Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-23
BY WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.

In the coming years Wash
ington should be not only the
art center of our own country,
but the art center of the world
President Coolidge in his an
nual message to Congress.
Whether Washington is to become
the art center of the United States
depends almost exclusively upon
whether adequate galleries are pro.
Vfded for displaying the magnificent
gifts of art which wealthy Americans
undoubtedly would present to the Ma
tional Capital If assured of proper
handling of their collections.
The Corcoran Gallery Of Art is TAX.
Ing long stride toward giving such
assurance. Not only is the So, 0OO, 600
TO $6,000000 William A. Clark collec-
tion to be housed acknowledgements in
an addition designed especially for It's
accommodation, and costing $500, 900,
which certain members of his family
generously donated. but the gallery
itself is simultaneously erecting an
other addition costing approximately
100000, in which gifts of art. or it's
own possessions and purchases, may
be shown effectively.
This total 81 ,000, 900 construction
program Will be finished. it is hoped
early next year. BY it the capacity
or the gallery will be more than
doubled. The additions are designed
oy Charles A. Plat, architect, to con
form in style with the existing struc.
ture. and he has drawn plans also
Tor an addition on the remaining piece
of ground, on the New York avenue
SIDE, when the gallery is ready to ex.
pand there.
Needs of National Gallery.
BY way of contrast, the National
Gallery of Art, now cramped in the
New National Museum Building has
almost reached a standstill. Where
formerly about 100000 worth of art
vas given to the National Gallery an
nually, hardly a fifth of that amount
is received now, because donors do
not care to bestow their collections
on q gallery that must store them
away, or exhibit them poorly.
me collectors of America who con
sloer Washington a desirable place
Tor permanent display of their art
treasures do not ask Congress- to buv
their collections; they only ask that
congress provide the building in
which the public may enjoy the gifts
properly Therefore, it is pointed out
~ rests largely with Congress whether
washington is to become the art cen
ter of the Nation
me rreef Gallery, which, with its
Z pudding, art contents and endowment,
IS valued at close to $4,000, 900, is a
striking example of one Americans
determination to leave his collection
TO Washington even if Congress
would not shelter it, The donor OF
this valuable collection of Oriental
and other art made provision for
erecting the building at a cost OF
81, 400, goo. But not every collector
VIII go that far. Either Congress or
private citizens must furnish build
ings, so that the flow of art to Wash
ington will not be impeded
Gift Tntimated by Smoot.
Senator Reed Smoot of Utah has
intimated that philanthropically in
clined persons may give $4,000, 900
i for a National Gallery building If
this nlaterializes Washington will
make a great advance toward the art
leadership desired by President
Coolidge
1.-THE people of Washington gen
orally, perhaps, do not appreciate the
extent and value of the Clark coilec-
tion," said c. Powell Minnigerode, di-
rector of the Coreoran Gallery. 1T
wifi enormously broaden the gallery's
scope, being the most important &C
cession in the history of the gallery,
adding many works of great beauty
and value blythe old masters, as we'll
as textiles. furniture, faience, antiqui-
ties sculptures and other classes OF
art. These are objects of art in which
washington has been most deficient.
The situation at the National Gal
lery was described by DR.. William I'll.
Holmes, director:
''If some one gives us valuable
nainting now | have to look around
another DdlnC-
ing TO make room for the new gift, or
else nut il in storage. Should the
finest collection in America be offered
TO lis we would have to reject IL, I'M
less the donor accompanied his GIT
with funds for a building or congress
guaranteed to house 1t. washington
ought to be getting many millions or
dollars worth of art every year. Many
collectors would prefer erecting monu-
,,ants to themselves in the National
C,anital by leaving their art for per-
,nanent display here as memorials, but
they know the National Gallery, al
least is not prepared TO fulfill their
wishes in respect to housing
CapitaI Missing Rich Gifts.
Not only is the failure to provide
exhibition space costing Washington
many valuable collections, but the
present possessions OF the Natlonal
Gallery are JaHlIlSo All d SpaSS Niio.1y
;nadauuate and never originally
MANNED for q gallery. The necessity
~ erecting a gallery for the art al
raadv owned by the Government is
Inonerative. in the opinion of all art
leaders here, to say nothing OF the
eynansion that would result from gifts
81 q new building were available. The
Sb0 600 600 Federal building program
does not include an art gallery
AS TO whether Washington may be-
come the art center of the world, the
answer Is bound up largely in the
same question of housing. While GER
cain Furopean galleries. such as the
T,ouvre. the Uffizi,. Vatican and others
have collections of old masters which
may remain unrivaled as 10 extent, 1t
Is vet possible for Washington 10 &C
ouira examples of the old masters,
and the Clark collection is highly
airnportant step in that direction. Fur
thermore there are stiH in private
hands in Europe art works which
Americans doubtless viii buy, as well
az works of the first rank already
owned by Americans, some of which
will come to Washington, always pro-
vided q place is made ready.
Washington however may become
outstanding in modern art, especially
in modern American art. The Cor
c6rsn Gallery, for instance, has shown
an especial interest in the productions
Of American painters and sculptors.
II has followed the policy of acquir-
Iy,r for its collection the best exam
11iks If their work. AS a result, the
Gallery presents a thoroughly repre-
%Sntafive collection of the work of
native artists, illustrating the devel'