Evening star., 1939-12-31

LOCUS OIl OIlc Oh CHe CcHtrAl 1cACuEeS
Of the rotunda, a classic statue on
marble fountain. This statue will
be the famous life-sized John of
Bologna bronze figure of Mercury,
acquired by Mr.. Mellon from the
Stroganoff collection In Rome. A
small plaster model of this figure
and its marble fountain now stands
in the local ofiice of the architects
Of the gallery. Eggers e. Higgins
of New York. former partners and
successors to the late John Russell
Pope.
Rough Outlines.
From this central rotunda the
visitor can look through scaffolding
and signs of construction eastward
for about 400 feet, and westward for
about the same distance, though the
vista is blocked In spots by beams
and supporting structures of various
kinds.
From this vantage spot in the
heart of the gallery can be seen the
rough outlines of what will be the
entrance lobby, where expansive
marble stairways will lead to the
ground floor below.
Opening of the rotunda on the
main gallery floor are the so-called
east and west central galleries,
which are public corridors of large
size. with smaller galleries opening
from them. On either end of the
gallery these terminate in garden
courts, which now show none of the
restful beauty which is to prove
boon to gallery visitors.
These garden courts, which are
rs feet by 106 feet, are to have
fountains in the center. They are
so situated that in whatever direc-
ton one chooses to 60 on the main
gallery floor there will be found at
the end space given over to plants
and shrubs, pools, f1agstone walks
and benches. Surrounding the gar
den areas in each of the two courts
already are Is monolithic Indiana
stone columns, 3la feet in diameter
and 26 feet high. Floors in the
gardens will be Tennessee and Mis-
souri, marble, while the walls, now
being installed are of Indiana stone.
Over the entire courts already are
arched skylights to give sunlight to
the areas, and to facilitate the grow
ing of flowers and plants.
Skylights Over Gallery.
The entire main gallery floor al
ready is provided with natural light
by means of pitched skylights,
made of new type heavy glass. Be-
meath this outside skylight will be
laid level layer of glass to be visi-
BILE from below.
On the ground opening off the
Constitution avenue lobby directly
under the main rotunda is a central
lobby of stone and marble, and run
ming east and west. 1t leads to what
will be lecture hall and exhibition
spaces. Also on this floor will be
the general administrative and ex-
ecutive Offices, together with the
board room and art reference Ii
brary.
The gallery has been designed
with view to eliminating the ne
cessity Of retracing steps in moving
from one gallery to another. The
masterpieces are to be given ample
space in the great gallery so that
there shall be no crowding of pic
lures. Benches are to be installed
in all galleries.
Another feature permits blocking
off of gallery areas which will not
be needed until the future. This is
in keeping with the original con-
ception to provide National Gal
lery of Art of size sufficient to meet
the requirements of the Nation for
some time to come.
The general contractor, Vermilya-
Brown Co., Inc, of New York City,
is supervising operations by about
40 subcontractors
The A. w. Mellon Educational
and Charitable Trust is charged
with responsibility for building the
National Gallery. under the provi-
sions of Mr.. Melons gift The gall
lery is expected to be opened some
time in 1910.