Evening star., 1939-07-16

Louis XIV Of France, Popes Julius
III. Plus w, Paul v and Clement
XIII, Marie de Medici, Diana de Poi
tiers, Marie Antoinette and Jean
Groller de Sewer, one of the great
est bibliophiles the world has known,
true lover of books and connoisseur
OF printing, paper and binding
often making his own designs and
experimenting these who carried
them out.
How beautiful these bindings are
and how perfectly made! How
frankly they evidence the esteem in
which printed word was held in
those faroff days when printing
was, save by hand, comparatively
new art. But what one is bound to
remark is the excellence of the orna-
mental design and the care that was
expended upon its Interpretation.
We have some good binders today
craftsmen of exceptional ability
but very little call for work like this.
And after all the bindings match
their content. Among the welter of
books that come today from the
presses how many are worthy of
being so royalty dressed? Yet the
Groller Club of New York and GER
tain other groups and individuals
help to continue the tradition.
More book covers of elaborate de-
sign and workmanship are to be seen
in the exhibition room. These are
of earlier date and are of metal.
They date back to the 10th century
and among them is a gold and
jeweled cover which is considered
the most finished specimen of Caro-
lingian goldsmiths' work in exist
ence. Besides this cover from France
there are others from Switzerland,
Flanders, England, Germany and
Italy. For the most part they are in
silver and silver gilt, ornamented not
only with jewels but enamels and
carvings in ivory. The latest in date
is italian of the 10th century. How
precious the book must have been
which was thought worthy of such
cover!
BY Great Masters.
In the exhibition room also are
shown examples of two other col
lections of supreme Importance as
works of art-illuminated manu-
scripts and original drawings by the
great masters. The former provide
endless source of study and enjoy
ment. Here. for instance, is COPY
of the -Four Gospels" in Latin, of
the ninth century, with entire text
written in letters of FURNISHED gold
on vellum of varying shades of pur-
pie. There are four other copies OF
the -Four Gospels" in Latin, illumi-
mated: two French and German Of
the ninth century and two Flemish
| and Italian of the 11th century.
From the 18th and 18th centuries
come several Illuminated Hours of
the Virgin" among which is an
exquisite leaf painted at Bruges by
Flemish artist of the school of
Gerard David, showing the virgin
surrounded by procession of saints
with a cathedral in the background.
Surely this was done in the day
when art was still religion" But
what variety of subject matter is
found among these illuminations-
Psalters, dictionaries, missals, books
on the martyrs, brievaries-and
secular themes as Well-"Materia
Medica" in Greek, Byzantine of the
10th century; Pliny's Letters in
Latin-Italian 9Th century, earliest
OF all; "Aesop's Fables; Ordinances
of Armoury, Navigation" ETC., Eng
lish 18th century. Also here one
f1nds-and of much more than pass
ing Interest," set of Tarocchi cards
very beautiful in color, design and
workmanship-Italian 18th century.
The richness of the color and the
brightness Of the gold used by these
illuminators so long ago is matter Of
marvel.
Drawings Reflect Times.
On the walls Of the exhibition
room, above the cases containing the
illuminations, are the drawings by
the Old Masters. These run from
the 18th through the 18th century
and include some of the greatest
names in the history of art. There
Is something very intimate and per-
sonal about them, made as they
were primarily for studies, but with
all the deftness at the artists COM
mand, and in every case with more
than a CLINT of genius. Here is a
drawing by Raphael of "The Agony
at Gethsemane." Pontormo is rep
resented by Group of Four Female
Figures" Durer, at his best, by an
Adam and Eve"
There are three Rembrandts, one
OF a woman carrying child down.
stairs, which, it is thought, may pos
sibly be of the artists wife, Saskia,
and their son Titus. 1t Is in pen and
ink and wash. Claude Lorrain, one
of the earliest of landscape painters,
Is thrice Representatives, with
landscapes in which figures are
given chief prominence, and only
once by pure landscape study.
In this great parade are Watteau
and Fragonard and Boucher, Gains
borough and Reynolds, each repre-
sented by drawing Cor drawings
indicative of character and style.
Finally, bringing up the rear, come
Blake with illustrations for the
Book of job; Thomas Rowland
son, with rather jocose work,
Visit to the Uncle" and Hogarth,
as usual striving to make over the
worldly a drawing of Cruelty to
Horses" What could be better? But
inevitably there is gap between the
drawing by painter made as a
study and that of an illustrator who
has story to tell. Just what it is
or why it should be is hard to ex-
plain-but that it does exist this COL
lection evidences.
Exhibit Of Etchings.
It is not long step from the
drawings by the masters in the ex-
hibition room to the etchings and
mezzotints which line the walls of
the long, broad corridor leading into
the main building-but If one does
not keep an eye on his watch, in
sufficient time will be reserved, for
| the treasures that auait N, tho fuo