Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-07
CONGRESS HALL
ART NOW REHUNG
Dust Removed From Portraits,
Ending Contro.
versy

Caretakers are busy today rehanging his
toric paintings in Congress Hall Corners
were rooted out for the mice alleged to have
been nibbing at the pictures, and dust that
accumulated when the paintings were permit
ted to be stacked up on the floor of the old
building is being carefully brushed away.
Thus endeth the controversy between art
experts and municipal officers, which has been
on for full week.
Following the order issued Thursday by
Joseph Il. Widener, president of the Art
Jury, Andrew Wright Crawford, secretary.
yesterday sent this letter to John L. Arthur,
chief of the Bureau of City Property:
In view OF the report that some of the
paintings belonging to the Independence Hall
collection have been injured by mice, / am
directed by Mr.. Widener to suggest that IL
the curator Is unable to protect them in their
present location they should be temporarily
hung on the walls of the room where they
are now stored, or upon racks which will
keep them Off the floor pending the compile
ton OF the work upon them and their final
disposition
"Clcar of the Floor
In his reply Mr.. Arthur maintains his as
sertion that the pictures havo always been
clear of the floor. He wrote:
Il shall act upon your suggestion as di-
rected by Mr.. Wdener in your letter of to-
day and have these paintings hung upon the
walls or partition In the room where they are
now stored. The relocation of these paint
ings, as 1 understand your letter. is but tenn
porary. pending the completion of the work
upon them and their final disposition by tho
Art Jury.
These portraits are now stored upon
rack In room in Congress Hall and have
always been clear Of the floor They shall be
removed to this new location as suggested
by thesArt Jury, with every possible care that
can be given them by the Bureau of City
Property. Tho work of hanging has been
started today"
Itota
Jury's letter Mr.. Arthur directed wilfred
Jordan, curator of Independence Hall, to
start the work of having the portraits re-
hung.
Il am very much pleased" the chief said
in the afternoon. This is all wanted-ac-
ton AS have said before time and again,
could do nothing without the Art Jury's
permission"
Complainant Satisfied
Pasquale Farina, the art expert. whose
charges started the controversy, also ex-
pressed satisfaction.
The agitation has at least brought it about
that the pictures are now safe fronf the rats
ana mice" he said. He added, however,
that he did not intend to stop his proceed
ings TO recover $4,000 from certain in
dividuals for damage done to his professional
reputation"
petition In the Orphans Court to set aside
the codicil to the will of the late John G.
johnson, the eminent lawyer and art COL
lector, which stands in the way of removing
his collections of paintings and other objects
of art he left to the city of Philadelphia from
his late residence at $40 South Broad street
to a museum built especially for the purpose
OF housing the priceless treasures in a proper
manner. On that day the account Of the
Pennsylvania Company for Insurance on
the late Mr.. Johnson's estate, will come up
for audit