Evening star., 1946-02-03

Washington's outstanding art event
of 1945-46 was the National Gal
lery's opening last evening of the
Kress collection, extensively rear
ranged with its many additions not
heretofore shown at the gallery
and now occupying a number Of new
rooms as well as those which have
housed it the past five years.
The National Gallery's collection
OF Italian art is now one Of the
most comprehensive in the world,
rivaled only by Italy's own leading
collection in Florence and by those
in London, Paris and Berlin. John
Walker, chief curator of the Ma
tional Gallery, comparing the Ital-
ian collections Of Washington and
London, said that ours is stronger in
primitives, London's In works of the
high Renaissance.
Some art lovers enjoy each MASTER
piece as a unique experience, some
thing good in itself, without rela-
ton to anything else. But those of
us who get more out of studying
these great works with reference to
their places in the history of paint
ing, and to the artists contributions
to its development, will probably
want \to start our examination Of
the Kress collections new additions
in gallery 3, where the earliest
works are hung.
Earliest Italians
Here is a new group of five paint
ings of the 18th century, the earli-
est in the National Gallery, and
among the most important outside
Of italy, according to Mr.. Walker.
One of them, Madonna and Child
Enthroned," is. signed by Margari-
tone, the first significant personality
in Italian art. Flanking this out
standing work are two pairs OF
panels "The Mourning Madonna"
and "St. John the Evangelist" and
two saints by Umbrian artists, iden-
titled only by titles.
Gallery is now devoted to Flor
entine painting of the first half of
the 18th century. New additions Of
Particular distinction cited by Mr..
Walker are several comparatively
small panels: Fra Angelico's Heal
ing Of Palladia by st. Cosmas and
StH HDamian":: Alesso Baldovinetti's
"Annunciation";; "St. John in the
Dessert" by Domenico Veneziano,
one of the most beautiful of all 18th
century panels. and Fra Filippo
Lippi's "St. Benedict Orders st.
Maurus to the Rescue of st. Placi-
dus."
Domenico's "St. John" is a rare
work by an artist whose known
paintings number only 13, Of which
the National Gallery now has 4,
who had a feeling for landscape
very exceptional at that time in
italy, and was an exquisite and
painstaking technician. Baldovi-
netti Is another Florentine master,
by whom only 10 paintings on panel
are known. He interpreted his SUBJ
jects In a new way, yet retained the
decorative values Of earlier masters.
Sienese Masterpieces
Sienese paintings Of the 18th and
18th centuries occupy gallery 5, in
what Mr.. Walker says is the best
representation outside of Italy
Outstanding are Ambrogio Loren
zetti's Madonna and Child" and
two little panels by Sassetta, "St
Anthony Distributing His Wealth
to the Poor" and Leaving His
Monastery" which with the Meet
ing Of SITS. Anthony and Paul." one
of the first Kress gifts, comprise
three of seven paintings which
probably constituted large altar
piece representing st. Anthony
Abbot's life. These are meticu-
lously painted, fresh in color anc
full of interesting detail which
should make them popular.
More Sienese paintings are il
gallery 13, among them such notable
work as Francesca di Giorgio's "Got
the Father Surrounded by Angel.