The Washington times., 1935-05-25
Shrine For
History's
Heroes
By HELEN EssARY

MADE the united STATES, tine
great sharp personalities that
cut q nation out Of . wilder
ness, before long may be look
ing down on an admiring
world from canvaS0s and statu.
Ary In q National Portrait Gal
lsry in Washington.
Senator David I. Walsh 3D.
Of Massachusetts, has just
introduced in Congress q reso-
luton asking for the creation
Of "a suitable institution in
which could be displayed the
portraits, miniatures, sculp-
lures and other like works Of
art dealing with the men and
womsn who have been notable
or may be notable in the his.
tory Of the United States"
This idea, though only now con.
cretely announced to a nation,
has caught popular and artistic
imagination. Other countries
have national portrait galleries.
The British Empire in . fine
building on Trafalgar Square In
London, shows proudly the like
neSSeS Of the people who have
built her vast empire.
The United States, though in
the throes of certain present
aches and pains, is growing up.
That it should have q suitable
building in washington to display
the likeneSseS Of its pioneers, its
soldiers, its Statesmen. its inven-
tors, its scientists, its citizens
who pulled the nation to world
leadership with perhaps q few
Of the wives and husbands who
have borne with genius ut hon1e)
is the opinion of national critics
and historians.
Backed by Artists
Edward Bruce, an artist Of dis.
tinction and director Of the sue
ceSSful Public Works Of Art
project, said:
Zine portraits Of national
figures, such as this national
portrait gallery would house, are
scattered throughout the United
States. In attics and in cellars,
hung on obscure walls here and
there, In Government and in
private galleries are CanvAses
aHd sculptures that tell che
story OF . nations growth.
There IL desperate need for
. National Portrait Gallery In
Warrington. Warrington some
day will become the art center
Of the wORld. I believe that it
will. Such . gallery will be an
excellent way to speed the Ma
tiOnal Capital on to 1ts proper
goal"
Mr.. Bruce regrets the care, or
the lack of care some Government
departments take Of the valuable
historical portraits in their posses
sion. He has seen fine canvaseS
actually kicked into holes Ia for.
SOUGOkK OVOAC SO4A0A AOOAAAos
Gather all these neglected pic.
lures. he says, and hundreds more
forgotten or unappreciated in the
towns and cities throughout the
country, place them in fine cen
trail places and have a fine begin.
ming for an invaluable artistic
and historical record Of q nation.
$1O,OO0 For Study
Senator WalSh'S resolution pro-
vides for the creation OF a ma
tional portrait gallery commission,
which would be authorized to
draw up plans for the gallery.
A fund Of $4,000 would be ap-
propriated for the expenses OF
the commission, which would be
obliged to report back to Congress
by January 4, 1886, the opening
day of the next Congress.
The national portrait gallery
in the United States would be, In
a way, a story Of the world. The
United States is the melting pot
of the universe. People from
England, France, Spain. the
scandinavian countries, Russia,
a Smattering Of Africa and Asia
have brought to the American
continent a magnificent record
of pioneering and path finding.
Near Smithsonian
Mr.. c. Powell Minnegerode,
director Of the Corcoran Gallery
of Art, believes o natlonA! por"
trait gallery would be invaluable
historically. He said:
at Is not necessary that each
portrait. each bust be . triumph
Of art, though, Of course, certain
artistic qualifications will be
necessary. A national portrait
gallery, such ~ the one In Lon
dOn-We should have one like
it here's splendid and useful
because Of its historical Signifi'
canCe."
The national portrait gallery
Of Senator WalSh's ambition
probably will be placed somewhere
in the nNighborhood Of the Ma.
tional Gallery Of Art, now IN the
Smithsonian Institute, with which
it will in no way conflict.
The gallery will be no collection
of rather innocuouS people
people painted principally be-
cause somebody's ability to pay for
their likeness on canvas. 1t will
be a gallery Of people who have
dared and struggled and won.
Start with Columbus