Evening star., 1941-01-19
Washington Displays Its Great Art Treasures Before Inaugural
City Itself
Constitutes
One Exhibit
Many Schools and
Galleries Have
Grown Here
By Leila MechHn.


ington to participate in or witness
President Roosevelt's third inau-
sural-and will probably tarry for q
few days-mention should be made
of some of the citys more important
permanent art exhibits, as well as
Of current temporary displays.
Exhibit A is undoubtedly the city
itself, laid out by L'Enfant, a French
engineer, when this site on the Po-
tomac was approved for the Ma
tional Capital and before a single
public building was erected-a plan
followed for a good many years, for
gotten for a generation or two and
finally returned to in 1900, on the
recommendation of a commission
appointed by Congress, consisting OF
two architects, landscape archl-
tect and a sculptor of great dis
tinction. This plan has been greatly
extended but its cardinal features
remain unchanged One of these
was the Mall, extending from the
foot of the Capitol to the Lincoln
Memorial, the longest grass carpet
in the world, bordered trees in Or
derly planting and public buildings
imposing in design.
Exhibit B is some of these public
buildings: The Capitol, designed by
Thornton, enlarged by Bulfinch,
topped by dome, fashioned by
Walter, to which ones eyes are
always lifted with pleasure and sat-
isfaction. The White House, designed
by Hoban but skillfully added TO and
enriched without loss of simplicity
and dignity. The Lincoln Memorial,
which is in class by itself; Henry
Bacon, architect: building severely
classical but supremely beautiful
and, because of its universally, Of
our own time.
Among monuments Exhibit c.,
that to Washington is especially
satisfactory. Robert Mills originally
designed 1t with terraCed base and
colonnade, but without these, in
purity and dignity, it symbolizes the
great man in whose memory it was
erected.
Capital Leads.
There is no city in the world thai
can boast so many equestrian
statues as this, and among them is
one which takes its place with the
best. 1t is the statue of Gen.
Thomas, by @. A Ward, which
stands al the junction of Four
teenth street and Massachusetts
avenue.
The statue of Gen. jackson, hero
of the battle of New Orleans. in
Lafayette Square. opposite the White
House, is Of special interest in being
the first equestrian statue by an
American sculptor ever erected in
this country. Its date is about 1858:
the sculptor was Clark Mills who
had TO cast it himself there being
no bronze foundry in the United
States.
Outstanding among the sculpture
to be seen in Washington is Saint
Gaudens masterpiece, the Adams
Memorial, in Rock Greek Cemetery,
sometimes called The Peace Of
Coda seated. draped figure, very
quiet, representing eternity
When the first public buildings
we're erected in the new National
CAPITAL. the classical style was
chosen for them. and to a great eX-
tent it is still in vogue but in recent
years certain architects have skill
fully expressed themselves with clas-
sic dignity in modern mode-for eX-
ample, the late Bertram Goodhue
in the Academy of Science Building,
Kelsey and Cret in the Pan-Ameri-
can Building. and Zantzinger and
Borie in the Justice Building.
Simple, imposing and of great
dignity is the building, designed by
John Russell Pope for the National
Gallery of Art. but just finished. and
not yet open to the public, fitting
home for the superb Mellon collec-
ton Of paintings and sculpture by
the great masters, and the rare Ital-
ian paintings given the Nation by
Mr.. Kress of New York. later to be
supplemented by the Widener COL
lection and other private donations.
This will henceforth be mecca for
art lovers from all parts of the world,
as we'll as our own country. The
building was erected at a cost of
approximately 100000 given by
the late Andrew w. Mellon; the cost
of administration will. however, be
paid by the Federal Government
Debt to Mr.. COrcOran.
To another beneficent art lover,
Mr.. w. w. Corcoran, the city Of
Washington is indebted for the Cor
coran Gallery of Art, which contains
one of the most complete. as well
as fine, collections of American art
in existence. besides examples of
Old World art bequeathed by the
late Senator Clark of Montana and
others.
The Freer Gallery of Art. given
with its contents, and endowment
by the late Charles Freer of Detroit,
Is notable for its Oriental collection
and also for its paintings and prints
by Whistler and the famous pea
cock room which he decorated for
a British art patron-Mr. Leyland-
with disastrous result.
In the National Museum, on the
north side of the Mall, at Tentf
street, are collections of fine art!
given to the Nation which are vel
worthy of attention These are to bt
found on the main floor, and include
paintings and other works given BY
William T. Evans, Harriet LAM
johnson. Ralph Cross johnson ant
John Gellatly. as we'll as rare col
lection of miniatures assembled
through purchase and gift.
The Phillips Memorial Gallery sets
forth, as rule. we'll chosen collec
ton of works by modern masters
but is at present entirely occupied b.
a special collection of paintings anc
prints by the French modernist
Georges Rouault.
Rare textiles, rugs, tapestries anc
other weavingS are to be seen II
the Textile Museum. and charming
collection of Byzantine and medleva
art will be found in the Dumbartol
Oaks gallery in Georgetown. bu