Evening star., 1918-03-31

tsTHE MADONNA CAN1G1AN1,o IN THE
Jed TO THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF
in favor of the original will offered for
probate bv Mr.. Rangers executors, and
TIE purchase money will. therefore. soon
b. come available.
This bequest and decision of the court
mean much for art in this city, Offering
American artists steady patronage and
the best kind of reward and assuring
the national gallery here a collection
of American paintings which will not
only be representative, but constantly
increasing.
Through the benefcence of Mr..
Ranger the naticl will. therefore. be
able to assemble and set forth such n
gallery of native art in the department
of painting as the Luxembourg coiiec-
ton in Paris. assembled and supported
by the French government.
Furthermore. through the wise pro-
of giving or lending to provincial mu-
seums throughout the country will be
inaugurated. Such system is essen
TALLY beneficial and is in keeping with
tional gallery of art.
Up to the present time the national
gallery has. no home of its own and tho
national collection is merely shown
Museum in temporarily borrowed
quarters. But the time will come.
sooner or later, when building for
this purpose will be provided by spe-
cial appropriation, and when that time
does come there is reason to believe
that the building will be worthy the
nation.
More and more in these days of con.
fict the people of America are getting
to realize the value of art as a factor
in civilization. and when the war is
over this conviction will doubtless be
reflected in tangible efforts to ,cherish
ne
duction in this field.
An interesting evidence of Increased
appreciation of American art is given
in an exhibition of American sculpture
lately arranged and shown in the
Metropolitan Museum, New York. The
exhibition comprises both works owned
by the museum and loans, and is pur-
posed as a permanent though some
what shifting display. From time to
time some Of the exhibits will be re-
tired and others will take their place.
Fifty-four sculptors are represented
at present There are familiar works
by Saint-Gaudens and French and Her
bert Adams. Hermon MacNeirs Sun
Vow." of which the Corcoran Gallery
owns an excellent replica in bronze. is
included, as well as a plaster copy OF
Paul Bartlett's Michael Angelo" in the
Library of Congress- and a section OF
his pediment for the Capitol Among the
younger artists represented are Ru-
dolph Evans and Brenda Putnam. both
formerly of this city. DR.. Runners
Failing Gladiator" and J. Q. A. Wards
Good Samaritan" represent the best
pioneer work of the earlier American
scuiptors.
just such a collection as this would
be obtainab1e by our National Gallery
here. and will. it is hoped, some day be
one of its possessions.
AS Mrs. Herbert Adams has said in an
article on the Metropolitan museum
exhibit. American sculpture has very
real part to play in public life at pres
ent and eyes that have learned to love
such works as Daniel Chester French's
Death and the Young Sculptor" and
Saint-Gaudens' "Farragut' will not
care for the poorer works so frequently
in the past imposed upon a well inten-
toned but completely ignorant public
in the form of public monuments.
r
The lately formed Handicraft Guild
OF Washington announces an exhibition
of industrial and decorative art to be
held from April Il to 81 in the Arts
Club. 2017 ! street.
The exhibition will include represent
atlve examples of the work being done
in Washington in jewelry, fine printing
tiles, decorative modelling and wrought
metal. architectural details and de.
sign and other handiwork capable OF
artistic expression.
is to bring into closer association those
people seriously working to improve
the standards of excellence of their va
rious crafts and to further the public
interest in such work.
That the Arts Club has purchased
its present home was announced last
week and is good news. indeed, testify
ing not only to the prosperity but the
Dermanence of the
success of the Arts Club has really
been phenomenal. and the service that
1t has rendered and is rendering as a
meeting place for those interested in
the arts is by no means small.
Its, rooms do not provide ideal ex-
hibition galleries, but there is an In
formality about them which has lent
real charm to the exhibits shown
therein.
Programs of entertainment in tho
way of club dinners. lectures and in
not only well planned. but have become
events of note. In short. the Arts Club
has become real feature in WASH
ington life and it is here to stay.
The French Institute in the United
States. which has it's headquarters in
New York. is to give luncheon in that
city on April 9 in honor of NJ. Andre
Tardieu of the high commission of
France. to commemorate the anni-
versary Of the entry OF the United
States into the war and to mark the
opening of loan exhibition of eight.
eenth century French colored prints.
\
Wallace Bryant of Boston. who spent
portion of last winter here paint.
ing, with other notable persons, q por.
trait of Rev. Dr. Roland Cotton Smith,
rector of st. Johns Church. has res
turned to Washington and determined
to take un his, residence here.
He has purchased Miss Frances Benz
jamin Johnston's home. and studio. In
y street, and will open It with an exc
hibition and house warming some TINA
in April.
Mr. Bryant held an exhibition aA the
Moore Galleries last season, and Q
number o. his paintings have for SONG
time been on exhibition. - . loan II 4
the National Gallery.