THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 115 



THE WILLIAM T. EVANS COLLECTION 



At the beginning of March, 1907, Mr. William T. Evans, of 

 Montclair, N. J., announced to the Institution his desire to con- 

 tribute to the National Gallery a number of paintings by con- 

 temporary American artists of established reputation, naming 

 thirty-six pictures in his personal collection which he had 

 selected for the purpose. The acceptance of this most generous 

 and wholly unexpected offer made it necessary to secure a place 

 for the temporary installation of the collection outside of the 

 Museum and Smithsonian buildings, since neither of these con- 

 tained at that time any available or suitable space for an exhi- 

 bition of this character and extent. Accommodations in the 

 atrium of the Corcoran Gallery of Art were at once tendered by 

 the trustees of that establishment, and it is, therefore, through 

 the courtesy of the latter that the public has been enabled to 

 enjoy the benefits of Mr. Evans gift to the nation. 



On March 12 Mr. Evans wrote that, in order to make a credit- 

 able showing in the large atrium of the Corcoran Gallery, he 

 had increased the number of paintings constituting his initial 

 gift to the National Gallery, adding, "I have every reason to 

 believe that you will like my selections, but should any of the 

 examples not hold well, others can be substituted, as it is my 

 desire to have every artist represented at his best. As already 

 intimated, I intend that the present gift may not be considered 

 as final. Additions may be made from time to time as oppor- 

 tunities occur to secure exceptional works." 



Fifty paintings were enumerated in the list which accompa- 

 nied this letter. Forty-three of these were received and hung 

 in the Corcoran Gallery on April 2, and the remaining seven 

 within a short time thereafter. Placed in a single row, they 

 occupied the entire eastern and southern sides and most of the 

 western side of the atrium. Additions have since been made at 

 frequent intervals, and in December, 1907, Mr. Evans formally 

 announced his intention of increasing the number to one hun- 

 dred. A few of the original pictures have also been replaced by 

 more satisfactory examples of the work of the same artists, and 

 still further changes are possible. 



