The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-06
National Art Gallery
Here to Eclipse All
Collections in America

not merely to the artistic, but to the
material welfare OF the country; and
the people are to be congratulated on
the fact that the movement to estab-
lish such a gallery is taking definite
form under the guidance of the Smith
sonian Institution. So far from there
being a tariff on works OF art brought
into the country, their importation
should be encouraged in every way.
There have been no sufficient col
lections of objects of art by the Gov
eminent, and what collections have
been acquired are scattered. and are
generally placed in unsuitable and
imperfectly lighted galleries.
Present Home Too Small
The present location OF the National
Gallery of Art is one with admirable
lighting facilities, but the wall ca
pacity of 100 running feet is not ade-
quate for the needs Of the collections
already possessed by the institution.
and much less for the additions it Is
hoped will be made in the next few
years.
The first collection acquired by
Smithsonian was a number of Indian
portraits painted by Charles B. King
and several others, and busts of nota-
bles. including examples by Thor
waldsen, Merlieux, PettriCh and Mills.
Soon after the Marsh collection of
prints, the most noteworthy collec-
ton of it's kind that had reached this
country up to that time, was pur-
chased by the regents.
Impetus, which has steadily in
creased in momentum, was added to
the National Gallery OF Art by the
bequest of Harriet Lane Johnston in
- a. ~
fused to complete the transfer until
the status of the gallery was made
clear by a decision OF the court. This
led to the passage Of the act found
ing the institution.
Now Have 3I5 Paintings.
Soon after this official establish
ment of the gallery, William T.
Evans made a gift to the gallery of
nearly a hundred pai-tings. There
are at present 315 paintings in the
gallery in the Old National Museum,
the collection having been augmented
lately by several minor donations
and loans of paintings and statuary.
The Freer gift stands out as
unique episode in the history of the
world OF art. In making the gift OF
S1.000.000 (the gift originally amount
ing to 100000, but Mr.. Freer doubled
il later and several thousand paint
ings, forming an almost priceless col
lection, Mr.. Freer reserved the right
to add to the collection still further
during his lifetime. Hence there il
no way OF knowing to what proper
tions il will grow. Although an espe.
cial devotee of Oriental art. Mr.. Freer
is a. great admirer OF Whistler. and it
Is hoped that he will enrich the gal
lery to a still greater extent by a
representative Whistler collection.
The collection of drawings, eighty
two in number, presented TO the
American people by the people of
France in recognition Of the part
taken by America in the war with
Germany. is also a notable possession
Of the gallery.
Among valuable works gained in
recent years, a remarkable collection
OF paintings by English masters, lent
by Ralph Cross Johnson, takes first
rank. The Sutro collection OF thir-
teen historical marine subjects, by
Edward Moran. has been lent by Theo-
dore Sutro. Collections OF paintings
by F. Ward Denys, w. a. Slater. the
National Association OF Portrait
Painters, the American Federation OF
Art. and many others have been &C
Quired lately.