The Washington times., 1922-11-26

the restoration and rearrange-
ment Of the collections. New dis.
coveries have been made, for ex-
ample, "a Watteau Madonna"
hanging In the chamber Of
maid in one Of the imperial resi-
dences.
More than 10000 are visiting
the galleries of the Hermitage
each month, including many
groups Of students, who listen to
the explanations of their mas
ters. Education is an important
factor of the Soviet regime. Who
ever cares to do so many read
much more about present condi-
tions, not only in the art gal
leries OF Russia. but throughout
the educational system, in Andre
Morizet's recent report, "Chez
Lenine ct Trotzl<i," personal
account published 1922 in Paris.
And one may also find IN
America a very excellent review
OF art Under the Proletariat,"
by Jacques Mesnil; in Soviet
Russia" for May I, 1921, and the
succeeding number. Except In
Naroslav, no art monuments have
been seriously damaged in Rus
sia. There is nothing there to
compare with Rheims, and other
ravaged cities Of France and Bel
gium.
In Petrograd, where they
opened to the public in 1918 the
palaces Of Tsarskoye Selo. Paw
lovsk. Gatchina 'and Peterhof,
two or three days each week, i'm
mense crowds flocked to see
them. More than 5000 persons
came on Sunday at Tsarkoye.
and in order to save the floors
the directors had slippers made
out Of old mating, large enough
to. fit over any size shoes. Both
the soldiers and the public ac-
cepted these willingly, and they
nearly stampeded one man who
at first refused to put them on.
VISITORS ARE RESPECTFUL.
The visitors were always i'm
bued with respect for the sur
roundings, and there were no
cases of vandalism. They had
only to be reminded that they
must not touch objects or fur
nishings, and they complied. Often
such exclamations were heard as
these: That's the way thew
lived" or: 81 can see that their
life must have been a snap here"
But they also asked many in
telligent questions, and excur-
sions were often. arranged for
teachers congresses, art history
courses, and other organiza tons.
The Russian revolution shows
itself quite distinct from the
character OF the French revolu.
tion in an important particular:
That is. the tolerant attitude to-
ward the clergy. The churches
remain open and have retained
all their ancient splendor, and the
priests continue their functions In
rich vestments. And the objects
of worship are preserved in a
nation that could today no doubt
barter with foreign countries
many of these religious and art.
treasures.
The directors of the museums.
and the general personnel. con.
tinue almost unchanged. In Mos
cov, at the Tretyakov Museum.
devoted to Russian painting. the
first historian of Russian art.
the painter Igor Grabar. is sta
toned, in charge of the whole
museum. At the Hermitage Mu.
scum, Petrograd, Count Tolstoy.
who managed the museum under
SSdTlsUi, mas DcCh iSpioSCu w.
Troinitsky. the custodian Of Csra-
mics and Goldsmith Work.
The painter Alexandra Benois
has also been added to the staff
of the Hermitage. Unrecognised
under the Csarist regime. Benois
now becomes the head of the Sec
ton of painting. Count zuboy.
who founded an institute for the
history Of art in 1911. remains at
the head Of his Socialist" insti-
tute.
The owners OF collections who
have remained In Russia have not
been driven from their homes, but
have stayed as custodlans Of
their collections on condition that
they mako them accessible to tho
public at regular intervals, They
have, however. boon limited to q
smaller number of dwelling rooms.
The population of Pctrosrad has
decreased moro than onc-hnif. and
the Hermitage Gallery 10 now
open only twice q week, instead
Of six times as before the war,
nat tha nuu,hau AZ vislta~~ IL IN