Evening star., 1928-03-11

Of the usual reflector lights for the
paintings A special new system of in
direct lighting has been installed where
in the light of bulbs set above the inner
skylight is diffused downward by means
of special glass brought from Germany.
with the result that the entire interior
OF each chamber glows with softened
yet searching. Illumination
| The taste Of the director and staff
was evidenced further In the decora-
| tons of palms, ferns. cedars and smilax.
which were just enough in evidence TO
! accentuate the beauties of the new wing.
/ but not enough in any way to detract
| from the effect of the various exhibits
/ Each room or corridor containing parts
| OF the collection is labeled with a siz-
| able yet artistic gilt bronze sign. while
| TO one OF the leaders in her profession
! was given the task of preparing the
| placards identifying each separate pic
ture. rug, tapestry. antiquity both of
rare lace or piece Of furniture or fall
ence
A handsomely illustrated handbook of
the Clark collection has been prepared
by gallery officials. II contains a fore
word By Charles c. Glover. president OF
the gallery. and preface by Royal Cor
ttSSoz OF New York. writer and lecturer
on art. noted art critic and long famil-
lar with the collection which for many
! years was housed In the private resi-
! dence of him who made It.
| Nothing less than a visit In person to
| the new wing. which was designed by
| Charles A. Piatt OF New York, and
which. from the Standpoints both OF
beauty and utility, Is admittedly an ar
| chitectural masterpiece. can give a
| nf ho zA
| OF the collection. It Is sufficient TO say
/ that on every hand. In every room and
hallway. on landings and in unexpect-
| ed recesses one comes upon fascinating
treasures. here the original OF some
masterpiece with reproductions Of which
he has long been familiar: there on a
| stained-giaSs window glowing like a
| multi-colored jewel on rare rugs and
| tapestries which are triumphs of the
| weaver's art.
! GriIles Form Protection.
| In general interest perhaps nothing
exceeds the Louis VI and Louis XVI
| salons. In the former visitors are re-
stricted by upholstery cables TO the CEN
/ ter Of the room, while so priceless arc
| the furnishings and the very walls and
| ceiling OF the latter that those who view
II must necessarily stand behind curved
! 2riiles set into the doorways. Real can
dies burned last night In the holders
resting on the harpsichord OF Queen
Marie Antoinette.
| The new wing may also be reached
from the ground floor OF the Older por-
tion OF the gallery. through lobby
hung with a remarkable series OF paint
ings depicting the life OF Joan OF Arc.
A number OF new rooms have been
added 10 that portion OF the gallery
holding the Older permanent collection
In some instances. as q result. familiar
objects appear In cases adjacent n
halls filled with Clark collection items
but In every case special indicator signs
call the attention Of those who might
possibly be confused 10 just where the
! newer exhibits begin.
Physically as vel! as artistically thu
gallery is now a perfect and cohesive
| whole. with new service stairway, new
elevator, ample storage rooms. a studio
for visiting artists, and apartments as
yet empty. which may later be- utilizec
Tor needed exhibition salons. The
Corc0ran Gallery today according to
! the opinion Of experts, is one Of the
most perfect exhibition galleries In the
! world, with every facility which inge'
| huity and foreth0ught could provide
| Even now not all the available land 0i
the institution Is occupied, but plans
| have alFgadY been prepared for It's har'
mOniOus utilization when need shall
arise
The old gallery has been thorough,
Teno"ated and feflnished, the picturei
fehung and the collection generally re-
arranged The whole older collection IL
n0S more Spac!Ously installed. due T.
the fact that several new exhibition
halls have been opened 10 acc0mmo'
date H.
Procedure Reversed.
The new wing and the collection Il
contains are unique ia this respect
usually All art museum Is erected anc
then is treasures gradually assembled
whereas In this instance the procedure
has been reversed The building wal
designed and constructed ~ display tf
fullest advantage an aggregation Of AR
objects already carefully assembled
That such a reversal Is advantageous
alike IN architect and t0 custodian o
tho collection is freely admitted
In addition ~ the great CLARK e0l'
lection bnd the usual permanent col
lection, three special separate exhibits
have been Installed for the pleasure 0
gallery visitors One consists of paint,
ings by BarI Meicbers. one of the great
est artists who deygles himself by pref
eTence 10 The living figure, The secons
is of pictures by Edward w. Redf1eld
one NJ the outstanding landscape artists
u the day. The third consists ~ etch
ings by Charles 4. Plat, architect %
tllf new gallery. and also one of Tia
leading etchefs III America These 81
| Ia cases specially designed by Mr.. Plat
himself. snd placed in the second ~fioo
atfium
In The sculpture room adjacent 10 ih'
inllilY in Tie Elark wing Oh The flfs