The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-05-12 00:00:00

ART AND ITS PROGRESS.

ME first week in May is tht, rv•osl., important
one of the whole year in what le li:iown as the
world of art,. The products of the cultured taster
of years are thrown open to the PUbile it a price
which rendels the study if the works within the
reach of all. England does not profess to rival
the Yuccesi of bygone centuries. Some evi-
dances of (hair transcendent powers are found
-iu MU' own N.:Altura] Gallery ; but the traveller
upon the Continent, who has wade his way
thrOugh the ancient pahtet-s of Venice, or stood
in admiration beueath the dome of St. Peter's,
or wandered amid the Marble, columns support-
ing the cathedral of St. Ambrose, at Milan, has
had far wore i-I:press;ve tc.timonies of the high

tone of Italian art wht-n, s:) far as we are con-
cerned. itlwas in its -jai:11)0y. The climate of
these islands does not see-in favourable to the
development of genius like that of Michael
Augelo or of luben:4. The clear blue of the
Italian sky is unknown with us, and our artists
have to make the best of the marl:l,, gloom which
seems inseparable from the atmosphere of what
one of our statesmen descaibed long c.go as "A
wentherbeatt n island in a northern sea."

The Royal Academy of Great Britain is not in
its present constitutkn much more than 120
years old ; but for its age it must be cdtnitted
that it is a flourishing institution ; and of the
encouragement which it has given to British
hit there can he no gnus ion. Of the bold ‘dlich
it has obtained upon the late:Title', of those who
are enabled to appreciate the work which it
promotes themis equally little doubt. Its an-
nual Banquet, prep,tratory to the opening of the
:xhibition, is attended by the representatives of
all the higher professions. The Princo of Wales
ti-Jere as a rule, as was the ceso on the present
occesiou. The Heir-Apparent has many en-
gagenientP, but he finds time to carefully
through the Acade .4 rooms and to note their
ioteresting features ; and thus, wnile showing
kis intered in the progress of art, makes himself
acquainted with the t-ltdent features of the Ex-
hibition. Taking part in ths after-dinner pro-
coediugs last Saturday, his Royal .Highness, in
an appropriate speech, dwelt upon the peculiar
excellence of the Water-colours in the exhibition
which vas Le more remarkable from the faci
tirit there were so many competing Water-
colour exhibitions in existence now. At this

Banquet mingle her I\l:+j,isty's alviser3 and the
chiels of the Opposition, tiie. fuos: eminent men
of si lulu, the judges of the land, divina:; et lad-

ing high in the service of the church, and repre-
sentatives of our best-kuown cieic and municipal
institutions. The Academicians invite the most
distinguished men in a:t pre'2eFer.iens to their
dinner', and their noble and wealthy patrons
have an opportunity Of judging for themselves
as to the comparative progress of art in this
country. Naturally,. the pictures are of varyieg
degrees of excellence. Some have been on the
easels for a year or more.; others, with, wonder-
ful facility, hive finished their paintings in a
few menthe. In any CAE4?, here, in the first days
of May, is the completiou of the wark which has
been going on. Tile productions of many nights
and days have been handed in ; the pictures
which have not already been secured at the
private views await the selectioa of critical
customers; the seed haa been sowo, and the
harvest is now to be reaped.
Every year the public, is told of the number
of pictures—sometimes they may be counted by
the hundred—which the Academy has rejected.
But it is not necessary to assume that these are
not of such a standard of excellence that they
cannet be admitted. Capacious as are the new
rooms of Burlington House, they can accommo-
date only a given qesntity. Some neceisariiy
must stand out, and the selection is left in the
hands of the "Hanging Committee," a body of
gentlemen whose compn:ence for ten task is be-
yond question. Natitraey a liWe disappointment
is son:climes felt by thoe whose works fail ti
gain admittance, and on sotue occasions sugges-
tions have been made for the estabisinueut of
a rival exhibitien, for the nueabcr.of the excluded
has almost equalled tUt it the admitted. Bat.
for obvious reasons no artist cares to appear in
the ranks of the rejected ; and the suggestion
has never been brought up to practical issue.
The disappointment of having a picture rejected
which it has Luken mouths or patient labour to
ex‘.teute, is doebt!ess bard to bear, but the ex-
perieace of unappreciated effort is not peculiar
to the profession of an arti3t. It is felt in eh
alas of life, and when it (toes happen tho only
:bingeto be dons is to t oar it phnosephically,
and to make the best of he varying vicissitudes
ef life.

