Evening star., 1947-04-05
Letters to The Star
National Gallery Of Art Held
Fair TO American Painters

Fair TO American Painters
To the Editor Of The Star:
would like to reply to some Of the
criticisms of the National Gallery OF
Art, made by Mr.. A. Benjamin in q
recently printed letter to The Star.
The first and most obvious answer
to criticism of q collection of paintings
in which there is q preponderance OF
foreign" over american" art, is the
reminder that American painting barely
covers 200 years, while the history Of
western art goes back to the 18th cen
tury. One of the functions OF great
museum is to provide material for the
student. just as the American student
of literature reads Shakespeare IS well
as Whitman, or the American lawyer
studies common law that goes back
hundreds OF years, SO the American
student of art is interested in the en-
tire history OF art. 1t is impossible to
isolate American culture from the west
ern civilization Of which it is a part.
It lis not a question Of American" or
foreign" but rather one Of "old" and
new; In order to appreciate the new,
It Is necessary TO understand the old.
And in this respect, the National Gall
lery already has marvellous collection.
No longer need the American be salts
ned with black-and-white or poorly
colored reproductions; or travel abroad
to see examples OF the masters work; ;
ND fo
are represented here. It Is not the
singular" lack of American painting,
but the comprehensivenes Of collec-
ton so new, that Is amazing!
The point is not to deprecate what
we have. but to hope that the National
collection will continue to grow, a
monument to the taste and public
spirit Of American collectors and con-
slant source of education and pleasure
to student, connoisseur and amateur
alike!
In the meantime, it seems to me that
the National Gallery makes the most
OF the American work 1t has. Mr.. Ben
jamin finds American painting treated
with "cool condescension" by the gal
lery staff. I found four of the last
eight, in the series Of weekly lectures
presented by the gallery; devoted to
American art. I also find magazine
articles, as well as books on my shelves,
dealing with American art, written by
members of the National Gallery staff.
As for the French moderns (the term
Is Mr.. Benjamin's) with which he says
"the place reeks," is he referring to the
particular paintings in the gallery, or
to the fact that they are there at all?
The pictures in question represent an
important movement in French 10Th
century painting, and are always Of
interest to the student, whether or not
one admires the work. It is impossible
to ignore men like Manet, Monet, Gau-
gum or Cezanne, their position in
French art or their influence on all
subsequent work. including much OF the
American art" Mr.. Benjamin so sorely
misses from the gallery walls.
Q And as for the large number Of guards;
any one who remembers that the Mona
Lisa" was slashed to ribbons as 1t hung
on the wall Of the Louvre will agree
that some of the unique and priceless
canvases in the National Gallery are
worth protecting. j. c. Ct.
Cooperative Monopoly?
To the Editor of The Star:
May I, as one who has been actively
interested In national affairs for more
eJl0UogfiNn
what I believe to be greatly needed
reform at Washington? 1t may not be
generally realized that by the special
privilege of exemption from taxation
business enterprises known as cooper
atiyes have come to be a most unde-
sirable monopoly. BY the exemption
granted them the Federal Government
is deprived of millions of dollars in
taxes while these co-operatives are In
grossly unfair competition with legiti-
mate business enterprises which have
to pay heavy taxes for the privilege OF
doing business.
Co-operatives have been given this
special privilege on the plea that they
are nonproit institutions, the subter-
fuge being that their profits are pro-
vtded in additional stock instead Of in
cash. Another special privilege given
them by the Government has been easy
loans at low interest rates by which
co-operatiyes have expanded rapidly.
However, perhaps the strongest indict-
ment Of co-operatives is that their pro-
motion tends directly toward the de-
struction Of private enterprise and the
promotion Of collectivism.
HENRY WARE ALLEN.
wichita, Kan.
Vultures in Our Midst
TO the Editor Of The Star:
Nr,,n ,y1,a vns,nO Z had q vision