Evening star., 1952-12-14
A Century Of Art in Washington
Capital Became
Second to New York

C6COHO 10 NeW IOIk
The Evening Star, Washing
tons oldest newspaper. will
complete it's first hundred years
on Tuesday. It's century Of life
has conceded with Washing
tons development as an art
and cultural center second only
to New York City; and the
Star, from its beginning, di-
rectly, or through one or more
of it's officers, has encouraged
the National Capitals art ac-
tivities,
In 1852, the flame of art was
Pickering somewhat feebly
from the standpoint of today
in the United States Capitol and
the Smithsonian Institution.
Commissions to paint murals for
the Capitol had been eagerly
sought by American and foreign
artists from the beginning of the
century. The Smithsonian,
founded in 1846, had included
art as one of the four divisions
within the scope of its contem-
plated activities. Three years
later, it made a beginning by
purchasing (for $4,000 the val
liable collection of old prints as
sembled by George P. Marsh.
Smithsonian Holl
During The Stars infancy. the
yearly exhibitions in the upper
Smithsonian Hall were composed
of Stanley Indian portraits and
scenes, works by C. B. King
and others. In 1865, fire entirely
destroyed this section of the gal
lery, dealing the institutions
art division a blow from which
it required some years to re-
cover.
However, at this time a pub
lic-spirited WaShingtonian was
planning to remedy the National
Capitals esthetic lacks. William
Wilson Corcoran established
and incorporated, in 1869, Wash
ington's first are gallery, the
Corcoran Gallery of Art. A
building was completed at the
corner of Seventeenth street and
PENNSYLVANIA avenue in 1871,
which was given to the public
with a collection of paintings,
an endowment fund and provi-
sion for an art school. Oldtimers
say that Mr.. Corcoran kept a
benevolent eye on the gallery.
and as his connoisseurship in
creased and he became dubious
about the museum quality Of
any painting he had given, he
would withdraw it and place
it in the Louise Home (another
of his benefactions.)
A New Corcoron Gollery
Twenty years after the Cor
coran Gallery opened. it became
obvious that it would soon out
grow its home. A new site was
purchased, and the present
building was formally opened on
George Washington's Birthday.
1897. Three thousand invita-
tions were issued for the private
view, which was attended by
the President of the United
States and Mrs. Cleveland,
members of the cabinet, foreign
ambassadors and ministers. The
building, illuminated by more
than 5000 electric lights, pre-
sented a scene of rare beauty"
according to contemporary ac-
count, and there was music by
the Marine Band.
President of the Corcoran's
Board of Trustees at this time
was Samuel H. Kaufman.
one of the founders and first
president of The Evening Star.
He was well known as an art
patron, and his collection is
one of five described in a 10th
century review of art in Wash
ington (American Art Annual,
1899. It gives the National
Capital third place in the
United States in the number
and value of its private collec-
tionS.
Noteworthy Collections
"Mr. Samuel H. Kauffmann's
collection" Git says) "is quite
strong in good examples of our
early American school, but
there is no lack of variety
among his pictures; the collec-
ton is manifestly that of con-
noisseur of discrimination and
taste" Also described were the
collections of Thomas E. Wag-
gaman, Ralph Cross Johnson.
Phoebe Hearst and Senator
James M. Mcmillan. Named
with little or no comment) are
Secretary Hay. Thomas Nelson
Page and II other Washingto-
mans who had noteworthy col
lections.
Mr.. Kauffmann's son Ru-
dolph succeeded him on the
Corcoran board, serving until
his death, after which Rudolph
Kauffmann's son, r. Max Kauff-
mann, was elected to the board
and is now first vice president.
Crosby Noyes and George
Adams, the other founders of
The Star. and their families,
who had private art collections,
were primarily interested in
civic affairs and extension Of
the Public Library. Crosby
Noyes gave a collection of Jap
anese prints to the Library of
Congress.
Division Of Graphic Arts
Anofhor hro ,oct of fbo C,,o;tt,