Evening star., 1922-02-05

mortal Art Gallery will be found for
the most part cotemporary American
paintings, therein will also be seen
works by great European painters not
instances these works have been hung
side by side to the advantage rather
than the detriment of the work hy our
own. living artists.
As a writer in the Weekly Re-
view" has said. 1.-The Phillips Me-
rich. Mr.. Phillips has for years been
an audacious and successful collector
of modern painting in the broadest
sense. He goes in for quality wher-
ever he sees it, and he is as likely to
see 1t in youngster of talent as in
a member OF many academies. He
hangs his Americans beside his Euro
peans. often with results flattering
to our national pride. 1t is instruc-
tive to note at the present exhibition
ca collection temporarily loaned last
season to the Century Club, New
York;. with it's fine Monets and Sis
leys, that far the best landscape is
the winter scene by Twachtman. In
structive is it also to see an early
head by Alden Weir alongside a
famous Whistler portrait and to real
ize that the Weir is in every way the
finer picture. But generally such
piquant comparisons will not occur to
the visitor. He will rather come
away convinced of the essential har-
moniousness Of all fine paintings A
Daumier does not kill a Ryder. Each
enhances the other"
All of the Phillips collection can
not be shown at present in the linn
tied space Of the little gallery at 1906
21st street, but even when the fine
building proposed for the permanent
1T is not the intent to overwhelm the
visitor with quantity, but rather to
delight him with quality.
The real lover Of art will hnd the
little upper gallery, now open to the
public, containing twenty or thirty
treat, with its rarely delightful paint
1ngs by Twachtman. Whistler. Weir,
Melchers, Hassam, Dewing, Carlson,
Myers, Benson. Spencer. Bellows,
Luks, Lawson. Tack and others. In
style there is wide contrast. Here are
mpressionism. realism. expressionism
all in happy and harmonious rela-
tionship, because beneath each is gen.
uine art. Better than many essays
this little group Of pictures proves
that 1T is not the subject nor the
method. but the knowledge, the feel
Ing. the craftsmanship. which pro-
huces great work of art.
The walls Of this little gallery have
been covered with burlap or monks
cloth of a warm sand color, which
makes an admirable neutral back
ground. The appointments Of the gall
lery are extremely simple. but suit
able. and the pictures are seen there
in to the best advantage. There is
enough and not too much. The motto
of the Greeks in the golden age C.
that great art loving and producing
nation was Nothing in excess" Too
often the wisdom of this excellent
rule is forgotten today, with the re-
hal
wearied.
The Phillips Memorial Art Gallery,
according to the statement of the
president made at the first meeting
Of the board Of trustees, is to be a
home for the fine arts and home for
All those who love art and go to 1t
for spiritual refreshment. It is the
intention of the founders to create
an atmosphere which is attractive and
intimate rather than grandiose and
institutional, where visitors will feel
inclined to linger and to which they
viii wish to return again and again
FOR q special sort of pleasure or for
special study. The ultimate building
will not be large. no matter to what
size the collection may grow.
1t is proposed that each room in
the building shall be an esthetic unit,
sss tss decorative or accessories changed
will be devoted to the display of the
best works of selected artists, rooms
which will represent them from every
aspect Of their character and genius,
and to which their admirers will wish
to make pilgrimages to renew their
interest and to refresh their faith.
The most enthusiastic purpose of
the directors will be to reveal the
richness of the art created in our
United States, to stimulate our native
artists and afford them Inspiration"
In one respect the Phillips Memorial
Art Gallery differs from other gall
leries, with the exception of the
Freer, inasmuch as works by certain,
artists are found there in predomi-
nance. Thea collection comprises at
tho present time no less than fifteen
paintings. by A. v. Tack. thirteen by
J. Alden Weir, thirteen by Ernest
Lawson eight by Robert Spencer.