Evening star., 1945-03-04
By Leila MechHn

The recent announcement, by the
trustees of the National Gallery OF
Art. of the election of Samuel H.
Kress, member of the board, as pres
ident of the National Gallery of
Art. is of more than ordinary in
terest.
Mr.. Kress, whose munif1cent gifts
to the National Gallery are well
known, is no less distinguished as
a business executive than as an art
collector. Twenty years ago he was
chiefly looked upon in the former
capacity and as founder and head
of the great mercantile enterprise
bearing his name. Today he IS
thought of primarily as a connois-
seur of art and one of exceptional
discrimination. Some years ago ne
was elected a member of the Board
of Trustees of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York, in which
city he resides. Apparently he has
carried on both interests-art and
business - without confusing the
two.
Mnnffcent Donations
Mr.. Kress has served as a member
of the National Gallery's Board Of
Trustees for almost as long as the
gallery itself has been a reality dur
ing which time he has made to it
three munificent donations-frst, to
quote the director, Mr.. Finley, "a
collection of Italian paintings and
sculpture unique in range and COM
pleteness," then, last summer, in con-
nection with the Kress Foundation,
zone of the most notable series of
French 18th Century paintings ever
received by an art museum" to be
followed in the autumn by large.
additional collection of Italian art.
including some of the greatest
masterpieces of painting and sculp-
ture in existence"
These invaluable contributions
have not only greatly added to the
wealth of our national collection but
helped materially to put it on a
footing with the great museums of
the world. This is indeed a great
gift to our Nation, for the extension
of knowledge, appreciation and
pleasure through art. But, perhaps
it should be known that for much
longer period Mr.. Kress has been
s. advancing the same objectives
through other and less known chan
nels.
Italian Paintings Circulated -
So far as the writer is aware, the
first adventure on Mr.. Kress' part in
this direction was the circulation of
small, but well chosen, collection
of Italian paintings among the
small museums of this country
those located in the smaller cities
where in many instances such works
had not been previously seen. This
exhibition was offered to the little
museum without cost-all expenses
being paid by the collector, himself
An agent was sent with the collec-
tion to assist in the hanging and in
cidental details. A finely illustrated
and annotated catalogue was issued
and freely distributed. This was an
educational as well as artistic ex-
pertinent. 1t was eminently Success
full.
To carry the beneficence a step
farther, and insure permancy Of in
terest awakened, each exhibiting in
stitution was offered at the close of
the exhibition, the gift of a painting
shown therein for its permanent
collection. In the matter of selec-
tion the donor was a silent partner
his agent acting for him, but always
interested and eager to please. In
several instances exchanges were
made when first choice was found
disappointing. 1t was all quite un-
believably public spirited and friend
iy. But one condition was i'm
posed-if, by chance, in one of the
towns on the circuit a Kress store
was located-all advertising of this
fact, or connection, was forbidden
The art collector and the business
man were one and the same-but
separate entities.