Evening star., 1935-06-24
LIBRARY TO SHOW
EARLY PORTRAITS
Lent by National Gallery OF
Art for Exhibition Six
Months.
BY LEILA MECHLIN.


portrait painters of fame, have been
lent by the National Gallery OF Art
to the Public Library, wherein they
will be exhibited continuously for the
next six months.
These paintings, hung on the walls
Of the art division on the second floor
Of the Library Building, have a three
fold interest at this time; they are
notable as works of art; they are, in
four instances, of very distinguished
persons and they collectively evidence
the potentialities and need Of a ma
tional portrait gallery, the early estab-
lishment of which is now under con-
sideration of Congress.
Two Of the five paintings lent are
by Gilbert Stuart, than whom none
in the annals of American art at
tanned to higher place. One Of these
b an unfinished study, the head OF
gentle lady of middle age, beautifully
rendered in oils on canvas but with
out background or accessories of dress,
little in the style in which de Laszlo
does his one-sitting portrait sketches
today. This was presented to the
National Gallery of Art by George H.
Storey, curator of painting at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York, from 1889 to 1906, and himself
O competent painter.
Portrait of Decatur.
The other work by Stuart is por-
trait of Commodore Stephen Decatur,
- ha
United States Navy in 1913 as mid
shipman and twice covered himself
with glory, first by burning the frigate
Philadelphia at Tripoli in 1904 when
she had been captured by the enemy,
and then again in 1912 when he COM
manded the frigate United States and
captured the British ship Macedonian.
The house in which he lived in this
city still stands quite unchanged, on
the corner of H street and Jackson
place, and it was from there that he
went on March %, 1920, to meet James
Barron near Bladensburg in the duel
in which he was killed. This portrait
is to be reckoned among Stuart's best.
Possibly it was painted after the
Tripon triumph when, for couple of
years. Stuart maintained studio in
this city-possibly it was not done
until later-but he has been painted
in his uniform as a matter Of course
and the character of the man is vitality
interpreted. In this portrait one of
the heroes of our Navy lives again. 1t
was given to the National Gallery of
Art by William Decatur Parsons.
Two of the other portraits are of
Presidents of the United States-An-
drew Jackson and John Tyler The
former is by Rembrandt Peale, the
latter by G.. P. A. Healy Rembrandt
Peale was the pupil of his father,
Charles Wilson Peale, and also in
London of Benjamin West. He is best
known today for his "Porthole" por-
trait Of Washington, although 1t was
by no means one Of his best. This
portrait Of Jackson represents his
high-water mark of achievement and
will be found of comparative merit
with the works of outstanding mas
ters. Perhaps his subject inspired him,
for Jackson, it will be remembered,
was not only the seventh President of
the United States, great Democrat
and the first to inaugurate the "spoils
system" but also the hero Of New Or
leans, the intrepid Indian fighter, es-
sentially man of action. This por-
trait, so ably painted by Peale, is Of
the same man who rides the rearing
bronze horse in Lafayette Square
which, incidentally, is the first eques-
trian statue by an American sculptor
erected in this country. In 1t Peaie
shows us anew the characteristic long
face, far-seeing eyes and strong
mouth of this man of three States,
who stamped his personality upon our
whole country and for all time.
Tyler Less Impressive.
The portrait of Tyler-Harrison's
running mate and successfully G.
p. A. Healy is less impressive in some
respects, but particular interest not
only as an excellent piece of por-
traiture, but as one of the first gifts
to a National portrait gallery. In
1910 a National Institute, for
the promotion of science, with
department of literature and art, was
established in Washington and two
years later incorporated by Congress
for a term of 20 years. The museum
of this organization was located In
the Patent Office, with the under
standing that at the expiration of
IT'S charter in 1862 the collection as
sembled would become the property
of the Government. This National
Institute in 1842, took advantage" Of
the presence in Washington of Healy,
q distinguished American painter,
long resident abroad, who had been
ordered by the King of France to
make for his copy of Stuart's Wash
tngton in the Presidents House.
Thirty-six persons subscribed to the
fund, which amounted to $355-three
hundred of which was paid the artist
for the two paintings and the rest
expended for frames. This, today,
would be thought but q niggardly
payment, but despite his high stand
ing and distinction abroad the artist,
Mr.. Healy, expressed himself, over
powered" by the honor done him, and
accepted the high trust" with pride
and alacrity," assuring his patrons
of the institute that his "best efforts"
would be at their command. This
SPECIAL NOTICES.
be responsible for any debts contracted by
any one other than myself. PAUL p. TICE