Evening star., 1940-07-21
Millet Masterpiece, The Window Seat, Placed
Among Notable Loans to Corcoran Gallery Of Art
Charming Picture Which Recalls Important Days in Past
Record of Profession Is From Collection of Fleming
Artist Active feandNot Asociat

pulse Of the Dutch and Paying for
the Land" In the Hudson County
Court House. Jersey City, and panels
In the Cleveland Trust Co. Building.
The murals for Baltimore and
Cleveland were painted by Mr.. Millet
here in An improvised studio in old
Forrest Hall on Wisconsin avenue,
Georgetown. where in the old days
many gay balls had been held. One
desiring admission rang the street
door bell, there would be a clatter
of feet down the long bare stairs J.;
the door would open, with behind
it the smiling face of young as
sistant, most often that of John
Andrew Mackey. Mr.. Millet would
be IN the barn-like studio, hard at
work. painting on a scaffold, or
stepping back and forth before q
great canvas. working as if his life
depended upon it. What research
was made to assure the historical
accuracy of these paintings, and in
finding just the right models to
serve the purpose? c. Y. Turner
worked with Millet here as he hao
years before in Chicago. but he had
commissions of his own to execute
There were constant Interrupt
tions-Mr. Millet was called to the
telephone one day to be asked by
q prospective, but unknown, travel
er, what the climate was in Madrid
in July. so that her wardrobe might
be appropriate On one particular
occasion, Hopkinson Smith and
Thomas Nelson Page appeared at
the door in horse-drawn vehicle
piled high with spring blossoms,
bought at the market to brighten
the bare hall in which their beloved
friend and boon companion worked +;
remarkable tribute of admiration
and affection.
Federation Formed.
1t was in these days that the
American Federation of Arts was
formed and Frank Millet was elected
secretary, an honorary position
which he held for three years, dur
ing which time he raised funds to
establish the magazine, art and
Progress, later "The American
Magazine Of Art" and settled the
organization in THE Octogon.
where it maintained ofices for 18
years or more, through the courtesy
Of the American Institute Of Archi-
tects.
Then it was that the greatly
needed Commission of Fine Arts
was authorized by Congress and
appointed by President Taft. May,
1910. At President Taft's request it
was Mr.. Millet who was named the
first group of commissioners, exsept
himself, whom the President sub
stituted for another on the original
slate. That first commission con-
sisted Of Daniel H. Burnham, chair
man; Thomas Hastings, Cass Gill
bert, Daniel c. French, Frederick
Law Olmstead. jr.; Charles Moore
and Frank D. Millet, vice chairman
No one knows how many inartistic
blunders these men and their sue
cessors have saved the Federal
Government.
When Charles Follen McKim
founded the American Academy in
Rome, he got Millet to act as an in
corporator, also to serve as secre-
tary of the board. In 1912 when
the Academy and School of Archie
ology were merged, he was induced
to become director. It was for this
reason that he had been in Rome
for several months-when he took
passage on the ill-fated S. s. IT,
tanic to return home. Strangely
enough, before sailing, he wrote to q
friend that he had done so against
his better judgment as = 1t was
never safe to sail on q vessels
maiden voyage" As every one knows,
the Titanic went down on the night
Of April IA. 1912, the result OF a
collision with submerged iceberg.
Mr.. Millet and his friend and fell
low traveller, Archie Butt, were both
lost. So vital was Millet's PERSONAL
ity that for days his friends hoped
against hope that he had been saved.
In 1885 Francis D. Miuet was elect
ed member OF the National
Academy Of Design; in 1900 France
made him q member Of the Legion
Of Honor.
In striking contrast to Frank
Millet's active, almost turbulent life
is his painting, "The Window Seat" "
but to an extent 1t represents what
was best In him, as well as what were
probably his happiest years-those
spent at Broadway In England.
American Of the Americans, soldier
as well as artist, ever active in the
cause Of art, he was inherently
home loving, for which reason, per-
haps, he himself rated '"The VIM
dow Seat" and other Of his genre
paintings higher than any OF his