Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-07


in folio SIZE lent for two months by
the lately established Mabel Brady Garvan
Institute Of American Arts Of Yale University.
This constitutes the most important exhibftion
Of prints set forth in the Library for some
time.
The Mabel Brady Garvan collection COM
prises NO less than 5000 prints. The $50 now
on view here were selected with the idea OF
covering the whole gamut of American history
rather than Of showing all Of those OF the
greatest rarity. However, the collection Is held
to hioh technical excellence as well as his
torical significance.
The earliest print in point OF date, and the
first noted IN the admirable Chronological az
rangement, are those issued by Dutch map
makers. They show an amazing accuracy OF
knowledge Of the coast line Of New England
and the Middle States. Possibly the most In
teresting Of these, rs R. T. H Halsey points
out in an article Just published In the Yale
Alumni Review, is map issued by N. j.
Visscfler of Amsterdam, containing in an insert
a view Of New Amsterdam in 1851, only four
years after the arrival Of the sturdy and valiant
Peter Stuyvesant. In this print one sees the
Dutch gabled houses, the fort on the Battery
and gruesome enough, strongly outlined. the
gallows on the waters edge, all typical Of New
Amsterdam.
From this early glimpse of Colonial America
scenes are given Of historical events in sequence,
such as "a View of the Landing of the New
Breton In HAS," picture of the death of Gen.
Wolfe, rare prints OF the Battles OF Lexington
and Concord engraved by Amos Doolittle, AN
Exact View of the Late Battle of Charleston,
June IT, IT'S" published in Philadelphia about
three months after the Battle of Bunker Fiji.
One section of the exhibition is given over
20 naval prints, some of which, interestingly
enough, were issued in England even before TIVE
War Of 1872 had ended.
But to the average visitor, greatest interest
IN this collection centers in the portraits. many
Of which are beautifully engraved from paint
ings by the leading portrait painters Of the day,
both English and American. In fact, in this
collection Of portraits the history of the de-
velopment Of art in America can be admirably
traced. "Of great interest both from the
human and collectors standpoint" to again
quote MIR. Halsey, sis the first mezzotint scraped
In America (1728), the work of Peter Pelham,
n portrait Of that famous divine Cotton Mafher,
a strong supporter Of the Congregational ortho-
dcxy at yale and target for the lively satire Of
the I7-year old Benjamin Franklin, then edit
ing tie New England Courant" Pelham II
viii be remembered, was Copley's stepfather.
and strongly influential in the DEVELOPMENT Of
his talent Along with this print of Cotton
Mather are prints Of other notable divines who
rninistered to the settlers in the new country
and took an active part in the establishment
~ law and order-stern-visaged ctaracterful
men. sssrras
,, OF great interest are portraits of Thomas
penn q younger son Of William Penn and one
tsune proprietor Of Pennsylvania painted mas
ferfnEiy beautifully engraved, giving indication
~ dnaenemt mobility and gentility There Ia a
AnY-length portrait Of william Pitt very rare