Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-03
NATIONAL GALLERY
Of ART IS MADE
SEPARATE UNIT
Smithsonian Institution Also
Releases Dr.. Holmes, Who
Takes Charge.

The National Gallery of Art has
been made an independent unit under
the administration of the Smithson-
ian Institution by an amendment to
the. sundry civil bill recently passed
by Congress. which provides for the
administration of the National Gallery
of Art by the Smithsonian Institution
including compensation of necessary
employees and necessary incidental
expenses"
The National Gallery, which is the
legal depository of all objects of art
belonging to the nation not lawfully
assigned to other custodianship, has
heretofore existed as branch of
the National Museum, coming under
the administration of the head cura-
tor of anthropology, DR.. William h.
Holmes. DIR. Holmes has now severed
his connection with the department
of anthropology of the museum and
as director of the National Gallery of
Art will devote his energies to the
organization and development of the
gallery.
Recognised ms Important Step.
Recognition of the gallery as dis
tinct administrative unit is regarded as
a most important step in the develop
ment of art in America The way is
now open to the building up at the Ma
tional Capital of a national collection
worthy of the nation. and the gallery
should become the treasure house of the
best that human genius can produce. 1t
is already recognized as occupying
worthy position among the galleries of
the country, although without home
aside from the limited space allotted
to it in the already overcrowded halls
of the Natural History Museum. 1t is
confidently expected that in the near
future Congress will authorize the erec-
ton of d suitable building for the gal
lery.
Art is given a prominent place in
the plan of organization of the Smith
sonian Institution. but in the early
years little was done to further this
developed very slowly until 1906.
when a collection of paintings was be-
aueathed to the National Gallery of
Art" by Harriet Lane Johnston. In
that year it was decreed by the Su-
preme Court of the District of CO.
lum bia that under the law the Smith
sonian Institution was the National
Gallery of Art. and the collection was.
therefore, assigned to the institu
tion.
Since that time the national collec-
ton has been increasing rapidly.
chiefly through gifts and bequests of
art works.
Among these may be mentioned the
William T. Evans collection, regarded
as one of the choicest collections of
cOtempOrdfy AmeTlCeH pdiHtiuSS .
existing; the Ralph Cross Johnson col
lection. which comprises twenty-four
paintings by nineteen of Europe's
foremost masters. among them Gains
borough. Reynolds, Titan, Rubens.
Rembrandt and others. and the Freer
collection, which will form a distinct
unit of the National Gallery with
separate staff, and will be housed in
the beautiful building provided by
Mr.. Freer. now practically completed.
The value of the collections already
at hand is estimated in millions, all
due to the generous attitude OF
American citizens toward the insti-
tuition. no single work having been
acquired by purchase. There can be
no doubt that when building is
provided in which contributions can
be presented to the public in the man
ner which they deserve that many
collectors seeking a permanent home
for their treasures will welcome the
opportunity of placing them in the
custody of the nation
This step is all that is necessary to
make Washington an art center COM
parable with the leading art centers
of the world.