Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-28
-sst Brothers Photo.

Of the Christ Child looked down for
four centuries upon worshippers in the
Cathedral Of San Lorenzo, Florence. It
had been carved by Baccio da Montelupo,
to take the place Of an older figure Of
the Holy Child which had been broken.
After 400 years the church decided to
mend this earlier figure, and Baccio's
little marble was put on sale and &C.
quired by Mr.. Severance.
Another famous Child" In the collec-
ton Is the 18th century ivory head Of
Henri III, King of France, as an infant.
1t must have belonged to the French
Royal collection for century. because it
was owned by Nine. du Barry. It
passed from her possession to the
Marquis Of Hartford, whose descendants
owned 1t until recent years. Henri III
was not an admirable adult or monarch:
he assisted his mother Catherine de-
Medici to organize the massacre Of st.
Bartholomew among other contemplate
acts But his childish bust Is an en-
chanting little work.
superb portrait by Van Dyck, Of Sir
Charles Hammer, painted about 1887, Is
one Of the collections outstanding paint
ings. The subject as child was cup
bearer to Englands Charles /, after
whose beheading, Hammer lived in exile
during the early years of Cromwells
"Protectorate." But he was finally par
doned and returned to England, where
he won fame as tulip fancier. He was
the author of a manuscript which has
recently been published in England
Garden Book of Sir Thomas Hammer"
1t Is difficult to think Of sadder fate
for an author than to die three centuries
before his work gets into print.
A large tapestry designed by Boucher.
IN 1755. and woven at the Beauvais Tap
estry Works, is one Of the most valuable
items In the Severance Collection. It once
belonged to Count Boni de Castellane.
who married an American heiress, Anna
Gould; was subsequently acquired by J.
P1erpont Morgan, from whose collection
1t went to Severance.
A set Of such handsome tapestries As
this, was sent by Louis XIV as a gift to
the Chinese Emperor, Chien Lung. The
latter, determined to send an equally
splendid gift in return, ordered his weay-
ers to Initiate the French tapestries. The
resultant work Is a rich woven picture
OF birthday party for Chinese prince.
but surrounded by an exact CODY of the
elaborate frames which border Beau
vais tapestries.
For reasons unknown, this gift was
never delivered. Perhaps the old Chinese
Emperor liked 1t too well to part with it,
Mrs. Severance bought it off the wall OF
his palace In Jehol, about century and
q half after 1t was completed, and now
1t hangs IN the Cleveland Museum.
In the Severance gift Of furnitures.
there Is delicate. graceful marquetry
table said to have belonged to Francis
II OF France, first husband of Mary
Queen of Scots
The people OF Cleveland appreciate
this magnificent gift from fellow-citi-
zen, and all classes, well-to-do to UNDER
privileged, are going to their museum
to see it.
1t Is good to realize that the Door Of
many United States cities, who NAV
never be able to visit the National Gal
lery, nevertheless can see great art in
their own vicinities, thanks to the eener-
osity and civic pride OF such men a
John L. Severance.