Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
35greatartistictraditionsoWestandEasthadparallelsincapturingthewondersonatureandconveyingspiritualinspiration.AsadedicatedcollectorFreerbynomeansonlywishedtopossessworksoartassymbolsopersonalcultivationandwealth.Insteadheregardedhimselastheguardianoneexamplesoartwhichheintendedortheeducationandinspira-tionoothers.Inlate1904Freerproposedaplantogivemuchohiscollectiontothenationalongwithaundortheconstructionoagallerytohouseitandormakinguturepurchases.WiththehelpohisbrotherWilliamL.FreerandPresidentTheodoreRoosevelttheSmithsonianInstitutionacceptedhisproposalinearly1906.18IntheollowingyearsFreermanagedtoexpandhisdonationtothenationandamassedthemajorityohisAsiancollection.Heparticularlywishedorittobeusedtoteachstudentsandspeciedinhiswillthatspecialarrange-mentsbemadeorstudentsandscholarstoviewanyobjectsnotonexhibition.In1923theFreerGalleryoArtnallyopenedinWashingtonD.C.housingmorethan9000worksoneothelargestcollectionsoAsianartatthattime.AwareothededicationohisriendandthesignicanceohiscollectingmissionTryonintroducedFreertoapromisingexhibitionopportunitywithintheSmithcommunity.WithTryonshelpFreerorganizedtherstpublicexhibitionohisAsiancollectionattheHillyerArtGalleryinFebruary1897ayearaterhisinitialtriptoJapan.ThisexhibitionwhichincludedtwentysixJapanesepaintingsandourscreenpanelswasamongtheearliestAsianartexhibitionsinNewEngland.19AlocalnewspapertheDailyHampshireGazetteFebruary171897reportedthatthisexhibitionwasreceivedwithgreatenthusiasmbyNorthamptonresidentsandaboutsixhundredvisitorsattendedtheopening.ThepublicwasdelightedbytheantasticdisplayopaintingsinthelargegalleryandbytheexceptionalqualityoJapaneseartaboutwhichmostknewlittle.ThisresponseinspirednearbyWilliamsCollegetoinviteFreertobringhisshowtoitsowncampusthatsameyear.ThewarmreceptioninwesternMassachusettsaswellastherisingpublicinterestinJapaneseartencouragedFreertowithdrawcompletelyromtherailroadbusinessanddevotehimseloverthenexttwodecadestocollectingAsianart.FromtheircorrespondenceweknowthatTryonwasverypleasedthatFreeroferedthisintroductoryJapaneseartexhibitionasanopportunityortheSmith