Evening star., 1939-01-22
By Leila Mechlin.

by Lena lUeCHLtn.
An exhibition at Mount Vernon is
an event to be heralded and one to
which more than usual interest at
taches. For some years Mr.. R. T.
H. Halsey, author of Homes of Our
Ancestors" and other historical
works, who was largely responsible
for the contents and arrangement
Of the American wing of the Met
ropolitan Museum, New York, and
closely connected with plans for
the restoration of Williamsburg, as
well as of historic houses in Annap-
oils, has been collecting duplicates
Of prints owned by Washington and
enumerated in the inventory of
Mount Vernon taken after his
death. These, 80 in number, have
now been lent to the Mount Vernon
Ladies' Association. and, supple
mented by originals from the man
sion, will be shown in three small
galleries in the old west quarters
from tomorrow to the end of Feb
ruary.
1t is the purpose of this exhibit
ton not only to afford visitors to
Nashington's home opportunity to
view group of prints of great his
torical and intrinsic interest amid
appropriate surroundings, but also
to focus attention upon a phase
of his diversified interests rarely
noted by biographers. The fact is
that, according to his own precise
records and the evidence of such
prints as were at his death hanging
on his walls, or found carefully
kept in portfolios. he Was not only
an assiduous collector but one of
excellent judgment and taste Sub
: 1ectively, the prints he purchased
reflect his wide range of interest,
and technically they represent the
best work of the foremost painters
and engravers of the latter part of
the 18th century.
The Mount Vernon Association
owns two series of prints which
Washington himself acquired. one
picturing The Siege and Defense
Of Gibraltar" four of which were
Engraved by Fittler and one by Ler-
peniere after paintings by Patton;
the other, also five in number, set
ting forth The Victories of Alex
ander the Great" engraved by
Gunst. The latter rare set has re-
Gently been acquired by the asso-
citation and will, in connection with
the forthcoming exhibition, be
placed on view for the first time.
The former, according to Washing
tons accounts. was purchased in
Philadelphia during his presidency,
and has for some time now been
hanging in the Mount Vernon din
Ing room.
Practically all of the engravings
which will be included in the COL
lection to be placed on view tomor-
row we're published by John Boy
dell, Cheapside. London. who was
a notable figure in his day: an en-
graver as well as a publisher; a
Shropshire lad. son of surveyor.
who had veritable passion for en-
craving and not only mastered the
art but gave employment to many
OF his colleagues, issuing from his
presses no less than 4432 plates
and, for his wisdom, thrift and
merit. being made Lord Mayor of
London.
The majority of the prints in the
Washington collection, issued be-
fore 1900, must have been from
copper plates, although commonly
styled "steel engravings" for it was
not until after that date that it be-
came customary to steel-face the
copper, or use steel plates, in order
to increase the potential size of the
edition. Copper is. of course, a
ssfter metal, and copper engraved
plates wear down comparatively
soon; therefore, to obtain good i'm
pressions it is essential to obtain
early printings. In the search for
such, and their acquisition. Mr.
Halsey has been both assiduous and
surprisingly successful, for every
print he has included in the COL
lection Is exceptionally brilliant as
well as In perfect condition.
The late David Keppel was ar
enthusiastic print lover, but he die
not greatly exaggerate when he saic
that fine engraving is, perhaps
more than any other work of fine
art triumph. Obviously he had ir
mind the limitations and the diff
culties Of the medium, but it is al
the same time fact that the finest
OF the old engravings have still anc
perennially the power to stir emo.
ton and satisfy esthetic taste. Il
IS safe to believe that Washington
-jfelt this appeal in the works which
he added to his collection; that hi
did not buy purely because of sub.
jective interest or because it was the
fashion to have prints on ones wall.
or portfolios of engravings in one:
drawing room or library. Strangely
enough, art was more a component
part of cultural life in those day.
than these. 1t was by Gilbert Stuar
and Peale that Washington wa
painted, by Houdon that his portrai
gas done in sculpture; the furnish
lyhgs of Mount Vernon were in &C
cordance with the best taste of tn,
time.
But what were the prints that h
coveted and of which he acquired
possession? In the collection to b
placed on view will be found an en-