Evening star., 1935-06-10


masters, suitably housed in great art
gallery here.
When that day ComeS-and Mellon recently
reiterated his determination to 90 forward with
his planS--the Nations Capital well may clam
the distinction of being the art center of the
world
without the Mellon collection, Washington
has front-rank position in the world I'll art
With it, the great cultural contcIs OF
Europe cannot claim superiority, for EuTopcs
outstanding art connolSSeur, Lord DuVttn, has
described Melons assortment of paintings as
lone of the finest collections OF Old world AIT
In the universe"
Locked in a carefully guarded vault at the
Corcoran Gallery OF Art some Of the most
valuable of these masterpieces, such as RAJ
phaes Alba Madonna" which Lord Duveen
ranks higher than the famed "Sistine Ma
donna" and for which the former Treasury
Secretary paid $l,166,0o0; the "Cowper Ma
donna" by Raphael; BottiCelhs "Adoration of
the Magi" Van Eycks "Annunciation.' Titian's
Toilet of Venus and Perugino's "Crucihxon.~
/ These and other works, valued at many mill
lions of dollars, are to be placed in a national
art gallery which Mellon has announced he
xviii erect here on a suitable site, yet to be dis
closed Some have thought the Mellon gallery
will be built on the south side Of Constitution
Savenue, between Twelfth and Fourteenth streets,
where officials in charge of the triangle public
buildings development have reserved ground
for a national gallery of art" Others believe
the Mellon building will be distinct from the
national gallery shown on official charts.
The National Gallery of Art now designated
by this name has home Of its own. 1t is
located in the National Museum and is under
supervision of the Smithsonian Institution. 1t
legally came into existence by decree Of the
District Of Columbia Supreme Court in 1906
an outgrowth of litigation over the will Of Har-
riet Lane Johnston bequeathing her art colec-
tion to the Government for its projected ma
tional gallery" She the niece Of james
Buchanan and was mistress Of the White House
during his regime.
he hac of lido
Importance through acquisition of the Gelatly,
Evans and other collections OF paintings, sculp-
ture and other works of art. John Gellatly,
wealthy New York art lover, who died in 1881
gave the gallery more than 800 items, including
oils, water colors prints. bronzes, jewelry carv-
ings textiles and other valued articles
4 iOST famous of Washington's art galleries,
W. however, is the Corcoran Gallery of Art,
at Seventeenth street and New York avenue
which in addition to owning a priceless per-
manent collection housed in its imposing stone
home near the White House, has taken a leading
part in fostering advancement of American art
through its famed biennial exhibitions.
Created by gift Of William Wilson Corcoran
IN 1869, the Corcoran Gallery has occupied its
present quarters since 1897. In 1928 the Clark
wing was opened through the generosity OF the
late Senator w. A. Clark of Montana his widow
and their daughters. The wing was erected by
Mrs. Clark and the daughters to provide APP
propriate housing for Senator Clark's notable
collection of paintings, bequeathed to the gallery.
In the Clark collection works by such
artists as Rubens Rembrandt, CainsborOugh,
Hogarth, Titan, Perugino, ReneSse. Reynolds
and Van Cleve.
The Corcoran Gallerys Biennial Exhibition OF
Contemporary American Oil Paintings has be-
come a national event in the realm of American
art. These exhibitions. one of which closed only
recently, are made possible through trust funds
established by Senator Clark and his widow
The funds not only defray costs of organizing
the exhibitions but provide the biennial w A.
Clark prizes, aggregating $4,000 The prizes,
four in number, are awarded to the artists whose
paintings are chosen best by a jury of dis
tinguished critics.
Surplus funds are used to purchase works of
art by American painterS-in the discretion of
the trustees of the gallery. In this way the
gallery has built up exceptional permanent
collection of outstanding paintings by American
artists admirably depicting the trend OF art in
this country over period of years.
The Corcoran Gallery has assisted many
artists in disposng of their paintings and has
charged no commission for these services 1t
elSo conducts the Corcoran School Of Art for