Evening star., 1921-11-27
Notes of Art and Artists

The reception given last Wednes-
day by the Commissioners of the Dis
trict to the delegates to the CONFER
ence on the limitation of armament
focused attention on the Nationai
Gallery of Art, which is at present
housed inadequately in the National
Museum, where the reception was
held.
There are many persons who do not
seem to know that such thing as
the National Gallery of Art exists,
and perhaps with small wonder, Tor
the collections constituting this gal
lery have been acquired. for the most
part, within the las{ fifteen years.
and are displayed amid natural his
tory exhibits. The growth of the gal
lcry has, however. been almost phe-
nomenal. so that it now constitutes
valuable national asset.
AS il stands today. it is made up of
three notable collections. gifts of the
ssf,ne number of art-lovinE public
Spffited citizens. In point of time.
the. receipt of a small miscellaneous
collection bequeathed by Harriet
lane Johnson. niece Of President Bu-
chsnan was first in order. This be-
duest, it will be remembered. led to
the. official declaration that a national
gallery of art existed. Next came the
William T. Evans Gift of the William
T. Evans collection of American
paintings. to be followed some years
later--in fact. but year and a half
a9O---by the presentation of notable
gtoup of paintings by European mas
tiers of earlier days by Ralph Cross
Johnson of this city. group which
could scarcely be duplicated today
even at a fabulous sum.
The Evans collection contains some
extremely important examples OF
Asaerican painting at its best. Such.
for example. as Winslow Homer's
masterpiece. The Coast of Maine"
John La Farge's painting. The Visit
of Nicodemus to Christ" and George
1nness' landscape. "Sundown." There
are. in tact. no less than four paint
ings by Inness in this collection. 1t
may also boast landscapes by Wyant.
Homer Martin. Murphy and Tryon.
Among the figure paintings of special
significance is one of mother and
daughter by Sargent Kendall. which
is, not only to be reckoned as this
painters best. but among the best
produced in this country. John W.
Alexander is represented by a typical
example. as is also Mary Cassatt.
,Through the instrumentality of the
Ranger bequest the National Gal
lery's collection of American paint
1nEs will continually be increased.
when Mr.. Ranger died he left his en-
tire estate to establish a fund for
the purchase of works of art by
american painters. stipulating that
the National Gallery of Art in Wash
1ngton should have an option on
every painting purchased until ten
years after the artists death, at
which time those not chosen for the
national collection might be bestow-
ed upon other museums.
The Ralph Cross Johnson collection
Is one of the choicest and the most
Charming of it's size in the country
Hach painting included therein is a
masterpiece. Furthermore, each per-
fectly illustrates the characteristics
Of one OF the great schools, though
the collection as whole is richest
In works by the British masters. In
cluded in this collection is a portrait
or venerable Scotchman by Raeburn,
which is held by many to be one of
the greatest portraits in the world
magnificent Interpretation of per-
sonality. brilliantly rendered through
the medium of an art so competent
and so refined that all suggestion of
evidence of artistry is obliterated.
In this collection also are great por-
traits by Reynolds and Lawrence. by
Titan and Rembrandt, as well as the
less distinguished but almost equal
~ Skillful painters of the Italian
school. There is a splendid landscape
by Gainsborough, moreover, and two
by Wilson.
The United States is almost the
only nation, certainly the only
great nation today that has no ma
tional gallery and makes no def
mite appropriation for the purchase of
art. AS the director of our National
Gallery has pointed out in his most
recent report. the need of building
National Gallery collection is a cry
ing need at this tire. American art
lovers are proverbially generous and
many gifts to the National Gallery
would undoubtedly be made provided
assurance could be given that they
would be appropriately cared for and
displayed
\ short time ago a national art
committee was formed in New York
to-secure series of portraits of the
leaders of the allied countries in the
great war as permanent memorial
and nucleus for national portrait
gallery These portraits were painted
by the foremost American artists
and are now being exhibited in the
various cities of the United States
under the charge of the American
Federation of Arts. Later they will
ccme to Washington. Meanwhile the
question of their housing must be
decided. Art is unqucstionably one
of the factors: not only in civiliza-
rion. but in the establishment of a
permanent peace, toward which dis
armament is only a first step. A ma
tional gallery of art in Washington
upheld to a high standard. will put
the United States on a footing with
Mphuild appreciation of art. content