The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-05
SOME WON.
PRIZES IN
PARIS
One of country's Rarest Col
Iections Adorns Coffee Room
at New Willard.
BY GEORGE FRANKLIN.


Arts appeal is recognized more
and more each year. 1t may be
said truly that Americans are the
greatest art lovers in the world.
According to commercial leaders,
art is now recognized as con-
structive factor in the success of
any business.
In no sother public activity, per-
haps, does it find greater ex-
preston than in the efforts Of
hotel arrangements to adorn walls
with valuable canvases, etchings
and rare prints, and to provide
exquisite bits of statuary for the
characterization of corners, inches
and alcoves. Then there are the
brilliant floral displays main
tanned by hotels, involving the
expenditure of thousands of dol
lars each year.
Valued at Quarter Million.
washington's hotels lead the
country, art connoisseurs declare,
in, the variety and value of the art
collections exhibited in their cor.
ridors, lounges, Hobbies and reeep-
ton rooms, to say nothing of the
rare bits to be seen in the luxury
suites. More than a quarter OF a
million dollars, 1t is said, has been
invested in these collections, some
of which contain paintings which
won prizes at Paris exhibitions. To.
replace many. Of the pictures would
mean an expenditure of thousands
of dollars more than the appraised
value, while some of them could
not be duplicated even in copies.
One of the rarest collections of
old prints in the country now
adorns the walls of the coffee room
at the New Willard Hotel. 1t deals
largely with Washington history
during the civil war, depicting
many of the events of national in
terest. Thirty-four subjects are in
cluded in the collection. Among
the sketches, but exhibited in the
hallway OF the Presidential suite,
are two by Thomas Mast, both
originals. One shows President Lin.
coin in the old Willard Hotel seated
before an open rate with his feet
cooked iIp on d chair. The other
represents b scene Iii the wsOnens
parlor of the hotel Both were
drawn in 1851, the drawing being
among the best specimens of the
artists work extant.
! In the hallway and stairway lead
ing from the main lobby to the
coffee room are hung twelve panels
representing the signs of the zodiac.
declared to be one of the finest
collection of its kind in America
THE Horse Fair" by Ecrelman.
and the Hunt" by J. V. Chel-
mineki, both pretentious canvasses,
bold and striking in execution, are
among the noted paintings in the
hotel collection. In addition there
is a comprehensive collection of
photographs. made expressly for
the Presidential suite. of the notables
who visited Washington during the
world war. Each 10 an autographed
print.
An Addition Each Year.
1.-THE demand for, and apprecia-
ton shown of, the art collections
owned by hotels and displayed by
them is one of the most gratifying
indications of the growth OF culture
/ know OF" said F. s. Hight, man.
ager OF the New Willard, in discuss
ing the art objects on exhibition
in the hotel. Each year sees an
addition made which in many in
stances represents a long quest and
no little investment Of money"
Among the other items properly
coming in the field of art are the
, gold mirrors adjoining the hotel ball.
room and banquet hall. They are
said to be the only set of gold
backed mirrors in America. To the
spacious auditorium they lend the
attraction of mellowed reflection
unobtainable in other ways.
1.-The Dancing Girl" brilliant bit
Of Oriental painting by Charles s.
Shean, hanging opposite the ball
room entrance. has come to be one
OF the most admired canvases in the
city. 1t iseadmirably placed as to
lighting and. unframed, stands out
in striking relief against the ala
baster wall.
With its Colonial architecture in
striking contrast to the Moorish ef-
fects of the New willard, the