The New York herald., 1921-12-25
&c . OPERA ard CONeERTs @1oC6ME .
Art Building and
Western Exhibit Is
Planned for Toxic
Gift to Japan Of X. Matsukata,
Celebrated Shipbuilder
of Kobe.

LONDON Dec. 24.-"Kyoraku Bijutsu
kwan." This Inscription, says special
correspondent of the Times, which
means sheer pleasure fine arts pa
viion." on a great board placed on a
hill in the city of Toxic marks the site
of perhaps the most prineely gift In the
history of modern art. Here Is to be
built. to the designs of Mr.. Frank Brang-
wyn, r.. A., a gallery of Western art
which. with one of the best and most
catholic collections In the world, is to
be the gift to Japan of a single man,
Mr. X. Matsukata. the celebrated ship
builder Of Kobe.
Besides some thousand paintings, etch-
ings and sculptures from Europe and
America, representing all the best artists
of the last fifty years. there will be some
splendid period furniture. famous tapes
tries. an unrivalled collection of Japa-
nese prints and collection of Chinese
bronzes known throughout the East as
priceless and unique.
Among the sculptures are fifty of the
most important works Of Rodn. includ-
ing bronze cast Of the great Porte de
fEnfer." Two bfonze casts are now
being made. One will be given by Mr..
Matsukata to the Musee Rodin in Paris
and the other will go to Japan. Thanks
to the cooperation Of the French authori-
ties. and particularly to the director Of
the Musee Rodin (M. Benedite), replieas
of all the best work of the great French
sculptor have been taken. The ''Porte
de lT1nfer," which Is designed In heroic
proportions. is now being east by the
founders to whom Rodin always en-
trusted his work. The gallery will also
contain the greatest single collection Of
Az -
erty Of his best oils and water colors.
Building to He started Soon.
The plans for the gallery have been
finished, and the building Is to be started
as soon as possible. Meanwhile the Eu-
ropean works OF art, the furniture and
the tapestries are stored In many places
and In many countries awaiting the
time when they can be sent to their
permanent home
The aim of Mr. MatsulSata, who is the
son Of the Marquis Matsukata. in giving
to the people Of Japan this treasure
house OF Western art is to enable the
lovers of art and the art students to
study the best that Europe and Amer
lea can show them. Not that ne wants
his people to forsakc the splendid ar
tistic traditions Of their own country.
but he thinks that they might get new
inspiration from the fresh stimulus of
the different art of the Occident. He
also thinks that the association between
industry and art might benefit from this
museum OF modern design and Western
culture Another and not less interest
ing motive is the desire 10 show to the
world that the Japanese are not at heart
miltatistic, but that. on the contrary,
their most cherished tradition is their
-, - 81 &I.A
POSES art. MIR. Matsukata is to retain
contnol OF the gallery and he will main
tain It, but 1t will be open to the public
for all time.
Fine Collection of Western Art.
TO say that there Is nowhere a finer
collection Of modern Western art, public
or private, is 10 keep scrupulously to
the facts. All the best Of the artists OF
the last fifty years are to be found here.
For example. Italy besides some note
worthy pr!niitives Is represented by
Mancini. Segantlhi, Previati and many
'other painters. and italian sculptors In
cude such men as Bistolh. French
sculpture. besides the fifty works OF
Rodin. includes some fine pieces by
Bourdelle and other modern men. Among
the painters are Puvis de Chavanres,
Besnard, Csrolus Duran. Bastin Depage.
Charles Cottet Dagnan- Bouveret, Gas
ton La Toucbe, II. Lerolie, Leon A. Her-
mite, Henri Martin, Paul Renouard. A.
r. Roll, Lucien Simon. Desgas. Csssenne
and Vouliard. The English school in
cludes Millais, leighton. Augustus John.
Orpen, Brangwyn. ID. Y. Cameron Clau-
sen, Wilson Steer, Sims and all the best
of the younger school. Among tho
Americans are Sargent. Whistler and
Alexander Abbey.
The gallery Is to be built on COIN
manding site in Toxic given by the Mar
quis Matsukata. From the hill can be
obtained some of the finest Views to be
seen from Toxic. The gallery will look
down on the bay of Toxic. and from an
other side will be visible the magntf-
cent sight OF Full.
In his design Mr. Brangwyn has taken
full advantage of the views to be got
from the hill on which the gallery is to
stand. That Is why he has planned
loggias go that visitors may see the
wonderful prospect in comfort in the
shade OF the gallery itself Moreover,
there are trees on the HILL and these Will
be used as an integral part of the deco
ratlve scheme. The building, which will
cover nearly two acres Of land, will be
severely simple. and will be square in
form, with d courtyard within tho inner
walls laid out as beautiful garden
with a fountain in the centre and many
trees to give a welcome touch of green.
A special feature will be cloisters round
the courtyard, In which will be housed
most OF the sculpture.
EVERY bit of space" Mr. Brangwyn
told me, "wlii be used In the gallery for
the exhibition OF the pictures. The wallis
win be plain. There will be no EN-
beilshments. such as mouldlngs, pillars