Evening star., 1952-12-14

in 1893 is generally credited
with inaugurating a national
awakening to art, which was
faithfully reflected in Washing
ton. Our city entered upon a
new era of development, her
aided by the building, in 1897,
of the Library of Congress. Its
interior decorations of mural
paintings and sculpture by some
of the Nations outstanding art
lists, constituted a veritable rem
aissance in public building in
the United States.
During its. first year in the
new building, the Library's divi-
sion of prints and photographs
was founded. including fine
prints of all schools. This COL
lection was given great impetus
by the Pennell bequest in 1926.
In 1943, the Library inaugu-
rated its annual national exhi-
bition of prints, popularity called
the Pennell show, a substantial
encouragement to contemporary
printmakers.
The National GoIIery
Early in this century, the
Smithsonian's fine arts collec-
tionS which had escaped the
fire of 1865 acquired Importance
and character along with their
new title. "The National Gallery
of Art" first applied in 1906 as
the result of a decision of the
Supreme Court of the District
of Columbia in connection with
the bequeSt of the collection of
Harriet Lane Johnston, niece of
President Buchanan. Her 81
Italian renaissance and British
paintings, installed in 1906, were
followed in the next quarter
century by the William T. Evans
gift of ISL American paintings
and lis wood engravings; the
Henry Ward Ranger bequest,
the Ralph Gross Johnson collec-
ton. the gift and bequest of
Alfred Duane Pell; the John
Gellatly collection of more than
1900 paintings and art objects,
opened to the public in 1898;
and various other gifts and be-
quests. In 1887. the Smith
Sonian's fine arts bureau was
renamed National Collection of
Fine Arts" while it's former title
was assigned to the building be-
ing erected by the A. w. Mellon
Charitable and Educational
Fund. The National Collection
of Fine Arts is still housed in
the Natural History Building,
waiting and hoping for a home
Of its own.
A major event not only for
Washington but for the coun-
try, occurred in 1918 when a
progressive-minded art patron,
Duncan Phillips, incorporated
the Phillips collection as a
memorial to his father and
brother. Established as a mu-
scum Of modern art and it's
sources, it aims to display and
interpret the best in art, re-
gardless Of classification. It is
housed in the former residence
Of the founder and his wife. The
Phillips Gallery has many mas
terpieces, among the greatest
being Renoir's Luncheon of the
Boating Party" Daumier's up
rising" and Ell Greco's RE
pentant Peter"
Early in the century, Charles
L. Freer Of Detroit had offered
to the Smithsonian his collec-
ton Of Far and Near Eastern
art and works by American
artists, then valued at about
100000, to be retained by him
during his lifetime. In 1923,
the Freer collection including
the famous Whistler Peacock
Room. was opened in it's own
beautiful building.
Another Washington connois-
seur. George Hewitt Myers,
established in 1925 the Textile
Museum in it's own building
next to his residence. It has
collections of rugs and textiles
from the Near and Far East,
ranging from the second to 18th
centuries. and from pre-Colum-
bian Peru; and embroideries
S IS