Evening star., 1956-12-26

same place because people like
to see them there when they
return"
In his own Office on the first
floor Of the gallery, the pictures
change much more often. The
art there is not dictated by his
personal taste. but by the fact
that he wants to keep an eye
on some painting a donor wishes
to buy for the gallery. Other
paintings on his Office walls are
there so he can study the aging
qualities Of a new varnish de-
veloped in the gallery's materials
research laboratory in Pitts
burgh.
Venetian Furniture
In his home, Mr.. Walkers
taste comes into its own. The
Walkers live in a four-story,
Semi-detached red brick house at
1906 N street NV. Built in the
Federal Period. about 1905. the
house is full of the furniture Mr..
and Mrs. Walker bought in Italy.
1t is largely Venetian 18th
Century, a curry. rocco style
which Mr.. Walker thinks blends
very we'll with the early Ameri-
can style of the house. The
kitchen is white enamel and
stainless steel. modern style
which suits Mrs. Walker very
well. down to the garbage dis
poser. dishwasher "and all the
rest"
Most of the paintings in the
house are modern too. and a
large proportion are contem-
porary American. One of Mr..
Walkers favorite painters is the
American Morris Graves.
Mr.. Walkers other favorite
periods are 10Th century French
and Renaissance Italian. but. he
says, II like contemporary
American best, because it's ex-
citing to try to back ones own
TASTE" At least he does that
when I have any money" he
says wryly. His homie also con-
tains a 18th century Italian
painting given him by Bernard
Berenson.
Keen About The MilI'
Mr.. Walker says he couldn't
single out one picture as the
greatest" or best" or even
most valuable" in the gallery
But he has noticed that wher
he is alone in the gallery, HI
looks most often at Rembrandt,
"The Mill" which he rays il
"unquestionably the creates
landscape r brandt eve
painted"
With such an interest in art
what does Mr.. Walker do fol
relaxation? To large extent
he reads and talks about art
But he also plays bridge with
his wife or chess with his son
And the Walkers do some enter.
tanning.
Mrs. Walker is on the boards
OF several charities, and takes
an interest in the affairs OF
Children's Hospital. she likes
to play golf too, and recently
took up painting, something her
husband hasn't done since he
left Harvard.
Enjoys Chess With Son
Mr.. Walker serves on a num-
ber Of boards. too, such as the
executive committee on UNESCC
and the visiting committee OF
Dumbarton Oaks. He belongs to
too many clubs" he says, in
cluding the Sulgrave Club, F
Street Club and the Chevy Chase
Club.
During school holidays he is
able to play chess with his son,
John Anthony Drummond Wal
ker. IA. John is a student at the
Portsmouth Priory School in
Rhode Island. which is run by
the Benedictine monks. Mr.
Walker was converted to Cathol-
icism long before he met his
wife. who is also a Catholic.
The Walkers daughter Gillian,
10. Is a student at Miss Porter's
School. Pennington. Conn.
Another Of Mr.. Walkers occu-
pations, which he doesn't know
whether to classify as work or
pleasure, is writing. He has con-
tributed more than so short ar
ticles to the Ladies Home Jour-
nal leach on an individual work
Of art) and others to the Ma
tional Geographic Magazine and
to serious art periodicals.
Written Books
He has written half a dozen
books. One was a paperback and
another. Great Paintings From
the National Gallery" was a pop
ular book club dividend. His lat
est book. Just published this
month in London. is serious
work for art scholars. Entitled
"Bellini and Titan at Ferrara. 4"
1t Is a definitive study OF the
style and taste Of a high period
in Italian art. using modern
X-ray and infra-red photog-
raphy techniques TO show how
one painter altered another's
work 70 conform TO changing
style.
| The painting in question Is the
Bellini Feast Of the Gods" in
the National Gallery. work in
which Titan added a magnif-
icent BACKGROUND and removed
considerable clothing from the
goddesses.
/ The book has cost him six
years Of very pleasant work. Mr..
Walker says.
A man pleased with his job.
delighted with the tasks II inn