'IHE Li N TRADE
WOLVE It:IAMPTON, Wednesday.

The market this afternoon was very quiet, and
current transactions were mostly for small parcels on
ace,nitit of immediate %ants, the boilers in sonic
ins'atices being abla. to secure their last contract
prices, though in th 2 mojority of the negotiation.
the bityrrs did their best to weaken prices. In th,
bmr r,:te, the makers of second class qualities art_
the b s. off fz,r or.le,s, work being on hand to keep
h.! machinery going tinoughout the quarter. In
a few eases Lii 10. e. to £6 155. was obtained, but
£6 5s was the gt ncral ra:e. - Galvanisers' theotE
were disposed of in exceptionally small lots. For
stanninc, sheets there was a rather more animated
demand by consutm_rs in the travelling trunk and
subidiary trades, who are busier owing to the ap
preaching holiday season. lloops sold at a very
quiet rate, the export merchants being the
pal purchasers. Girder plates were inquired afkr,
and the boiter-plate makers reported a. steady
man]. TfloplAt..S appear dto be almost entirely
tiegl-eted and stocks do not seem to dtorease.
Du, in' the past fortnight there have been some
g ocl transactions negotiated in paddled bars, but
tuis w, ett they are offered at 1 mer money. In pig
iron the contracts made just now are for exceed.
tiny limited lots, in some cases truckloads only
being t ought by people who were negotiating for
:;00 t9os a few months ago. Prices tire nevertheless
well maintained as smelters have but little stock by
them, the current make apparently going into con.
sumption. Meditun qualitits sell much more fre-
quently than other descriptions. Hematites w
steady at about 655., and a great del of this iron
has yet to be delivered un:ler old orders. The de-
mand fr house coal is moderately good, but Plies
are exceedingly weak; as is also the ca,e wit:t
furnace on I forge fuel, buyeis asiertiug titnt.t they
can purci.ase these pt lilies at 2s. a ton under list
prices.

BIRMING HAM, THURSDAY.
Business on 'Change to- day was unsettled by the
1
i prolongation of the difficulty in VP, coal trade.
i While uncertainty prevails as to whether the re-
duction in coal may not be cancelled, the iron
!, market is somewhat unhinged. At present the
. efforts to obtain an umpire have not been eucc(”s-
ful, Alterman Avery and local gentlemen who
! have been applied so having declined to undert -Lice
? the responsible office. The threat of the colliers to
t
i strike has aggravated the situation, but it :!s to be
i hoped that they will loyally abide by th 9 decision
lof the umpire, whoever may be appointed. Tito
1 condition of the market to-day \vial id be n--,.. en.
Icouragement to enchtuce the !Ric. s ~f eo tip n-li there
was a drooping tendency in the value Of ir• .:1, and
a stagnation of demand for some descriptions of
nianufa.cture..l iron and pigs. In the present deli-
cate position oi the iron trade, and the fierce
' petition of foreign producers, nothing bzt cheap
. rui-1 can give the South Staffordshire ma,nufaziurers
a chance. Pig ir .n was iu dull request at :,iilding
quotations. The bet qualities of 'nuke:: iron
. were in moderate request, but the ordinary quali-
-1 ties were neglected. Common bars were waz.k in
valuo and slow of demand, and sheets, though in
. rather better inquiry, sold at the unremur_nativo
t minimum of X 7 10s. at the works.
! In accordance with the wish expressed by a large
number of iron and coalrnasters and other gentle-
men attending the Birmingham Exchange on
until
rule
aboutbettowuree o'clock. theoc k. h
llae u
Thursdays. notice is given th 3 on and after Thurs. i
day, May 17th, it is proposed that high 'Change
,
oursof
notice
is and continue
signed for
the South Statfor 'sh:re Ironmasters' Ass( ciation b,
Mr. Deillie jvues, dui; to.
rt) ry.