Evening star., 1936-09-19

orally overlooked.
THIS new knowledge. Of Franklin as
patron of the arts has been
culled from his autobiography and
other writing, and his letters, and is
authentic without doubt. Franklin
played the guitar. the harp and violin,
as we'll as an instrument which he
invented himself, the "armonica,"
musical glasses-on which "he whiled
away many an evening during those
long years in London when he was
endeavoring to stay the attack of Par
lament ON the chartered. rights OF
the American Colonies" He loved
poetry and read much from the time
he was a boy. He had "a lifelong
interest in the graphic arts" did some
engraving and fully appreciated the
esthetic value of fine printing. Dur
ing his residence in Europe he made
the acquaintance of the greatest print
ers of the day, such as Didot of Paris,
Ibarra of Madrid and Strahan Of
London. He established friendship
with Robert Strange and William
Hogarth, and purchased their works,
not only for himself. but for public
institutions in this country.
He strongly advocated the cultiva-
ton of q taste for art among the
young and advanced in his writings
the value of art as a pleasurable
asset. While in Europe he made a
collection of representative pieces Of
chinaware of the best quality, which
he sent home to his wife. 1t was he.
in cooperation with Jefferson, who
persuaded Houdon to come to this
country to model q portrait of Wash
ington; in fact, it was in the company
of Franklin that Houdon travelled to
America In 1885, He made study
of architecture and advocated. as did
Jefferson, q scholarly knowledge of
the great works Of the past. He
interested himself in securing fine
models for our early coinage, for
medals, etc. He took great pride
in the achievements Of our American
painters. In 1888 he wrote q friend
in Vienna: In England, at present,
the best history painter, West; the
best portrait painter, Copley, and the
best landscape painter, Taylor, at
Bath, are all American" Referring
to the development of this country,
Franklin, in 1882, wrote friend in
London: After the first cares for
the necessities of life are over, We
shall come to think of the embellish-
ments. Already some Of your young
geniuses begin to list attempts at
painting, poetry and musick."
But the exhibition in New York
was not merely devoted to Franklin
a large part Of 1t was given to his
circle-those with whom he asso-
ciated through the years Of develop
ment and achievements brilliant
galaxy. rejecting honor on their time
and their associate. This included
such celebrities as Charles James Fox,
Frederick North and Louis XVI;
Washington, Jefferson and Adams;
John Jay, Pierre Samuel Du Pont
de Nemours, Houdon, Wright, Noah
Webster, David Rittenhouse, DR.. Bard,
Richard Bache. OF Franklin portraits,
painted, engraved, in marble. wax
and porcelain, there were listed IS;
of his contemporaries, nearly 200.
and no portraits were included save
of those with whom he was known
to have had contact.
What picture Of society in the old
world and the new was thus drawn
through the medium of the artS-the
gift of artists-and how much more
graphic than the printed page! As
background to this picture engravings
were included of Boston, New York
and Philadelphia as seen from their
water fronts at the time of Franklin,
together with scenes of London and
Paris. A few pieces of furniture, as
well as pieces Of silver, porcelain and
glass used by him and his family, and
costume worn by him, lent further
aid to Installation of life in America
in the late eighteenth century.
To this exhibition and those who as
sembled it too much praise and appre-
citation cannot be given. To it more
than so friends of the museum
rs institutions and Al individuals
made generous loans. Among the
former were both Harvard and
Yale Universities, the Museum Of Fine
Arts, Boston; the Boston Atheneum,
the National Academy of Design, the
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine
Arts, the Wedgwood Museum, England,
and the Commonwealth Of Virginia:
among the later are named descendants
of Franklin and other celebrities as we'll
as numerous distinguished collectors.
The elaborately illustrated and well
printed catalogue contains valuable
data Of historical as well as artistic
significance, and will serve as . con-
tinuing memento Of this most interest,"
ing event. at the same time perpetual
ing its influence.
Whistlers and HOlbeinS
In the Frick Collection.
THOSE visiting New York during the
current season will be glad to know
that 1t is no longer necessary to write
in advance for permission to visit the
Frick collection, which is now open to
the public daily from 10 until 5 o'clock.
This permission Is granted so long as
the number Of applicants for admis-
sion does not exceed the number that
can be accommodated to the safety Of
the collection. 1t is rare and much
to be coveted privilege. Herein are
some Of the worlds chief treasures in
the field of painting, shown. further
more, under the most favorable condi-
tions Of light and environment. OF
especial interest to Washingtonians-
because Of the Whistlers in the Freer
ggift Of artists-and how much more
the Library Of Congress-will be found
four full-length portraits by Whistler
which, with portrait Of Philip Nv Of
Spain by Velasquez. have q gallery to
themselves Two Of these are very dark
in tone: two are very light. The former
are of Rosa Corder and of 'Comte
Robert de Montesquion - Fezensac,
French writer and poet; the latter are