Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27
PERSIAN TAPESTRY
SHOWS MANY FACES
"The Columbus Genealogical
Tree" Is Title of Un-
usual Object.
BY JESSIE G. BEACH.

Although the -hoped-for Ma
tional Gallery remains unrealized,
Washington is fast becoming a center
for private collections of rare art. With
in the past half dozen years private
art galleries perhaps to the number Of
a score have sprung to life within the
borders of the National Capital, bring
ing with them representatives of the
various phases of European and Orient1l
art.
Not only are paintings by wide
range of masters such as PouSsin,
Rubens and Gainsborough included in
these collections but also many rare
pieces of sixteenth century metal work,
eighth to twelfth century mosaics and
various types of ceramic art represent
ing the earliest of all arts and indus
tries in all countries.
In addition may be seen in certain
OF these private galleries the rarest,
perhaps. of all forms of art, that OF
oriental tapestry rugs and wall pieces.
Historical Background.
An unusual historical piece of this
form of art entitled, The Columbus
Genealogical Tree" now on exhibition,
will be of especial interest to the Wash.
ington public. This wall piece Of
Persian design and workmanship is
heavily dotted with the faces Of numer-
Gus foreign and American diplomats,
discoveries and men of affairs on
whom from time to time the destiny
Of the world has rested.
The realistic likeneSses of these men
are so arranged about the tree that ITS
branches serve as a kind Of frame for
the picture. In the foreground are
small sailboatS and gondolas giving
~
same time portraying the Characters
tic type of GenoeSe life which inspired
Columbus to his task.
Queen Of Spain Shown.
To the right Of the explorer is woven
the lifelike face of Queen Isabella of
Spain, whose financial assistance made
1t possible for the vision of Columbus
to be realized In the discovery Of
America.
Emphasizing the brotherhood of ma
items. the artist has included char
acteristic pose of Napoleon in the lower
center Of the blue and green border
Of the tapestry. Recognition is like
wise given to England by inserting near
the center Of the cream groundwork
a striking representation Of Carmel a
man Of great military note during the
reign of Henry w.
Figures of Washington.
In each of the four corners of the
wallpiece is George Washington as a
young general, displaying all the pomp
| and glory that goes with the title. In
the upper center is George Washing
ton as President of the United States
dignif1ed, experienced, saddened.
To Washington'S lower left is shown
the determined countenance of the eX-
plorer Henry Hudson, who, in Septem-
Der of 1909 sailed down the New Eng
land coast and entered the broad and
beautiful river that bears his name
! Opposite Hudson is Grover Cleveland
the twenty-second President of the
United States.
Immediately over Washington;s head
in the shadow Of two American flags
IS suspended likeness CT the old Lib
erty Bell which spread the message OF
| freedom and liberty throughout the
land. To the left of the bell is Gen
Grant Of Civil War fame, while to the
right is the saddened face of Abraham
Lincoln so accurately reproduced in the
fabric that every detail of his photo
| graph is shown, including projecting
eyebrows, thin face and unshapely
mouth.
In addition are scattered here and
there over the tapestry faces of more
than so diplomats, American Presi-
dents. foreign kings, sultans, czars and
! emperorS.