20 THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 



Influenced by the attention attracted to the Smithsonian by 

 the bequest of Mrs. Johnston, but before its disposition had been 

 decided by the Court, Mr. Charles L. Freer, of Detroit, Michigan, 

 made a deed of gift to the Institution of his notable though still 

 unfinished collection, then consisting of over 2,250 pieces. 

 Unique in its character and choice in its selection, it combines 

 the work of a few American artists, headed by James McNeill 

 Whistler, with that of the masters of the Far East. So large is 

 this collection and so complete its lesson that the donor will 

 provide for it a special building near the new structure for 

 the National Museum. In the course of another eight months 

 Mr. William T. Evans, of New York, presented to the nation a 

 collection of fifty paintings by contemporary American artists, 

 which, through frequent additions, has been increased to eighty- 

 nine examples, and it is understood that others may be expected. 

 There have also been several separate gifts of much value, but 

 until suitable and more ample quarters are provided it is unlikely 

 that much further assistance will be volunteered. 



In view of the events just set forth, it became necessary to 

 provide a somewhat definite if tentative organization for the 

 department of the fine arts, and, as means were not available for 

 adding to the staff, the curatorship of the National Gallery was 

 offered to and accepted by Mr. William H. Holmes, Chief of the 

 Bureau of American Ethnology and a well-known artist, until 

 such time as more permanent arrangements could be effected. 

 It was, moreover, considered essential to adopt such measures 

 as would insure the maintenance of the gallery at a proper stand- 

 ard, and this it seemed could be best brought about in accord- 

 ance with the time-honored custom of the Institution of securing 

 the aid and cooperation of recognized experts, which has already 

 brought into relationship with it many of the most distinguished 

 scientific men of the past sixty years. A proposition to this 

 effect was favorably considered by the Board of Regents at their 

 first meeting after the receipt of the Johnston collection, but it 

 was not carried out until a year later. The action decided upon 

 was the organization of a permanent honorary committee, com- 

 posed of men not only competent to pass judgment on the quality 

 of such works of art as might be presented for acceptance by 

 the gallery, but also so identified with the art interests of the 



