Evening star., 1945-02-11
By Leila MechHn

focusing attention on Flemish ar
at this time. Cd Flanders is again {
theater of war in which we o.
America, as well as our European
Allies are involved, and her ricf
world heritage of art is threatened
(2) The Corcoran Gallery of Art ha!
lately acquired, as permanent pos.
sessions, five tapestries, three Of
which are Flemish of the 18th cen.
tury. 49, The National Gallery o1
Art has recently brought back from
wartime exile, and rehung, the
Flemish paintings in. the National
collection, gifts from Mr.. Mellon
and Mr.. Widener "a An informing
and delightful book on Flemish art
by one who knows it well and great
ly revers it-Joseph van der Elst
formerly of Bruges, now OF New
York-has, but few. weeks ago
come from the press OF a leading
American publisher.
With, perhaps, the exception Of
France, there is no country in Eu-
rope, where in so many monumental
works of art, testifying to the mar.
velous gift and vision of the de-
signers and artisans of the Middle
Ages, can be found, as in Flanders
or, as better known today-Belgium
Who, once having seen the Gothic
buildings on the old square in Brus-
sells, can ever forget them, with
their dignity and exquisite refine
ment. Or the Tower at BRUCE!
which presides over its market place
Or the one time most lovely library
at Louvain, destroyed by enemy ac'
ton in World War l, rebuilt ane
now, according to report, destroyed
again. How much will survive the
present war, none. as yet, can tell.
Proud, Democratic People
These monuments of the past are
not only beautiful in themselves but
deeply significant of the character
and ideals of a proud and noble, al
though very democratic, people
"The Flemings who stood for theil
rights at Courtrai," says Baron van
der Elst, "were the original progen-
itors of the embattled farmers who
held the rude bridge at Concord.
Certainly there is much akin be-
tween the Flemish burgers who in
sisted upon the inherent rights OF
-government-"by the people, for
the people" and those farmers, mer-
chants and other sturdy, courageous
folk, who once signed our 'Declara-
ton of independence" The people
of Flanders during the Middle Ages
were deeply religious. They were
also thrifty and skillful. The artist
guilds would not tolerate poor
craftsmanship. With them, this
was q matter of honor as well as
pride. So it was that in the crafts
Flanders assumed leadership. The
Flemish tapestries, woven during the
Gothic period, are still regarded as
of supreme merit. The same is true
of other products of the looms and
weavers-the lace makers, the carv-
ers. Hence when other countries
France, Italy, England, wanted to
deyelope these arts they imported
by offering larger wages-artisans
from Belgium. Through this migra-
tion,, eventually, the crafts deteri-
Dated at home.
Flemish Tapestries
In the Corcoran Gallery
The Corcoran Gallery is fortunat,
In possessing in the Clark collection
four very beautiful tapestries mad,
In Arras during the 18th centur!
for the Duke of Burgundy. Thi
was before Arras fell to the French
and when the duchy of Burgundy
was still Flemish province. Thes,
all represent hunting scenes il
which the Duke of Burgundy ant
members of his court took part
They are elaborate compositions
but very clear cut and we'll designed
also lovely in color-high keyed
pink, gray green, soft blues-story
telling pictures, finely woven.
The five tapestries lately acquired
by the Corcoran Gallery, through
purchase, from the estate of Mrs
Hugh Wallace, were woven about
two centuries later and evidenc,
the growing influence of the classi
cal and a very complete change il
style and ideals. These, too, ar
pictorial but illustrative of the lit
erature of the past, symbohcal, ,hu
maniStic.
Three of the five were woven b,
Albert Auwercx, famous weaver o
Brussels, after designs by Luca.
van Schoor. The largest of th'
three represents Europa" tn,
smaller two, "Magnificence" ane
Fidelity" respectively. The figures
are large and impressive. The col.
cring is dark, green's predominating
All have very attractive floral Dor.