Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

The Phillips Memorial OaAerys
which has been closed since June, reopens with
a delightful series of exhibitions, including not
only paintings with which Washington art low
ers are well acquainted-old and valued fr1enos
-balt also q sprnkling of new works not mere
tofore shown. Again the thoughtlul ana M
formed visitor cannot fail to be impressed n0
the fact that the majority of paintings In sne
T,billinx collection have distinction-it may De
Of brllshwork style or because OF otner on-
named and sometimes unnamable qualities
but whether according to ones own fancy on
not none can deny that they have been wisely
and skillfully chosen because of inherent arts
tic value
Mr. Phillips has assembled unusual col
lection. and his plan for a museum Is unique.
Having as he admits, no board OF trustees,
he Il free ito do as he p!eases," but in most
instances he undoubtedly does well. There Is
lust as much skill required in assembling GAL
lery of paintings, bringing into congenial COM
pany works of artists of varied viewpoints. as
there Is in painting q picture or modelling
piece of sculpture. 1t is a work OF art, and
the discerning cannot fail to observe In the
Phillips Memorial Gallery that each room ruH
Of pictures is assembled with amazing skill and
perception of those intimate qualities essential
to sympathetic understanding And how Deau-
tiful some Of these paintings are. As one passes
from room to room the richness of the couec-
ton becomes more and more evident
The panels by Tack purposed for permanent
Installation, have temporarily been removed
r from the library. A few have been placed on
the stairs, where they are very effective; one,
1.-THE Storm" Is in the dining room.
The library gallery is practically given over
now to paintings by great men of the past
who were tremendously vital. but whose works
are tonal. There is here charming group OF
little Daumiers, with the Three Lawyers" Is
center Around the corner is Delacroix'S mtm-
liable "Paganini" and off to the right is
beautiful Monticello, Woodland worship.
Five Ryders are grouped on the end wall, among
them his exquisite "Moonlit Cove" Here Is
Minister'S portrait of Miss Lillian Whoakes, and
opposite it Thomas Eakins' superb portrait OF
Miss Van Buren,, soberly rendered. Fullers
Ideal Head" balances Cezannes self-portratt,
each terminating the. long north wall, and as
here placed witness to q not dis-similar GIFT
on the part Of these two painters, presumably
Ut opposite poles.
Above stairs IN the front galleries are works
by some Of the more extreme moderniStS-
works which win undoubtedly shock and mys-
Hfy: but Il b not necessary to like everything
one sees, and all of these pictures, - Mr.
Phillips has declared, are here "on trial.
what is good win stay; what Is merely expert.
mental will pass 1t was not so long ago that
We were all marveling and blinking over the
works Of Monet and now Is we come across
them as for instance, one does here in the main
Gallery and elsewhere. they seem most gentle,
reserved and conventional Why did they ever
make Us blink? The same may be true 10
years from nov Of some Of the works which
at present seem extraordinary. Time Will tell
But it is O great privilege and opportunity TO
be able to keep in touch with what Is new, 20
form ones own judgments and to live long
enough to find them right or wrong.
The Phillips Gallery cannot be comprehended
I'm q single visit nor reviewed in half column.
It provides material for many pleasurabe visits
and for repeated reviews.
THE Corcoran Gallery of Art does not close
III its doors Winter or Summer, and It has,
even during the past few warm months. put
On one or more special exhibitions. In tho
eases in the upper atrium have been E'Aown