Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-23
PLANS REVEALED TO BRING
FUCHS ART COLLECTION HERE
R. |. Preston Tells of Steps
to Give Washington An
other Exhibit.
Paintings, Sculptures and
Etchings Included in
Group of Artist.

A suggestion made three years ago
by Robert L. Preston of Washington
and Leesburg, Va, may bring to Wash
ington a permanent collection of paint
ings. sculptures and etchingS executed
by Emil Fuchs, famous artist, who shot
himself to death in his New York
apartment January IL, under terms
Of the artists will. filed in New York.
Mr.. Fuchs will discloses his residuary
estate is to be used to establish a
foundation which will direct an ex-
hibition of his art work in a suitable
small hall in the National Capital. to
aid "those who wish to study and
learn"
Discussing the provisions of the will
at the Cosmos Club, where he lives
when here. Mr.. Preston. a personal friend
of the dead artist, revealed this morn
ing what he believes is the conception
of the plan to give Washington another
noted collection. Fuchs visited Wash
ington four years ago to seek a means
to exhibit permanently here his marble
heroic group, Mother Love-" At that
time Mr.. Preston and he visited points
of vantage about the city. conferred
with Government officials on the FEAST
Oll1Ly VI oCbGlll6 up JIG PACSC oAl C0Ctd "a
park lands, and with the directors of
local art galleries.
The work, it was decided, could not
be set up on Government land, Corco-
ran Gallery would not accept it because
at that time the Clark addition was
under construction and it was feared
injury might come to the sculpture,
and the National Gallery could not
accept it because of its dimensions.
Greek Temple Plan.
Then, with a view to erecting a small
Greek temple to house the work, MIR
Preston took Mr.. Fuchs to a point OF
high land overlooking the Potomac
River from the Virginia hills west of
the Arlington National Cemetery. The
site was approved by the artist. but SUBJ
sequent efforts to obtain an option on
the property failed when the owner re-
fused to sell.
1t was during those endeavors to-
gether that Mr.. Preston suggested that
Fuchs leave his entire collection to
Washington rather than to New York.
Mr.. Preston pointed out that since so
many collections are located in the
metropolis a grouping of work may lose
some of the distinction it deserved. and
which it could preserve in such a city
as the Capital. Mr.. Fuchs told the
Washington man then that the plan
appealed to him and they discussed
possible methods of housing the collec-
ton here. Nothing definite was done,
however, and the first intimation that
Mr.. Preston had that his suggestion had
been completely accepted by the artist
was when the Fuchs will was filed yes
terday.
The location Of the works here is
particularly significant when 1t Is re-
membered that Fuchs was an Austrian
by birth and that his greatest distinc-
ton probably was attained during his
residence in England, where he did
numerous portraits of the royal family
and was, by virtue of his work, a per-
sonal friend of members of the ruling
house. During the war, however, the
Austrian quit England and came to
New York. where he lived until his
tragic suicide two weeks ago.
Mr.. Fuchs specified in his will that