Evening star., 1956-12-26
John Walker, Director Of National Gallery of Art,
Maps Program to Bring Museum Closer to People
By HARRY BACAS

By HARRY BACAS
John Walker, the new direc-
tor of the National Gallery Of
Art. is a man who loves art and
only wishes more people could
see the magnificent collection in
his charge.
The director, who has been
with the gallery since before it
opened. succeeded to the top
spot this year. shortly after the
gallery celebrated its 18th ami
verSary.
This institution" he says,
belongs to the people Of the
entire country. We want it to
reach more of them and to be of
greater service when it does"
So. Mr.. Walker. a man for
whom art is no substitute for ac-
ton, is preparing to expand the
lgallery's slide and movie film
services. step up the distribution
lof its publication, seek more no.
tice in popular periodicals and
give the visiting public more
information about the works of
art in the gigantic pink marble
treasure house on Constitution
avenue.
2 Million Visitors
Mr.. Walker could, If he wished.
rest easily on the National GAL
.lery's present popularity. 1t
draws an average of nearly 2
million visitors a year. That's
equal to the count at the Lincoln
Memorial and twice that at the
Washington Monument.
What the millions come to
see is display of 904 paintings
and l67 pieces of sculpture
which John Walker has had as
much to do with assembling as
any man. and which no man
loves more pasSionately.
He dates that love Of art to
the time when, as boy of l3,
he was recuperatinG from infan-
tile paralysis. Confined for a
time TO a wheelchair, the boy
pushed himself through New
York's Metropolitan Museum of
Art day after day. summing him.
self in the light Of that gallery's
great paintings and sculptures.
Native of Pittsburgh
Mr.. Walker. so. was born in
Pittsburgh. the son of a mod
erately wealthy family who had
made their money in steel and
bricks. Their brick business, one
OF the Nations largest. was
started by John Walkers great
grandfather.
Sent to Harvard. the young
man made a name as a radical
in art. With two classmates.
Lincoln KRISTEN and Edward
lWarburg. he opened a modern
art gallery. showing the works
iof the most advanced artists
Of the time.
But he was not radical in
other respects. Graduated with
g summa cum laude degree in
fine arts he was given a John
Harvard Scholarship for further
study IN Italy.
The scholarship was a splen-
did thing to have, Mr.. Walker
explains. but purely honorary.
I'At Harvard they have a silly
isystem-if you have money, they
don't believe in giving you any
more"
BerenS0n His Mentor
For three years he studied in
the Florentine villa of the IA
nous art historian Bernard Be-
Irenson. Mr.. Berenson. now 81.
has since willed his art collec-
tion-known as the most dis
tinguished private collection in
Italy-to Harvard University.
During the three years in Villa
II Tatti" Mr.. Walker put his
interest in modern art in the
background while he concen-
trated on Mr.. Berenson's spe-
cialty. Renaissance art. He de-
voted his time especially TO a
study Of the drawings and en-
cravings Of the Renaissance.
He developed such an abiding
affection for B. B." as the his
torians friends call him, that he
still returns once year TO visit
him.
But in 1898. when 81 years
old. Mr.. Walker came home to
Pittsburgh. He was not yet GER
tain that art was his life work
He decided TO try his hand at
law and politics.
br1ef Try Al Politics
He worked in the Pittsburgh
municipal election and then went
back TO Harvard 10 study politi-
cal science and government. Both
ventures were brief. and both
we're dismal enough failures TO
convince him that he should stick
70 art. "the only thing I Tas
ever good at.
So he left school again. this
time in midterm. and began
writing a book about style in
painting. He still hasn't finished
the book. although he has writ
ten many others.
In 1885. Ne was invited 70
return 70 Italy as the head OF
the department Of fine arts at
the American Academy In Rome
He stayed there four years. I,
vas there that he met and mar
red the daughter OF the late
Enc DTummond. Earl Of Perth,
who was British Ambassador "a
Italy.
Then. in 1898, he was offered
the JOB ot chief curator of the
National Gallery Of Art. which
had been PLANNED By Andres
Mellon and Vas being worked
or by his advisers in Washing
Ton Reluctant 70 lesye his De-