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n.y Smis
Nov 18, 1916.
...

OLDER PAINTERS FAVORED

Two-thirds of Income Will Be Expended for Works of Men 45 Years of Age or Older.

A fund of about $250,000, comprising the entire estate of Henry W. Ranger, noted landscape painter, who died on Nov. 7 last, is Left in Mr. Ranger's will to the National Academy of Design, the entire income to be used for the purchase of paintings by American artists. Mr. Ranger directed that at least two-thirds of the purchases are to be the works of artists 45 years of age and older. 

In stipulating the purpose for which the income from the fund is to be used Mr. Ranger said: 

"The principal of the entire estate, after the payment of debts and funeral expenses, shall be kept invested and the income spent by the council of the academy in the purchase of paintings by North American artists; at least two-thirds of the income to be spent in the purchase of works by artists who are 45 years of age and over, it remaining optional with the council to spend the remaining one-third, or any part thereof, in the purchase of works by younger artists."

Mr. Ranger directs that the paintings thus purchased be presented by the National Academy to various art institutions of America, or to libraries, or other institutions with art galleries.

Mr. Ranger imposes the condition that the National Gallery at Washington D. C., which is under the supervision of the Smithsonian Institution, shall have the option to acquire any painting purchased out of the fund for its collection. Such option must be exercised within the five-year period beginning ten years after the artist's death and ending fifteen years after his death. If the National Gallery does not exercise the right within the time specified, the picture is to remain the property of the institution then possessing it. 

Mr. Ranger named as the executors William Macbeth, art dealer, and Charles Henry Phelps, an attorney. The estate consists entirely of personal property. Had the decedent's wife, Mrs. Helen Endora Ranger, survived him, she would have received the income from the estate for life, and on her death the principal would have gone to the National Academy. The decedent did not mention in the will his sister, Edith F. Ranger.

Mr. Ranger's Interest in the National Gallery has covered many years, and to that fact is due the provision that the National Gallery may reclaim within the five-year period any picture bought from the fund for any other gallery. It was largely through his suggestions that William T. Evans made is gift of paintings to the National Gallery.