Evening star., 1939-07-14
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

Like the merchant princes of the
Middle Ages who We'd with each
other as patrons of the arts, the late
Andrew w. Mellon, Secretary of the
Treasury from 1922 to 1882, and
Samuel H. Kress, chain store mil
lonaire, were rivals for many years
IN the buying of great pictures.
But eventually. as announced yes
terday by Mr.. Melons son-in-law,
David K. E. Bruce, president Of the
Board Of Trustees of the National
Gallery, their collections will be
sheltered in a single building-the
largest marble ediflce of its kind in
the world-now under construction
on Constitution avenue between
Fourth and Seventh streets NV.
Apparently, Mr.. Kress first began
to think of giving his treasures to
the public when he read in the
newspapers of Mr.. Melons plans.
That was in 1885. A statement to
the press, congratulating and thank
Ing the former Secretary, was the
earliest indication of his interest.
More recently, correspondence and
certain conversations between Mr..
Kress and the gallery trustees, rep
resented by David E. Finley, director
of the gallery, resulted in Mr.. Kress'
decision to give his pictures-375 of
them-to his countrymen.
Ardent Tradition of Patriotism.
Mr.. Kress previously had not been
associated with Washington. He
was born at Cherryville, Pa, in 1868,
son of John Franklin and Mar
garet Dodson Connor Kress. His
ancestors, it is reported, fought in
both the Revolutionary and Civil
Wars, and he inherited an ardent
tradition of patriotism Teaching
was his original choice as a career,
but he turned to commerce when, to
meet local need, he established q
stationery store at Nanticoke, Pa,
in 1887, and three years afterWard
purchased a wholesale stationery
business at Wilkes-B A decade
later he was the owner of a chain
of 13 stores in the South. His firm
expanded until it now operates 240
oloLCo A1Olll SOdoI w COdSG.
Becoming enthusiastic about
paintings in consequence Of travel
in Europe, where he visited many
galleries and museums and attended
many auctions where pictures were
being sold, Mr.. Kress quietly began
to form collection. His prefer
ence was for the Italian schools,
and he desired to possess at least
one example of each of the more
notable painters. The pictures were
assembled as they were acquired in
his apartment at 1920 Fifth avenue,
New York City, near to the Metro
politan Museum Of Art, Of which he
was elected trustee in 1896.
A close friend, Stephen S. Pichetto.
restorer and technical adviser Of
paintings at the Metropolitan, has
appraised Mr.. Kress' treasures as
follows: Gas a collection of Italian
art, it is unequaled in this country.
1t contains the most effective rep
resentation possible of the impor-
tant Italian schools, and is the su-
preme Interpretation of Italian art |
from its origin up to and including
the 18th century. Some of the |
greatest paintings in America are
included in the collection, the most
renowned masters of Siena, Flor
ence, Venice and other schools be-
ing well represented. Profound
knowledge, as we'll as instructive
taste, were essential to the assem-
bling of so comprehensive a group
of paintings, and their beauty and
quality will enhance the regal SIM
plicity Of the national gallery.
Human Element Hidden.
"Mr. Kress has been so unobtru-
sive in the assembling of his collec-
ton that the human element is
hidden in the magnitude of his gift.
Such generosity is somehow tinged
with sadness. Hardly ever has it
been known that a gift Of such
worldwide importance was given
during the lifetime of the donor.
But, no doubt, the enthusiasm of
its reception and the benefits to be
derived from it by others will repay
Mr.. Kress for the sacrifice he makes
in relinquishing the Joy of owner
ship"
Indicating the pre-eminence OF
Mr.. Kress' pictures and statuary,
Sir Kenneth Clark, director of the
National Gallery in London. was