REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 19 



ceed $100,000 in estimated value, Avhile, with a suitable art build- 

 ing, it is thought that gifts and bequests to the value of a million dol- 

 lars or more would be received annually. 



Work has been continued by Mr. Piatt on the preparation of 

 preliminary plans for the proposed gallery building, made possible 

 by the raising of $10,000 by private subscription as noted in last 

 year's report, and the plans could now be made ready for the begin- 

 ning of construction within six months. It is estimated that three 

 years would be required to erect the building. The movement for 

 such a building suffered a severe loss in the death of Senator Henry 

 Cabot Lodge, who was deeply interested in the national collections 

 of art and history. In 1924 he oifered in the Senate an amend- 

 ment to the deficiency appropriation bill providing $7,000,000 for 

 a gallery building to accommodate the collections not only of art 

 but also those of American history now housed in the National 

 Museum. 



The annual meeting of the National Gallery Commission was held 

 on December 9, 1924. The report of the secretary mentioned the 

 following action on problems considered at last year's meeting: 

 The approval by the Board of Kegents of the commission's recom- 

 mendation to include a division of historical architecture in the 

 National Gallery of Art; the appointment of Mr. Charles A. Piatt 

 as architect of the proposed gallery building; and the approval 

 by the commission of the inclusion in the prospective gallery of 

 collections of both American history and art. The question of the 

 acceptance of works of art by correspondence was discussed, and 

 it was resolved that hereafter a majority of the advisory committee 

 be required to examine personally all works of art offered the gal- 

 lery before making recommendation. Mr. Edmund C. Tarbell was 

 selected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Edwin 

 H. Blashfield. The annual election resulted in no changes in the 

 officers or personnel of the commission for the coming year. Ap- 

 preciation was expressed of the activities of the American Federa- 

 tion of Arts and the Federation of Women's Clubs in behalf of the 

 proposed new art building. 



Permanent accessions to the gallery during the year included seven 

 paintings, several pieces of sculpture, and a collection of French and 

 other art objects, part of the bequest of the late Hev. Alfred Duane 

 Pell. Several loans were accepted and about an equal number with- 

 draAvn during the year, and five paintings belonging to the gallery 

 were lent for exhibition elsewhere. Four special exhibitions were 

 held during the winter and early spring, catalogues for which 

 were issued by the gallery. 



