Evening star., 1920-01-04

merit She tells the story of the Cora
coran Art Gallery soon after it's OPEN
ing. This lady came to washington
in 1871. She was then little slip OF
a girl She married the son of fine
man, of whom at his death IL was
written: "The most striking charac-
teristic of his nature was its quality
of being so well rounded that he was
successful In the realms OF business,
of intellect, of aesthetics. His taste
for literature was pronounced, his in
clination toward art stilf more SO,
Travel had set it's stamp of wide toll
erance upon him His work as trus-
tee and president OF the Corcoran
Gallery of Art has been a large con-
tributory cause to the art knowledge
of the capital and of the nation" The
husband OF the lady of whom the
trustee of the great gallery, and fol-
lowing is the little story she wrote
to the folk back home:
WASHINGTON. ID. c..
February 6, 1874.
Dear Journal The people of this
city have lately received from the
municent hand of Mr.. w. w. Cor
coran most delightful gift in the
shape of an art gallery--a gift whose
value is not merely for the present.
but which will remain with us and
increase from year to year. This is
only one of the many public benefac-
tions which Mr. Corcoran has be-
slowed upon the city, but it is per-
haps the one which will be the most
thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed
by all The building which has been
erected for this purpose is situated
on the corner of Pennsylvania avenue
and 18th street 1t is Of brick and
brown stone combined and is one Of
the most beautiful and symmetrical
edifices in the city. There is but one
entrance opening into the main hall,
or vestibule. which contains the grand
marble staircase. Doors on either
side of the stairs open into saloons
which are to receive the sculpture,
vases, casts, etc Passing to the
loft and through the office of the
trustees and superintendent, the Wis
itor enters the first saloon, the only
one on this floor which contains any
thing at present. Here the most
prominent objects are four vases, each
in it's way an exquisite specimen of
art. The first is Of majolicaware, or
faience, and is four feet in height.
1t is mounted on a pedestal Of Ameri-
can walnut and is covered with de-
signs Of peacocks, foliage and fiow-
ers, both delicate and gorgeous. The
other vases are very beautiful speci.
mems of French painting on porce-
lain and the designs are Of cupids,
fawns, flowers, etc. In the middle
of this room is a valuable collection
OF the bronzes Of Bayre. the celebrated
Jardin des Plantes, Paris. None of
these brohzes exceed two and a half
feet in length. while many are only
few inches high. The variety of
these figures is astonishing. Here
are bears. lions, tigers, crocodiles, a
dying stag bcset by hounds, horses,
eagles. dogs and, in fact. almost every
form of animal life is represented
with marvellous skill. In the same
room is the famous Hildeshein coll
lection OF Roman antiquities, disc0v-
cred in Saxony AID reproduced in
France. The domestic utensils are
OF perfectly symmetrical form and
ornamented in the most artistic style.
TIC NCpSolS uTS VI Silver, ana OH some
the figures stand out ~ in such bold
relief. as, to seem, almost detached
from the main surface. Among these
trophies Is huge German Drinking
fagon Of the eleventh century, which
was disentombed with the other rel
les. A life bust Of Commodore
Morris completes the collection in this
room.
1"e great hall of sculpture, which Is
empty at present is also situated OH
the ground floor. 1t Is one hundred
feet In length and Is admirably adapt,
ed to the display OF sculpture and
statunry. with which It will in time
be 6iled. The copies of the well re-
novned Elgin marbles. which are in
tended to adorn this noble apartment.
have recently arrived in New York.
from whence they will be shipped d.
rectly to Warrington, and we may
hope to behold, ere long. these exact
reproductions of the wonderful bas-
relieves with which Phideas and his
pupils adorned the pediment Of the
ParthenOA. Returning now to the
front door. by which we entered. we
observe on each side Of the stair
way bust mounted on a pillar Of
Scotch granite. That on the left. OF
colossal size. is marble Napoleon
by CAnova. copied from his celebrated
statue In the Brera Gallery at Milan.
where the King Of Italy is represented
as Mercury. holding a scepter in his
hand. Out of the block OF marble
taken from under the Outstretched arm
Of the statue CanOva ehiSeled the