Evening star., 1923-12-16

I With $4,000 already guaranteed for
securing architects plans for build
ing for national gallery Of art. the
National Gallery Commission at its an
nual meeting here Tuesday set in mo-
tion a campaign, backed by the art
associations Of the country. through the
American Federation Of Arts. to awaken
the people of the country and through
them to Impress upon Congress the
urgent need for q national home for
art In the National Capital.
Art collections worth some five mill
lions Of dollars have already been given
to the Federal government. and are be-
ing donated to the valne OF $500,000
a year, with absolutely no place to prop
erIy house them and display then. SO
that art lovers and tourists from all
parts Of the country visiting the Ma
tionai Capital can see these wonderful
collections.
This national home OF art Ia 10 be
erected as a companion building TO the
Natural History Museum. commonly
called 'the New National Museum" of
similar architecture, but designed espe-
cially to afford the best possible display
of the art treasures which would find
permanent home there.
Congress Provides Site.
Congress has aalready contributed the
site through an act passed January %.
1928. under which
Institution are authorized to prepare
preliminary plans for a suitable fire.
proof building with granite fronts
cluding the National Portrait Gallery,
and the historical collection of the
United States National Museum" The
law also provides that the building Is
to be erected in sections or COM
pletely, on the north side Of the Mall.
between the Natural History building,
United States National Museum, and
7th street, leaving space between 1t
and the latter building OF not less than
100 feet and space OF not less than 100
feet between 1t and 7th street, with
its south front on a line with the south
front OF the Natural History building
s the
thus far neglected to provide money
for anything more than the urgent
immediate needs OF the government
establishments, when the people real
ize that already many millions Of dol
lars worth of art has been given to
the government and that millions
more will be given just as soon as
there is a suitable art museum pro-
vided, Congress will make the necessary
scum in sections.
Stresses the Scientific Work.
DR.. william H. Holmes. director of
the National Gallery Of Art. who Is
secretary of the commission. empha-
sized that all Of the scientific work
of the government and its collections
made during the last seventy-seven
years are all housed in the Natural
History building. No provision was
made there for art and history, with
the result that art has crept in little
by little. crowding important natural
history groups out of several halls.
Historical exhibits, very largely war
materials, are coming in fast. much OF
II from overseas The result Is that
the Natural History building now
$ontains more than enough extremely
valuable exhibits to MI two such
buildings.
I'VE propose to relieve this situ-
alton by having a new building for
history and art" DR.. Holmes explains.
"a. a separate grand division or the
governments museum work.
Already the art collection Is sum-
cient to fill one large building alone,
and many of the most valuable works
are not properly shown. and then
only at the expense OF the natural
/, history specimens, for which the
present building was designed,
1 Charles d, Walcott, secretary OF the
Smithsonian Institution and ex-ohicio
member of the art commission points
The National Gallery of Art Is a
| department under the Smithsonian