State

December 19, 1936 THE STATE Page Three The Mint Museum of Art “Madonna and Child,” by Francesco Granacci, one of the outstanding exhibits in the permanent collection of the Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte. THE Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte. North Carolina’s first art museum, is opened free to the pub¬ lic every day except Monday. The hours each day are from 10:00 un¬ til 5:00 o’clock. The col¬ ored people are welcome on Thursdays. Sunday hours arc from ЗЛО to 5:00 o'clock. The at¬ tendance since the open¬ ing on October 22 has been very fine, there having been for the first weeks an average of 1,- 000 visitors each week. The children are the liest patrons, which is as it should be. The museum expects to change exhibitions every month or two, so as to keep up the inter¬ est. This is the new way of museums. They want good permanent collections but there must be traveling ex¬ hibitions also. The In¬ augural Exhibition, which is now showing will leave on -lanuary 1, ami a new exhibition is being planned after that. A Fine Collection The museum has a fine beginning in its permanent collection. The paint¬ ing, “Madonna and Child.” by Fran¬ cesco Granacci, 15th Century Floren¬ tine painter, is the gift of Mr. S. II. Kress. This hangs in the attractive foyer of the museum. The portrait of “Queen Charlotte,” by Allan Kam- sav. gives the name to the “Queen Charlotte Room.” This grand por¬ trait of the queen for whom Char¬ lotte, the city, was named, is the gift of Mrs. S. West ray Battle, of Ashe¬ ville. North Carolina. One of the most popular paintings, which is owned by the museum, is the “Golden Hour.” by William Hart, an American paint¬ er of the Hudson River School. This very large and beautiful landscape painting, is a gift of Mr. Austin Springs, New York City, in memory of his brother, the late Mr. Eli Bax¬ ter .Springs, who was mayor of Charlotte and connoisseur. North Carolina's most noted painter, Elliott Daingerficld, has a painting, “Autumn," a gift of Mr. ami Mrs. Charles A. Cannon, of Concord, North Carolina. There have been many small gifts to the museum, most of these for the Mint Room, which is exhibiting relies from the old building and also showing a “History of Money.” The paintings belonging to the loan collection arc of great importance. They were gathered together by Miss Mechlin, the Advisory Director. She has obtained the best from the Na¬ tional Gallery. Washington, t h e Grand Central Galleries, New York City, the Macbeth Galleries and from many other galleries and individuals. There is no finer collection of American art showing in this country today The history of American art By Mrs. Harold C. Dwelle President Mint Museum of Art can be traced down from Colonial times down to the present day. showing the in¬ fluence of the art of Europe, and Japan, on these American artists. The Colonial Room is filled with the best of art of this period. This room is sponsored by the Mecklenburg Coun¬ ty Committee of the North Carolina Society of the Colonial Dames of America. All paint¬ ings ami furniture of the room arc lent by citizens of Charlotte, except one, a portrait by Jeremiah T li e u s , which comes from Bos¬ ton. Jeremiah Theus was from Switzerland and came to Charleston, South Carolina in 1739. Thomas Sully is repre¬ sented by a portrait of Admiral Wilkes, who was a great explorer. The maps made by Admiral Wilkes were used by Admiral Byrd on his Ant¬ arctic expeditions. Rembrandt Peale, Robert Edge Pine and Samuel Waugh are other early American artists who have portraits in the Colonial Room. Among the English painters shown are Sir Henry Raeburn, George Romney and Sir Thomas Lawrence. Vigee Le Brun. the great French woman artist has a portrait of herself. Among the many great masters shown in the Inaugural Exhibition arc Frederick Waugh, the world’s greatest marine painter; Henry B. Fuller, whose painting subject shown is “Illusions”; John La Farge, mural painter who has never been surpassed : Robert Henri, noted teacher; Charles W. Hawthorn, showing the French influence in his work ; Frank Duveneek, whose "Whistling Boy” is so well known ; Wayman Adam’s striking portrait of "Cornelia Otis Skinner,” and Harry Watrons, with one of his exquisite still life paintings, “Guardian of the Temple.” Just to name a few others of the outstanding {Continued on page sir )