Evening star., 1945-05-21
BY HOWARD COWAN,
Associated Press War Correspondent.


BERCHTES G ADEN, Germany
May 21.-Hermann Goering's "pri-
vate" art collection-valued at $780,
100000 and acquired" when all Eu-
ropes treasures lay at the Nazis'
feet-went on exhibition yesterday
to American GIs and officers.
The collection of Goering's loot
went on show in rustic, rambling,
three-story inn hidden away in the
mountains south of this famous Ba-
varian village.
In the tiny, pine-walled rooms
were stacked centuries-old paintings
of Europe's masters and the rich
collection of tapestries and rugs and
gold and silver art objects plum
dered from Europe's museums by the
pudgy Nazi Luftwaffe chief now an
American prisoner.
Outside the nameless little r.otel
hangs a banner: The He mann
Goering art collection - through
courtesy of the 10lst Airborne Di-
vision" The CT artist who did the
Job acquitted himself admirably on
the falcon head emblem of the di-
vision, but he had to paint over an
error in spelling "Goering."
Scores of tourist American SOL
diers and officers threaded their way
through the art objects and the
maze of positively no smoking
signs.
Came From Art Train.
Most of the precious paintings
came from Goering's "art train
which had been concealed in a tun-
mel. The inn was the best place
Capt. Harry Anderson of Ossining,
N. Y, could find to display it.
A guide patiently lectured to those
interested in learning what they
were looking at. He was Walter
Andrea Hofer, Goering's chief cur
ator.
Hofer started with a Rembrandt
and not too modestly related how
he nosed out Hitler's agent in a
race to get the prize painting from
a Paris dealer.
He told me must take it imme-
diately if I wanted it, because Hit
ler's man was coming the next day."
he said. Il paid him 100000 marks.
1t is one of the most important dis
coveries in several years"
The portrait, picturing bearded
man against somber background,
was not named. 1t was dated 1860.
Other Rembrandts included one
of his sister, Elizabeth van Rim, and
another of his first wife painted in
1888.
Next Hofer showed two portraits
| by Franz Halls. the outstanding one
that of priest done in 1914.
Many Renoirs, Rubens.
There were many Renoirs and
Rubens, including two very rare
landscapes by the latter artist,
famed for his portraits.
One of the Rubens was Bath Of
Diana"-that is the east end of it.
Hofer said the other half was a
copy of the original. Some time or
another it was split in half and the
original part in this one is the right
section. He didn't know where the
other original section was.
Goering had Rubens' "Crucifxion. :"
Hofer said it was purchased from
the Koenig Rubens collection-one
of the largest.
In another room were five early
Flemish paintings by Roger van
der Weyden and his pupils, includ-
ing Hans Memling and Gerard
David, dating from the late 18th
century.
One of these was recovered from
Frau Goering-a $4,000 item from
the Rothschild collection which
Goering had given to his wife.
Andrea del Sarto's Madonna"
rested against buxom but un-
identified nude reaching for a bowl
of grapes.
Hofer waited until woman cor
respondent and a group of Red
Cross girls had left the room and
then reached for a couple of sizable
oils that were turned toward the
wall.
"Bouchers. he said. both of
them"
Some one yelled for photog-
raphers.
Hey Tubby looky here quick"
The paintings were spicy items
which might have been designed for
postcard packets.