Evening star., 1925-11-08
BY LEILA MECHLIN.

y response to numerous requests,
arrangements have been made by
the Corcoran Gallery of Art for
4 an evening opening November
u, between the hours of 7:S0 and
1890, in order to enable those who
are occupied during the regular week
day hours to see the centennial eX-
hlbition Of the National Academy of
Design which is now in progress. A
special invitation has been extended
by the director Of the CorCoran Gallery
of Art TO members Of the Washington
Society of the Fine Arts and the date
Of the opening has been fixed to fol-
low the illustrated lecture on "One
Hundred Years of American Art" to
he given under the auspices of this
society in the auditorium Of the Cen
trail High School on the evening of
November Il. by Royal Cortissoz, art
critic of the New York Herald-Tribune.
author of American Artists" Per
sonalities in Art" and other books.
one of the foremost authorities on
art in this country. Other art organi-
cations and schools have been invited
and the public will be admitted free.
This evening opening is planned
especially for those who wish to make
a real study of the paintings, and if
an interest is demonstrated by way
Of a large attendance. 1t is possible
that other evening openings may be
given later on upon similarly notable
occasions.
THE interest in this centennial ex-
hibition seems to increase rather
than diminish. The exhibition closes
on November Is. and from December
] to January will be shown at the
Grand Central Galleries, New York
Many of the pictures in this exhibit
ton are lent by museums and private
collectors. but not u few, which are
the works of cotemporary painters,
are for sale. Up to the present time
none has been purchased. possibly
through a mistaken idea that they are
not purcha sable.
x + x
OF notable interest in connection
~ with this exhibition is the refer
ence made in the catalogue to the
Ranger Fund, under the terms of
which our National Gallery of Art is
chief beneficiary. Henry w. Ranger.
who died in 1916. was a National
-Academician, a landscape painter of
exceptional ability. as Is testified by
the painting entitled Spring Woods"
which represents him in this collec-
ton, and by the several works by him
, included in the Evans National Gal
lery collection, permanently on view
in the National Museum.
He was one of the few who have
heen able to grasp the real signif
iCance of the word national. 1t was
he, undoubtedly, who encouraged the
late William T. Evans TO give his
notable collection of paintings by
American artists to the National Gal
lery Of Art. At his death it was found
that his entire estate was left to the
National Academy of Design in trust,
10 be known as the II. W. Ranger
Bequest, the proceeds of which were
10 be used for the purchase of pictures
by American artists, the larger per-
centage of which should be by artists
Of 45 years of age or over, and the
pictures so acquired to be presented
10 various museums and art associa-
lions throughout the United States
The assignment of these pictures, how
ever, is subject to the privilege of the
National Gallery of Art to claim for
its permanent collection after a period
of time has elapsed, any or all: in
other words. the National Gallery of
Art is given the option on all pur-
chases.
A BOUT so pictures have already
DSSH OOuSHI lIIOuSH LulS luna.
They comprise works by such we'll
known painters as Bruce Crane, VIII
liam Ritschel, w. Granville Smith, w.
Elmer Schofeld, Ben Foster, Frede-
rick ]. Waugh, Dimes Carlsen, Gard
ner Symons, John Folinsbee, Chaun-
cey F. Ryder. Everett l.. Warner, Ed
ward w. Redfield. who is not. by the
way, National Academician: Spencer
Nichols, +. Ballard Williams, Lillian
Wescott H lie. Horatio Walker.
Thomas ". Dewing, Jerry Farnsworth
and Hobart Nichols, a list which gives
indication of catholicity in taste on
The part of the purchasers and of an
inclination to include in the benefl-
cence those of varied tendencies. These
paintings have been deposited on loan
or temporary assignment to museums
and art association throughout the
United States from Maine to Califor-
MIA, from Michigan to Texas. The
Museum of Art of Fort Worth. Texas.
is fortunate in having had assigned
30 it THE Gift" by Walter Ufer, an
Indian theme. The Gibbes Memorial
Art Gallery of Charleston, S. G.. has
been given the custody of Everett
l.. Warmers Failing Snow, New
York"
The aim of the National Academy
IS TO gradually make this collection
uf Ranger Fund pictures broadly rep
resentatiVe, so that ii may become a
distinguished record of current accom-
widely distributed throughout the
country, cannot help but have u large
l4