Evening star., 1940-12-08
Washington Is Doubly Enriched by Gift
From Mr.. and Mrs. Robert w. Bliss
Masterpieces and
Land for Park
Are Included
Bv Leila MpchHn.

MI. dIlu wi INobNlV NOoAS oAAt'o
by the gift IF 27 acres of their es-
tate, Dumbarton OAKS, lying to the
west of Lovers Lane on Georgetown
Heights, and beautifully Handicapped,
hereafter to be added to our park
area, for the free use of the people:
and also, under the supervision and
administration of Harvard Univer-
sity, the rare library and incidental
collection informing on and the
other eXemplifying early Christian
and Byzantine art, which they have
for many years been wisely and as
siduously assembling. With the lat
ter 60 the residence and its con-
tents, including the beautiful music
room and certain examples of the
art of our own time as well as the
past, best known to art lovers by
frequent loan to notable exhibitions
throughout the country.
The library and exhibition gallery
are housed in brick buildings, one
story in height, built around little
court which opens from the music
room. For students the world over
this will henceforth be mecca, for
not only are the books included
in the Dumbarton Oaks collection
unique and rare, but of kind to be
found in no other place or places
with, of course, exceptions. The ex-
hibits, installed very beautifully in
the newly gallery, are auxil-
iary to the library-enlivening the
learning of scribeS, and the written
or printed word, by verifying II
through sight and being.
The entrances to the library and
gallery are at 17O3 Thirty-second
street NV, and when the door
swings open the visitor steps into
a small hall, on the floor of which
are three engaging mosaics from
Antioch, to give foretaste OF that
which is in store. The gallery is
to the left, a room about 26 by 40
feet in dimensions, with oyster white
rough plastered walls, side lighted
by windows. Each exhibit is per-
fectly mounted and displayed. The
cases used are very simple in de-
sign and inconspicuous. The in
stallation, it would seem, could not
be better.
At the far end is Roman sar1
cophagus, in marble, ornamented on
the front by portraits in high relief
of the deceased. f1anked by four
angelic figures. This is dated about
$50 AID, and came from the Bar
berini collection in Rome.
Opposite, at the near end, prom
inently placed, is a bronze horse
spirited and splendid-of the I'd
century AID, which has come from
Southern Arabia. Above this, high
on the wall, is a great mosaic, lend
ing color and dignity-and to the
right, on the side wall. is no less
impressive and decorative wool tap
estry, the subject of which is The
Much Blessed Hertia" 1t is from
Egypt and dated about 500 AID.
Fine Modelling.
But it is the little things which
captivate in this collection. Small
works in sculpture which are essen
italy living. A wonderful little male
torso. 1st century AID, found at
Antioch, which is a remarkable piece
of modelling, miniature heads of a
Greek woman, in marble, 4th CEN
tury, a portrait Of Trajan in stone,
no larger than walnut, but forceful
and convincing: little draped
female figure, early 5th century, and
nude figure of Hephalstos"
-mid-5th century, both in bronze.
There are two "Pantheresses' in
bronze, one of which was made for
use as vessel to hold and from
which to pour liquid, both in unusual
postures and very remarkable, the
latter of the 1st century AID.
There is a fascinating archaic head
of a bearded man from Egypt. quite
small and with eyes bored and
colored dark broWn-very seeing.
Most lovely are the examples of
jewelry shown, fine in design. suit
able as ornaments, exquisitely
wrought-and in feeling startlingly
IL. llCSC llCShIdSCo' Cdl lllSo.
pin heads, finger rings, defy descrip-
tion. There is use of precious and
semi-precious stones, but with re-
straint. Outstanding is large sap
phire with a bust of Christ carved in
low relief upon it, and beautifully
set There is also reliquary cross
with Christ on the cross, depicted
thereon in cloissonne enamel. These
are of the 10th and 18th centuries,
respectively. Two very beautiful
necklaces are, one of gold and lapis
lazuri, the other of gold with blue
glass paste, both Of which have
handsome pendants, the latter in the
form of a cross.
For household use there are uten-
sils made and intimately associated
with the lives of the people in these
far-off dayS-silver bowls (or cups
late Hellenistic. ever in glass of
the same period "a purple glass bowl
much, much earlier, and iridescent
from lying long buried in the ground.
There are also ivory carvings
very enchanting, mostly religious in
subject and wrought with a perfec-
ton which is almost unbelievable.
Among these is portable altar
with pictorial reliefs on the sides,
Rhenish. 1000 A. D., and small pan
els or plaques, Byzantine, of about
the same date-one of the Virgin
between saints and the other of the
crucifiXion.
Dignified Designs.
In the case with these is shown a
chalice, simple in design but very
dignifed, of copper with silver in
crustation, French, 9Th century,
while nearby stands a plaque in
marble, showing a figure of the
Virgin, standing, which is very char
acteristically Byzantine in posture
and feature.
Obviously these are not all-and
vet this little gallery seems by
no means full, much less crowded.
Works of art of such perfection do
not proclaim on the instant their
merit. To the contrary they re-
serve it for those who 60 half way
to meet them and are receptive to
that which they have to offer tn