56 ANNUAL REPOKT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1931 



Curatorial work within the collection has embraced specifically 

 the study and recording of inscriptions and seals on recently acquired 

 Chinese paintings and of Buddhist inscriptions on stone sculptures 

 and votive bronze images. The work of cataloguing the near eastern 

 section of manuscripts and paintings, mentioned as being under 

 way in the last report, has been completed. Translation of the 

 Persian texts has fixed the identity of upwards of 60 Persian minia- 

 tures taken from various early manuscripts of the Shdhndmah, the 

 Gulistdn of Sa'adI, and other works. In addition to translations of 

 inscriptions on objects in the Freer collection others have been 

 made of inscriptions on objects submitted to the curator by other 

 institutions and by private persons for expert opinion as to their 

 esthetic or historical value. In all, 2,312 objects and 107 photo- 

 graphs of objects were submitted for examination. 



The most important changes in exhibition that have been made 

 since 1923 were accomplished during the week of March 15, amount- 

 ing to the opening of four new galleries and changed exhibitions in 

 two others. Galleries I and II, at the right of the entrance, are 

 now devoted to the display of works of art from the Near East 

 and India. Included in these are early Arabic manuscripts and 

 paintings, Arabic tooled leather bindings, Persian manuscripts, 

 paintings and painted pottery, Indian painting and sculpture. This 

 change has not only given increased space to the near eastern section 

 but also has left the eastern end of the building to the exclusive 

 exhibition of the arts of China. Ancient bronzes, silver, and silver- 

 gilt are now displayed in Gallery XIV, ceremonial and ornamental 

 jades of the Chou and Han periods in the adjoining corridor. Gal- 

 lery XVIII exhibits scroll paintings and Gallery XIX pottery, por- 

 celain, and panel paintings. 



The care and preservation of objects in the collection has in- 

 cluded work that can be itemized as follows : 



(1) Remounted: 



2. Chinese scroll paintings. 



1 Chinese panel painting. 



2 Japanese screen paintings. 

 6 Indian miniature paintings. 



(2) Repaired (i. e., reliued, remounted, or resurfaced) : 



22 paintings hy Whistler. 

 2 paintings by A. H. Thayer. 

 2 paintings hy T. W. Dewing. 

 2 paintings by D. W. Tryon. 

 2 paintings by G. Melchers. 

 1 painting by J. S. Sargent. 

 1 painting by A. Ryder, 



