1ngs should include ample study rooms
Tor the exclusive use of serious students
Every progressive art student should
approve an Independent building for the
superb Widener treasures. wherever
they may be permanently exhibited"
Five Gifts Lost.
Mr. Freer was one Of the men inter-
ested In the founding OF the National
Gallery of Art which now has its col
lection hung In the New National Aiu-
scum here. hWen he expressed his in
tention of giving his collection to the
gallery upon his death. officials of the
smithsonian Institution were compelled
to tell him. as they had told others,
that there would not be room to ex-
hibit them. Unlike Others. who. under
that circumstances, had sent their col
lections elsewhere. Mr.. Freer immedi-
ately placed 81 .000.Ob In trust, the in
come to be USED In drawing plans and
besinning work on new building for
his collection. This building Ia to be
located near the old museum building in
the mall.
Other donors Of collections. notably
the late Mr.. Riggs. who spent much
gave their collections to other galleries.
when 1t was found that the Smith
sonian Institution could make no PROM
ises regarding space to exhibit them.
The Smithsonian. the museum division.
and the art gallery already have lost
many valuable gifts on this account
Preserved Intact. /
Mr.. Freer's building will be large
enough to house only his own collec-
tion. It Is regarded as one Of the finest
art collections In America. It still u
preserved intact In his Detroit home.
One Of its most famous gems is the 50.
called peacock dining room. designed
don.
This room was purchased by Mr..
Freer for $4,000. and 1t has been built
into the Freer residence Its dominant
notes are blue. green. and gold. with
peacocks and peacock feathers forming
the framework OF the designs.
Has Whistler Gallery.
In the wall cabinets. Mr.. Freer has
placed his peach blow. plum color.
brown and green glazes, representing
tho best periods Of Chinese and Japa-
nese art.
Mr.. Freer also has a Whistler Gal
lery. containing many Of that artists
most celebrated paintings. Other art
treasures. kept In fire-proof vaults. In
clude scrolls and kakemones Of tho
finest types produced by China. Japan
and Korea.
One Of the rarest Chinese scrolls in
existence belongs to this gallery. It
was long an imperial possession and
bears the cartouches Of the various
dynasties, which Oxford scholars now
are deciphering in order to prepare
special monograph upon 1t.