Evening star., 1949-11-04
National Gallery Busy Placing
Famed Austrian Art Display


he added, and Mr.. Sullivan men,
toned a slight realignment needed
for a frame.
Rescued From Nazis.
That is why we will never really
finish hanging this display" DR..
Buschbeck laughed. Were ahead
of schedule now, but when the
show opens November 20. We'll
still be fussing over details"
The fabulous art collection, as
sembled by the sovereigns OF Aus
tria over the centuries, came to
America after an extensive tour
in Europe. Rescued from Nazi hid
ing places. the treasures will be
displayed in New York, Chicago
and San Francisco, as we'll as in
Washington.
The display at the National
Gallery, which will remain until
January %, will fill l9 rooms on
the first and second floors. The
131 paintings by such masters as
Titan. Durer. Tintoretto, Rubens,
Rembrandt. Vermeer and Velas-
quez are being arranged accord
ing to era and painter.
All the paintings have been un-
packed and placed in the rooms
that will house them, and trip
through the galleries is like find
ing a hidden treasure trove. You
round a corner and there, leaning
against walls like so many ga
loshes in a coat closet. are such
things as Rubens' Feast of
Venus" Titian's "Tarquin and
Lucretia" and Rembrandt's self
portrait
8 Suits Of Armor.
In one huge storeroom stand
eight men in armor, as if they
had stepped out of the past to
help the swarms Of gallery guards
keep watch over the art. One suit
is beautifully wrought with scenes
depicting the labors of Hercules.
Another has great puffed sleeves
Of steel. Working busily among
them is Armourer Ferdinand
Seewald. who carefully wipes
away the heavy coat of vaseline
that protected them during the
voyage and then sprays them with
special new type of lacquer.
Behind him in dozens of intricate
pieces. lies the horse armor of
Frederick III. 1t will be placed
on the wooden charger that
stands in one gallery hallway.
But most breath-taking of all
Is the little treasure vault down
the hall, where Art Photographers
Francis and Peter Mayer, father
and son, are photographing the
golden goblets and the reliquaries,
the ancient worries. the gems and
the inlaid swords. the canoes and
great vessels carved from solid
rock crystal.
They are ranged on the mar
row tables like dishes after a tea
party. There is the fabulous gold
saltcellar, by Benvenuto Cellini,
mentioned in his autobiography.
Containing more than IL pounds
Of gold. it was exquisitely wrought
for Francis Of France.
Largest Carved Emerald.
Next to It Is the great golden
Goblet of st. Michel. the saint
atop 1t carved In black diamonds
and gold with q ruby for a shield.
Great pearls and precious stones
are studded amid the exquisite
carving. Crowded behind it is a
large vessel made Of onyx and
gold, and between is the largest
carved emerald in the world,
made into a jar. It weighs 1880
carats.
Down the table. row on row
The Goblet Of the Golden Fleece,
. huge platter made from a single
piece Of lapis lazuli, the sword Of
Maximillian II, glowing in deli
cate gold work and enamel, and
the sword Of Phillip the Good Of
Burgundy.
There is an air Of suppressed
excitement among the workers
and, according to DR.. Buschbeck,
wonderful teamwork"
Ellsworth Shaw, one Of the
skilled picture handlers at the
gallery, set a portrait gently down,
tipped back his cap and grinned.
Eyes. it's going to be q pretty
good show" he said.
Egypt's Business Coins
= - l.