Evening star., 1933-09-24
Give the National Gallery a Home

Star today tells the story Of the crea-
ton of the National Gallery Of Art and
of the acceptance by the Smithsonian
Institution of the Freer collection. It
points out that while there Is now In
being National Gallery in the sense of
the possession of large number Of
works of art Of the highest quality, with
the prospect of rich gifts Of paintings
by American artists as well as other
masters Of art, there is no suitable home
for them, although site on the Mall
has been set aside for such q structure.
The story Of how the National Gallery
Of Art came to exist, beginning thirty
years ago with the bequest Of the col
lection OF Harriet Lane Johnston, niece
Of President Buchanan and mistress Of
the White House during his administra-
tion, Is related in this article. It re-
quired decision Of the Supreme Court
of the District Of Columbia to establish
the fact Of the existence of the National
Gallery. When some years later the
question Of the acceptance by the re-
gents of the Smithsonian Institution Of
the Freer collection and the beautiful
building in which 1t Is now housed on
the Smithsonian grounds was In abey-
ance, 1t required the Intervention of the
President of the United States. Theo-
dore Roosevelt, ex-oficio head Of the
$oh Nc6 kA
its taking.
Congress has made no appropriation
for the construction Of the National
Gallery on the site that has been desig-
mated, but an opportunity now offers
to this same end. The administration
has at its disposal large sum Of money
which is being allocated to various uses,
primarily to give work, and at the same
time to supply public needs. A national
gallery OF art would not, Of course, be
self -uquidating In the sense Of earning
financial returns, but 1t is nevertheless
a public need. It would pay rich div-
dends In national cultural advancement.
It would assure an early proper housing
for the various collections that are now
owned by the Government through the
Smithsonian Institution, and which will
be multiplied just as soon as suitable
permanent place Of exhibition Is as
Sured.
Visitors to Washington who seek the
National Gallery Of Art are, as . rule,
amazed to find 1t displayed in a few
rooms in the National Museum Build
ing in close conjunction with scientific
and chronological and archaeological ex-
hibits which comprise that remarkable
establishment. The space available for
Its display is not much greater than that
in numbers Of private dwellings where
considerable collections Of personal
ownership are housed. It Is known to
only few that there are paintings and
other works of art In large number
stored away waiting for suitable display
quarters, and that many more are
pledged to the National Gallery as soon
as it has a proper permanent home.
What the Louvre in Paris is to France
and what the National Gallery In Lon
don is to Great Britatn-end to al
visitors to those countries-the National
Gallery IN Washington should be to the
American people and their guests. No
greater stimulus to American art could
be given than by the f,llnllment Of the
project Of such gallery at this Capital.
Without waiting for the slow and un-
certain process of congressional appro-
priation for this purpose the opportunity
as we'll as the occasion is at hand for
provision of the construction costs from
the Public Works Administration funds