Part 4 (1/2)
In Paris Captain Baker found the situation discouraging The first official he saw told him that, under the circumstances, any participation of France whatsoever was out of the question: France was in ; if any Frenchest participation he would be criticised; furthermore, Albert Tirman, at the head of the French committee that had visited San Francisco the year before to select the site of the French Pavilion, had coes and was hard at work in the barracks of the Invalides, acting as an intermediary between the civil and military authorities
Then Captain Baker appealed to Ah the ambassador was enthusiastic for the Exposition, he said that, in such a crisis, he could not ask France to spend the four hundred thousand dollars set apart for use in San Francisco Captain Baker said: ”Don't you think if France came in at this time a wonderfully sympathetic effect would be created all over the United States?” The ambassador replied, ”I do” ”Wouldn't you like to see France participate?” The ambassador declared that he would ”Will you say so to Mr Tirly”
A week later Baker and Tirman were on their way to Bordeaux to see Gaston Thomson, Minister of Commerce They made these proposals: The exhibits should be carried by the Jason through the canal to San Francisco; the building of the French Pavilion should be undertaken by the Division of Works of the Exposition, on specification to be cabled to San Francisco of the frame work, the moulds for the columns and architectural ornaments to be prepared in France and shi+pped by express; the French co possible exhibitors; a statement was to be overn exhibits and what exhibits were ready; a statement should come from the Minister of Fine Arts as to how s could be secured for the Palace of Fine Arts; a complete representation of the Department of Historical Furniture and Tapestries, known as the Garde Meuble, was to be made for the pavilion
In the intervieith the Minister of Coued that, without France, an Exposition could not be international, and that the participation of France at this ti in San Francisco, would be like winning a battle before the world It would show the people of the United States France's gratitude for the , and would warm the hearts of the American people
Thoovernment became enthusiastic Several thousand dollars were spent in cabling; Henri Guillauuished French architect, experienced in many expositions, was sent out When the Jason stopped at Marseilles it took, on board one of the most remarkable collections of art treasures ever shi+pped to a foreign country, the finest things in one of the world's great storehouses of treasure, including even the priceless historical tapestries, and a large collection of French paintings for the Fine Arts Palace, gathered by the French coreat labor, due to the absence of many of the painters in the war
When Captain Baker left France he had accomplished far more for the Exposition than he realized hi French participation preceded him to Italy and helped to prepare the way The Italians listened to his proposition, all the ly because France had been won over Besides, he had a warm supporter in Ernesto Nathan, ex-Mayor of Rome, who had paid an extended visit to San Francisco and had become an enthusiastic chaements that led to the collection of the splendid display of Italian art, shi+pped on the Vega, together with many commercial exhibits Captain Bakers work in France and in Italy, accomplished within three weeks, was a triun Participation in General
Germany was not to be co previous indifference on the part of the government German manufacturers wished to be represented, and they actually received governement Austrians, not to be outdone by Italy, unofficially came in In fact, despite the war, every country had soland and Scandinavia and Switzerland included, even if they did not have official authority
There are those who maintain that, in spite of criticis than it could have made if there had been no war American collectors, with rare canvases, were persuaded to help in thework that, otherwise, they would have kept at holad to send their collections to this country for safe keeping during war tiood deal of concern was felt about sending the treasures on so long a journey, subject to the hazards of attack by sea Furthermore, from the European point of view, San Francisco see for Art Treasures
A short time after Captain Baker sailed from New York another emissary went abroad for the Exposition, J N Laurvik, the art critic A feeeks before Mr Laurvik had returned from Europe, where he had represented the Fine Arts Depart for the work of the artists in those countries that were not to participate officially At the time of the outbreak he was in Norway and he had already secured the promise of many collections and the co-operation of artists of distinction His report of the situation as he left it persuaded the authorities that, in spite of the difficulties, he ht do effective work
When Laurvik arrived in Rome he found that Captain Baker had already prepared for his activities Ernesto Nathan was devoting himself heart and soul to the cause But the Italian authorities, for the most part, were absorbed in the questions that ca with the coe, Laurvik quickly nificent canvases by the President of the French Academy in Rome, Albert Besnard, painted, for the es, and a collection of pieces by the Norwegian sculptor, Lerche
Notable Collections
Froreatly helped by the Ah the International Exhibit held in Venice every two years had closed several months before, many of the works of art were still there, their owners, either afraid or unable to take the so close to the scene of war It was the general concern that enabled Laurvik to secure soether with the Italian work, he arranged to have shi+pped here on the Jason, Norwegian and Hungarian paintings and fifty canvases by thepainter in Finland, Axel Gallen-Kallela He also made a short journey from Venice to the home of Marinetti, the journalist, poet and leader of the
Italian Futurist painters, who, after , promised to send fifty exaroup
On leaving Venice Laurvik started for Vienna In spite of the war, he was promised support by the Minister of Art Unfortunately, the art societies fell to quarreling, and gave little or no help Then Laurvik appealed to the artists the the Austrian painters, he found an ally The collection he made in Vienna included several of Kakosha's canvases, lent by their owners, and a large nuarian Collection
In Hungary Laurvik had a powerful friend in Count Julius Andrassy, a man, of wealth and influence, the owner of one of the newspapers published in Budapest Froe contribution and he inspired other collectors to do likewise The getting together of the material was full of difficulties Much of it had been taken away for safekeeping The museums were all closed and soround Already the Russians, during their raid on the Carpathian Mountains, had possessed themselves of rare art works, some of the best canvases cut fro the sufferers was Count Andrassy himself, who lost valuable heirloo several titians In spite of that experience, Andrassy, refused to hide his possessions He preferred the risk of losing the to start a panic
The Hungarian collection ca the Jason It was h the Italian territory to Italy, arriving in Genoa three days after the Jason was scheduled to so sail from there But the Jason happened to be delayed three days, too
By the German steamer, the ”Crown Princess Cecilie,” it happened that an interesting collection of Gerie Institute of Pittsburgh, was started on the way to Germany; but the war caused the shi+p to return to an A the canvases were secured for the Exposition and taken off the shi+p
On the opening day of the Exposition it was found that the Palace of Fine Arts, far fro too little material, had too much Not only were China and japan and several of the European nations well represented, but on the ere many art works that there would not be roo had to be erected It was finished in July and it became known as the Fine Arts Annex
I