The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-06
Treasures in His Control Until
He Dies-A Model Form
for Bequests.
WILL ERECT A GALLERY


What we want to do In tho building
that Is to be erected in Washington IL
to provide aplendidly equipped study
rooms where students may examine
these objects of the ncien cultural
periods Of Chima and by such means e.
tablish in America higher intelligence
concerning Far Eastern civilization.
Art In simply truth made beautiful.
Why talk of modern art versus the an
Client? All art worthy Of consideration
Is universal. The eariy Chinese and
Japanese artists represented their ideals
during periods Of highest culture with
tools not very different from those in
use by American artists Of the present
period. IAft up American culture and
ideals and a greater number Of Ameri-
can artists viii produce masterpdecea
America a made great advances in
scientific research, but as yet han made
little progress in the study Of Oriental
sssthetica This collection, along with
others In this country. especially a
represented by the activities Of the Met
ropohtan Museum of Art In New York
city. the excellent work being done in
Boston. Cleveland and Minneapolis, will
enable students In this country to study
from carefully selected specimens the de-
velopment of the fine arts In Oriental
countries.
"A movement Is now on foot to es-
tablish a school OF art and archaeology
In China to which American and for
eign students shall be admitted and the
graduates OF that school can after their
return to their respective countries help
to instruct In that oriental culture OF
which outside Of the Orient so little Is
known"
Mr.. Freer made II very clear that the
reason his collection does not contain
tho work OF European artists OF the
present and bygone days is not because
he doesn't think their art worthy but
because others in America have made
collections Of European art. and ne de-
cided TO devote his time and mercy
largely to the gathering together OF
objects Of equal beauty and workman
ship about which the American people
know but comparatively little. He en-
joys the pleasure OF discovery. and the
Joy Of possession lies merely In the fact
that he can give away what 70 has for
tho enlightenment and enjoyment OF the
American people.
Fine whistler Collection.
Mr.. Freer's collection OF Ministers
In the most extensive and the finest In
the country. Its biggest feature Ia the
celebrated Peacock Room which Mr..
Freer bought and had emoved to this
country. and in this connection Mr.. Freer
wishes to correct the error Of recent
statements made by the press that he
was appointed executor OF whistler's
estate-that duty was entrusted by
Whistler to his sis~ter-in-law. Miss Birnie-
Phillip OF London.
The Peacock Room you know" the
Detroit man said, was designed by ar
English architect for Leyland. the ship
owner. II was intended for use as a
dining room and for tho exhibition o!
Chinese porcelains and had shelving
on all our sides OF the room. After Il
was built the walls were decorated with
old Spanish leather.
Mr.. Leyland bought a painting by
whistler and hung 1t with the porce-
lalns. Then he invited Whistler to CONF
and see the beautiful room in which he
had hung Whistlrs painting.
whistler visited I.eyland and the mo-
nlent he saw the room he exclaimed
a beautiful painting. but a very ugly
room! Now ] must make the room beau
tifu' for the masterpiece. the picture! =
so he spent two years in decorating
n. He painted over all the leather and
decorated the walls and ceiling surfaces
using as the motif peacock feathers In
blue and gold. including several peacocks
OF life size"
The celebrated peacock room Will
have "A place 81 honor all by Itself In the
proposed Smithsonian annex.
Mr.. Freer il a bachelor, was born al
Kingston. y. Y, and received his educa-
ton in the public schools OF Ulster
county. AZ one time he was engaged in
railway service and manufacturing IN
Detroit and retired fifteen years ago tina,
he might give up all the time he pleased
to visiting tho ont OF the way places OF
tho world and picking up art objects to
keep for a while and then give 10 the
American people.
Mr.. Freer has been a semi-lnvalid FOR
the last -four years He Is still suffering
from an affection OF the throat and Is
under the care Of physicians. hut his
condition now is better than AZ any time
since he was first stricken. He expects
10 remain a guest at the Plaza durins
December, and possibly through the
month of January.
Mr.. Freer. aided by expert c~ataloguers
IL working on his collection, although
under medical restriction. and spends
much time consulting with the architect
OF the home for the treasures that III
has been turning over 10 Uncle San
regularly each year for the consideration
OF 81. happy in the knowledge that BY
these simple bills OF sale lie Is able &c
make a gift to the American people
that no tricks Of law or fate can take
away from them.