Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-11
PRESIDENT OPENS
CORCORAN WING
Notables Attend Private
Showing OF Clark
Art Treasures.

A simple but impressive act per-
formed by the President OF the United
States last evening brought TO happy
begun with the publication several
years ago of the will OF the late Senator
w. A. Clark Of Montana. who be-
queathed his varied and valuable art
collection to the Corcoran Gallery Of
Art. an institution OF which until his
death he had been a constant and
munificent patron. President Coolidge
removed from its fastening one end of
q heavy silken rope which until that
moment had separated from the origi-
nal portion OF the gallery the new
specially built wing which houses the
treasures accumulated by the testator
The Chief Executive was escorted by
Charles c. Glover. president OF the gal
lery. and by Mrs Clark, widow of the
donor OF the collection. 10 whose gen.
erosity TO the cause of art. together
with that OF her daughters. is due the
ability of the Corcoran institution suit
ably and in remarkably brief space
of time TO accommodate and display
lowed by the Secretary OF State and
Mrs. Kellogg and Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
w. Stearns. Closely following were the
daughters OF Senator Clark. Mrs. Mary
Clark de Brabant. Mrs Katherine Clark
Morris and Miss Huguette Marcelle
Clark, escorted b. James Parmelce of
the board OF trustees. After them
came the other members of the board
several OF them accompanied by their
wives.
specially recruited floor commit
tee, headed by Robert L. Parsons OF
the gallery's staff, was In attendance
The presidential entrance was accom-
panied by the strains OF Hail to the
Chief. played by large orchestra.
which later throughout the evening
contributed a special musical program
from q point of vantage on broad
landing In the new wing.
Mrs. Coolidge Not Present.
To the regret OF all. Mrs. Coolidge
was unable 10 be present. The several
thousand guests specially invited 10
this opening private view included c.
lebrities In the realm of art, repre-
sentativeS OF high governmental cir
cles. OF the diplomatic corps and of
residential art and social circles. Many
artists. art critics. directors of art mu-
suems and kindred institutions and pa
irons of art came 10 Washington for
this occasion, which had been long and
eagerly anticipated. Beginning tomor-
row the collection will be thrown open
permanently TO the public of the Dis
trict and 10 the vast public which con-
stantly visits the Capital
To those who followed the President
e1Ax.ts a. So
ise OF pleasures In store was given by
stairway OF the older portion OF the
gallery. Where once ON the landing
stood the familiar full-length figure OF
Augustus Caesar has been cut "A door
way which leads one naturally into q
circular-domed chamber This, replete
with rare pictures. serves as an entry
hall To the new wing and the second
extension incorporated herewith. and
utilized more spaciously 10 aec0mmo-
date the Older permanent collection
The new doorway frames n snowy mar.
BILE statue OF Aphrodite by Canova,
while the eye. passing beyond this iig-
ure. can penetrate even into the salon
beyond. From the rear OF the circu-
lar gallery one can see the street lights
on the east side of Seventeenth street.
On the walls ot this circular gallery
hang masterpieces from the brushes OF
such artists as Rnbens, Rembrandt
0ainsborough. Hogarth, Titan. Peru
gino. Renesse, Reynolds and Van Cleve
while the treasures 10 be viewed In the
ssCceeding salons prove no anti~ciimaN
To this first selection On every hand
the visitor last evening met with rare
and diverse treasures, which have been
appropriately noted and described by
the art critic of The star In another
section OF this issue II Ii sufficient 10
say that without doubt every person In
attendance went with the Idea OF being
aurprised. and yet was surprised even
beyond his or her most optimistic ex-
pectation. Not only did tho wonders ot
the w, A. Clark collection come In for
constant and excited praise, but likewise
did the artistic and painstaking install
lation accomplished by the director, q,
Powell Mtnnigefode. and permanent
staff OF the gallery.
In Orderly Plan.
The new salons and galleries "tieup"
al rleverly with the old that II seenis
a. II the whole ml,at have been origts
nally planned by some mastery aWhi-
iect Their wall coverings, especially
imported from France, are In four diff
fefent and harmonious tones ~~~taupe.
eonl, mulberry and red There are none
Continued or Page Z. Column -