Evening star., 1941-01-05
Gallery Here
TOBe Dream
Come True
The Story Behind
The Mellon Gift
To the Nation
Ey the Associated Press.

L " lllS 1 NdllOll
Ey the Associated Press.
A few years ago a small, lonely,
white-haired man rode slowly in a
big black limousine along the
stretch of low. fiat grassland be-
tween the White House and the
Capitol.
Andrew w. Mellon, muiti-million-
aire Secretary of the Treasury un-
der three different Presidents, was
seeking a site for a dream: A dream
of a National Gallery of Art that
would make the priceless paintings
of the world available to the ordi-
nary citizens of this country.
Some time this spring, probably
in March, the public will stream
through the ornate doors of the
worlds largest marble structure to
get their first glimpse of these art
treasures and make a dream come
true.
But the dreamer, whose millions
of dollars and years of art collect
ing made this possible, will not be
among them. Mr. Mellon died in
August, 1887, in the midst of plans
for the national gallery.
Workmen Still Busy.
Crews of skilled workmen and art
authorities are busy now inside the
huge marble structure that the
financier made possible by provid-
ing s15,000000 for its construction,
another S5000000 to endow it and
collection of art valued by ex-
pertS at more than S50,00000O
Architects rate the building. near
ly 300 feet long and 300 wide, as
one of the finest marble palaces in
the world Its interior is a deli
cate pink, and its huge dome and
general design harmonizes with the
Capitol few blocks eastward and
the long line of Government build
ings that jam the triangle of ave-
nues to the north.
Under the agreement made by
President Roosevelt and Mr.. Mel
lon late in 1886, and later approved
by Congress as legislation, the name
of Mellon will not be linked with
the national gallery. Only the fin
est works of the worlds masters in
arts will find permanent home
in the huge structure that eventu-
ally will include 100 galleries.
Perhaps the start of the project
was in 1882, when young Mellon
and his friend. Henry Clay Frick,
departed frori Pittsburgh on a Eu-
ropean tour that included visits to
European art centers and galleries.
Mr.. Mellon astonished intimates
then by paying $1,000 for painting,
a lot of money then for Mr.. Mellon
Fortunes Amassed.
Later both Mr.. Mellon and Mr.
F'rick amassed personal fortunes of
millions of dollars Both retained
their love for collecting art treasures,
and both established world-famed
galleries.
Luckiest stroke for Mr.. Mellon as
a collector was a decision by lead
ers of Soviet Russia to sell the CEN
turies old collection of the former
czars in 1880. New York art dealers
quickly tipped the multi millionaire,
and he advanced $6,500,00O for pur-
chases by agents hurried to Russia
AS a result the mellon private
collection soon included MASTER
pieces that had been sought by art
centers of the world. These and
many others collected by him over
a period of 40 years formed what
Mellon termed a nucleus" for the
national project.
In all the Mellon collection do
mated to the national gallery in
cluded Ill paintings by old masters
and 81 Renaissance sculptures, all
of which will find a permanent
home in the new institutions.
Already two notable collections
have been added to that of the
founder. Samuel H. Kress, multi
millionaire chain store merchant
has supplied his collection of italian
masters, including 375 paintings and
18 pieces of sculpture.
| Widener to Make Gift.
Joseph E. Widener has announced
that his family's private collection
variously valued at from $12000,00O
to $50,0OO000, also will go to the
National Gallery.
Both carry out Mr.. Melons
''hope" expressed to the President
that the project would attract gifts
from other citizens who may in the
future desire to contribute works
of art of the highest quality to form
a great national collection"
Some evidence as to the value Of
the Mellon collection was heard
during the lengthy income tax bat
tie between the former Secretary oi
the Treasury and attorneys of the
present administration. A compro.
mise settlement was reached.
Testimony developed that Mr.
Mellon paid S1,166, 400 for Raphael's
celebrated ALBA Madonna" in hi
deal with Soviet officials. and therf