Evening star., 1956-12-26

manent pictures remain in the
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.
II 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, a 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 18th century French
and Renaissance Italian. but, he
says, Il 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 home 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 when
he is alone in the gallery, he
looks most often at Rembrandt's
"The Mill" which he rays is
"unquestionably the greatest
landscape r brandt evel
painted"
With such an interest in art
what does Mr.. Walker do fol
relaxation? To a 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 board.
OF several charities. and takes
an interest in the affairs oi
Children's Hospital. Sne like:
to play golf too. and recently
took up painting, something hel
husband hasn't done since he
left Harvard.
Enjoys Chess With Son
Mr.. Walker serves on a num-
Der Of boards, too. such as the
executive committee on UNESCC
and the visiting committee Of
Dumbarton Oaks. He belongs u
too many clubs" he says. in.
cluding the Sulgrave Club. +
Street Club and the Chevy Chase
Club.
During school holidays he /.
able to play chess with his son
John Anthony Drummond Wal.
ker, IA. John is a student at tht
Portsmouth Priory School ir
,. Rhode Island. which is run b,
the Benedictine monks. Mr.
Walker was converted to CathoI.
J icism long before he met hi,
: wife, who is also a Catholic.
The Walkers daughter Gillian
: is. is student at Miss Porter
School. Pennington. Conn.
Another Of Mr.. Walkers occu.
pations. which he doesn't know
|. whether 10 classify as work Of
pleasure. is writing. He has con.
tributed more than 50 short ar,
i. ticles TO the Ladies Home Jour.
|, nal leach on an individual vorl
Of art) and others 70 the Ma.
tional Geographic Magazine anC
70 serious art periodicals.
Written Books
He has written half a dozer
j books. One was psperbsck snc
: another. Great Paintings From
: the National Gallery. was a pop.
: ular book club dividend. His lat.
est book. jus; published thii
month in London. is a serioui
! work for art scholars. Entitled
S "Bellini and Titan at FeTrsra,
!. 1t Is 9 dehnitiye study Of ths
!. style and taste Of a high period
in Italian art. using mocerr
X-ray and infra-red photOg.
q raphy teehniques 70 SHOW hoy
. one painter altered another
5 Eork 10 conform 20 changing
. style.
: The painting In question Is TN
q Belini 'Feast Of the Gods I,
the National Gallery. a WORK IL
2 which Titan added a nsgnlf'
& iceni background ard remoTec
; considerable eloihinz from IN
z goddesses
: The book has cost him SD
e years Of yeTy plesEant wogk. MF
S Walker says
: A man pleased with his Job
? delighted WITH the tasks y in.
: poses On him and eager 70 isk'