Evening star., 1944-03-26
AT
Notes
Index of American
Design Now on View
At National Gallery
By Leila MechHn.

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The National Gallery of Art opens
this afternoon its first exhibition
6. the index of American design
of which it, by Government order,
become permanent custodian.
This index, unique of its kind, was
undertaken in the 1930s by the
Works Progress Administrations
Federal art project as part of pro-
gram for providing employment for
artists BY the time the project was
discontinued as nonessential $4,000
documented drawings and water
colors had been made by which the
history of American design might
be traced from the earliest days to
the beginning of the present GEN.
tury.
Among the works represented are
textiles, wood carvings, ceramics,
iron work, objects in glass, pewter
and silver, costumes and great
variety of secondary things. The
current exhibition will stress draw
ings for metal work which has been
wrought on the anvns, in the
forges and founderies of this coun-
try. Also designs for hooked rugs
a distinctly native creation. The
purpose Is to preserve record of
these folk arts which will not only
induce pride but encourage future
activity.
A second special exhibition will
open at the National Gallery of Art
today. This will consist of portrait
engravings by Robert Nanteuil from
the Rosenwald Collection, a FORE
taste of the wealth of which was
given in selected showing earlier
this season. Whereas the index of
design display will only last through
April the engraved portraits of 18th
century France will run until the
end of May. Both exhibitions will
be reviewed in due course.
Harding Portrait Given
To the National Gallery
The National Gallery of Arts
permanent collection of American
paintings has been greatly en-
riched by the gift of the portrait of
Amos Lawrence by Chester Hard
ing, which for some time it has had
on loan from the Lawrence family.
The donors are the children of the
late Bishop of Massachusetts,, Will
liam Lawrence, who was Amos
Lawrence's grandson.
It is a superb work and of great |
value. not only as a work of art,
but as an Interpretation of char
acter, vitally significant and essen
TALLY stimulating. 1t was such men
as Amos Lawrence who laid the
foundations of the America of to-
day, strong in war, progressive in
peace, in the truest sense demo-
cratic. He was, it will be recalled,
first merchant then a philan-
thropist, his beneficences being
chiefly along the line of education
His descendants have faithfully
carried on the tradition he estab-
Ished.
Chester Harding, one of the most
gifted and remarkable of our early
American, self-taught artists, paint
ed Lawrence either just before, or
shortly after, his two years sojourn
In England, in the late 1840s, and
when the kindly philanthropist and
scholar was, after many years of
invalidism, approaching his life's
end. Hence the lounging robe and
bedroom slippers. Suffering had
marked, but not marred, his face.
The spirit within illunines his
countenance extraordinarily. This
is portrait which will hold it's
own with the best of all time.
OF it, the painter himself said,
"My full-length portrait of Amos
Lawrence consider the best thing
I have ever done in my whole ar
tistic career" To which he added,
'The most liberal patronage I have
enjoyed has been, parhaps, from the
Lawrences. I am proud, to record
my acknowledgment Of many kind
attentions from this noble race of
men. +" Few men leave prouder
record behind them" Thus, in
spired by respect and admiration,
Chester Harding unconsciously i'm
mortalized himself as we'll as his
friendly and distinguished sitter.
Art Lectures of Note.
Two distinguished scholars in the
field of art will lecture at the Ma
tional Gallery of Art this after
noon, and week from today, at 4
o'clock, on timely subjects. They
are DR.. Edgar Wind, formerly of
London, now of the staff of the Uni
versity of Chicago, and Fritz Lugt, |
formerly of Holland and now con-
nected with Oberlin College. DR..
Wind, who will be the speaker this
afternoon, will have as his subject
THE Feast of the Gods" by Bellini,
one of the most famous paintings
in the Widener collection, now be-
longing to the National Gallery of
Art. DR.. Lugt, on the other hand,
will lecture on the afternoon Of
April 2, on French Engraved Por-
traits" with special reference to
those by Nanteuil.
Society of Efchers Exhibits
In the Arts Club
The Society of Washington Etch-
ers is holding its 10th annual ex-l
hibition in the Arts Club, 2017 II
street NV, occupying the walls of
the auditorium gallery and also
those of the reception room ad-
jacent.
The jury Of selection consisted of
the officers of. the society-Prentiss
Taylor, president; Ruel P. Tolman
czIIIl n1EEZI;1E1
Quality