Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-31

the members of the commission will do
much in their power to speed things
along. We are all very anxious to have
the work completed. If there are no
serious strikes or other obstacles the
work will be completed with little or no
delay"
Small But Select Collection
The Elkins art collection is small but
select. 1t is made up of thirty of the
finest paintings ever produced.
Each picture shows careful discrim
ination on the part of the collector
Each is the representation of the finest
work done by the respective artists.
Not one in the collection is mediocre.
In purchasing paintings, Mr.. Elkins
never considered a canvas because of
the artists name it bore. But rather
from how the theme appealed to him
and whether or not it was the very
best. or one of the best, the artist was
capable of producing.
1t was in this manner that the fine
collection of eighteenth century English
portraits, the best examples of Gains
boro, Reynolds. Rcyburn, Hopper and
Coates found their way into his col =
lection. The best of the Barbizon Scohol
including those of Corot. Daubingny,
Diaz, Dupre. Troyton, Millet and Rous
seau also were selected by the phi
lanthropist.
Among the most famed and most
sought after today are the "Sheep Pic
ture," by Antoine Mauve, from the
Joseph Jefferson collection, and n
"Reading from Homer" by Alma
Tadema Both of these were purchased
by Mr.. ElkiDs at private sales. For the
former he paid $40, 900; and for the
latter. $4,000. While having been of
fered fabulous sums for both these can
vases by bourishing art dealers, they
were favortes with the great financier
and he refused to part with them. ''The
Lifeline" by Winslow Homer, at his
best, is another to be put in this class.
Among the OLD English paintings are
John Constable's celebrated painting of
''The Lock" and works by Romney and
Moreland.
Rembrandt Represented
In the Dutch group of the collection
are two portraits by Rembrandt. One,
that of man, is considered among the
greatest ever painted by the Hollander.
4 marine by Jacob van Ruysdael, which
is believed to be the only canvas of
that genre" ever done by this painter
of cascades and wterfalls. is perhaps less
valuable. but greatly exceeds the other
Ruysdaels in the collection
Laughing Child by Frans Halls.
| is one of the greatest character studies
to come from the brush of this painter.
who is famed for portraying human
smiles. Terburg's waiting for Or
ders," said to be the finest from this
master, is another worthy of men
| ton.
The Dutch group further contains a
number of works by what are known as
''The Little Hollanders." There are
three Van Ostades, four Aelbert Cuyps,
Aert van der Nerr, Jan Steen, Teniers
and splendid animal study by Paul
Potter, "Horses Near Stable.' Aside
from these there is Ferdinand Bol
portrait and Meindert Hobbema land
scape. The feature among modern Dutch
pictures is a Joseph Israels.-
George Innes's magnificent Landscape
represents modern Americans. These
are the most striking of the collection
There are more splendid modern Ital
ians and some beautiful examples OF
Fritz Thaulau VolIon, the great still
life painter, and other great masters Of
foreign countries.