Evening star., 1940-09-15


the 5l7 of our new National
Gallery. The foundation of this
museum dates from 1908, when
King Louis Napoleon transferred
his court from Utrecht to Am
sterdam with the intention, it is
said, of making the capital of his
kingdom the center of art and learn
ing. A royal warrant, dated April
81, ordained the establishment of
Grand Musee Royal This museum
is devoted exclusively to works by
Dutch artists-Rembrandt and Halls,
their forerunners, contemporaries,
and followers-about 5000 works in
all. This museum is unique in hav-
ing consistently pursued a policy Of
buying and selling, patronizing con-
temporary artists, but maintaining
the right to dispose Of such works
If time proves them unworthy.
The national or "ofIicial" gallery
of Italy is, as almost every one
knows, the Uffizi in Florence. 1t was
founded by Lorenzo il Magnifico, one
of the greatest patrons Of art the
world has ever known. with paintings
from his own collection, many o.
which we're executed by his order.
Later the collection was added to by
other patrons and by paintings from
Italian churches and monasteries.
Works by italian artists predom.
mate, but paintings by Dutch, Flem-
ish and German masters are also
gallery to portraits of artists painted
by themselves-a unique feature.
Among Americans who have, by in
vitation, contributed self-portraits to
the Uffizi's collection are william M.
Chase, John S. Sargent and Cecilia
Beaux.
Spanish Masters.
The National Gallery Of Spain is
the Prado. built up under royal
patronage and for the most part
exhibiting the works of such great
Spanish masters as Ell Greco, Velas-
quez, Murillo and Goya. but also
proudly showing paintings by Italian
Renaissance artists brought to the
Spanish court by royal mandate to
contribute to its glory.
The Hermitage. st. Petersburg.
Russia, is also a royal rather than
national gallery-one Of the great
est, however, in quality Of exhibits
of any yet mentioned. The build
ing. erected during the reign of
Catharine II as a pavilion, was re-
built in the 18th century exclusively
for use as an art museum. 1t is 375
by 5l2 feet in dimensions. has an
entrance porch with roof supported
by 10 colossal human figures, two
interior courts and grand hall,
italian Renaissance in style. It is
ings in the Mellon collection have
come dncluding the Alba Madon-
na," by Raphael, purchased at a
time when the Soviet government
was hard pressed for money for a
sum far greater than the tradition
al kings ransom"
There are, of course, other great
galleries in Europe, but none other
which can quite properly be de-
scribed as national" unless it Is
the little National Gallery of Scot
ish Art at Edinburgh.
Note may profitably, however, be
made Of the fact that the national
galleries Of England, France and
Italy are all strengthened by aux
iliary museums which extend their
field. For example, the National
Gallery of London is allied with the
Tate Gallery, established in 1848 for
the display of works of art by con-
temporary artists, to which 60 all
paintings and sculpture by British
artists executed since 1870; and also
by the National Portrait Gallery, To-
Gated in the vicinity of Trafalgar
Square, and of great artistic as well
as patriotic interest.
Louvre Features.
The Louvre has, in somewhat the
same way, the Luxembourg Gallery
across the Seine but not very dis
tant, in which are shown works by
artists living, or not 20 years de-
ceased, purchased by the state for
the national collection and there
awaiting the judgment of time
before elevation. From the Lux
embourg those works, passing this
test, step up to the Louvre. To
"Whistler's Portrait of His Mother"
has this honor been accorded.
The Uffizi in Florence has neither
a Tate nor a Luxembourg (works by
living artists find their way into the
Museum of Modern Art in Venice,
but it has the "Pitti Gallery" of
paintings, within arms reach, and