The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-05-06 00:00:00

THE ROYAL ACADEMY BANQUET.

At the Royal Academy banquet, which took place
according to custom on Saturday evening, there was a
large assemblage of distinguished guests, under the
presidency of Sir Francis Grant, including several
Royal visitors. Amongst the speakers were Mr. Dis-
raeli and Mr. J. A. Froude. His Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge was also present.—Mr, Disraeli,
who was received with much applause, said :
Mr. President, I have, on the part of Her Majesty's Minis-
ters, to acknowledge the great honour which you have just
done them. It is in their opinion a great distinction, and
one which they highly appreciate. I wish myself we could
feel that, as Her Majesty's Ministers, we were entitled to
such a distinction from the Royal Academy. Sometimes, I
confess, I marvel why Her Majesty's Ministers have the
honour of being your guests. (A laugh.) No doubt the
relations between the Government of a country and
the Fine Arts will readily be acknowledged. By
the Fine Arts public taste is created, and taste
in an important element in the character of a
nation. (Cheers.) It animates to great deeds, and some-
times it prevents shameful ones. (A laugh.) But there is
no doubt that the conditions of life in this country are not
very favourable to the influence of a Government upon
the Fine Arts. Our population Is too vast and too bustling.
It seems, from all we can observe, that the creation of
the beautiful in a community demands the concentrated
sentiment of a limited population. (Hear, hear) It is
not, in a city like London, in the power of any Govern-
ment to create a consecrated quarter where groups of
palaces and temples can represent the seithetic convictions
of a nation. (Cheers.) The climate repudiates fresco (a
laugh), and, although we are still successful in producing
heroes, we are hardly so fortunate in producing their
statues. (Cheers, and a laugh.) Still, Mr. President.
I may venture to hope, on the part of the Government of
this country—not merely the existing Government, but the
past and the future Government—that there may be ex-
tenuating circumstances to urge if their patronage ef the
Fine Arts has, perhaps, been deficient, in consequence of
the difficulties which the Government of the country have
in this respect to encounter. I think there have been one
or two great objeots which have been accomplished entirely
by the Government of the country with respect to favouring
the Arts during the last few years which may be mentioned te
their credit, and the lirst is the creation of the National
Gallery. (Cheers.) It seems almost incredible that less than
50 years ago no such thing as a National Gallery existed in
this city; and now I think I may lay that, by the consistent
energy of the Administration of the country daring the last ,
30 years especially, and by the wise munificence of Parlia-
ment, we shall soon have a National Gallery which may '
certainly rank with the most celebrated and complete in
Europe. (Loud cheers.) Then there is another great result I
which has been accomplished by the Government of the
country, and that is the successtul establishment of schools
of art throughout the country. (Cheers) I think, though that
Is not, like a National Gallery, an object which immediately
attracts and strikes the public and commands its admira-
tion, the results of these institutions may be and have been
of the greatest importance and utility. (Cheers.) We have
now 140 of these schools of art in this country, with a num-
ber of pupils nearer 30,000 than 20,000. It is difficult to
calculate the influence of those schools of art on the taste
of the nation and on its manufacturing success, which
depends greatly on its taste. Unquestionably that influence
must be and and has been great. Well, there are two results
which the Government of the country has accomplished—
great results, even though as a Government they may have
done little with respect to favouring the Arts. (Cheers) So
far, they have done something to form, refine, and elevate
the taste of the country. (Cheers.) At the name time, let
us remember that the national taste, which is not the gross
sentiment it is sometimes described, is mainly indebted to
the institution under whose roof we now meet. (Cheers.)
The Royal Academy is now one of our ancient institutions ;
it has completed more than its century. They say the test
of a great poet is that be should complete a century. he
Royal Academy has completed more than its century.
(Cheers.) And when we hear criticisms on its constitution
and its productions, we shruld remember, with respect to
the first point, what was said by a great man, not in this,
but in a similar chamber, that aristocracies are always
criticized—(cheers)—and with respect to the second, every
man who has traveled and probably every man who
hears roe has travelled—must remember the pride he felt
In foreign galleries when he has observed that some of the
chief masterpieces on their walls were the works of Royal
Academicians—of those who have left us or of those who
are living among us. (Loud cheers.) I will not, Mr.
President, presume to decide—for I am not so fortunate as
to be an artist, and I am so fortunate as not to be a critic
—(cheers and a laugh)—it is therefore with hesitation that
I venture even to intimate an opinion—as to what may be
the cause of the various and perennial charms of the
English Schools, but I will presume to say it is its originality.
(Gear, hear.) I say that no school that has existed for a
century, at least, has produced so many first-rate works in so
many diff,rent styles as the English School—which is the
proof and mark of its originality (cheers) ; f r if you look
at the celebrated schools of the past, whose admirable
performances we treasure so highly, there is, I think,
no doubt, a certain mannerism in them all. You will
see the first impulse that was given by the creators of
those schools, the first style of expression and character,
were retained during long years. If you look at the Venetian
school you will find preserved even to late generations the
Influence of Titian and Giorgione, Tintoretto, and Palms. If
you look at the school of Bologna, which ie said to have
furnished more pictures than any of the Italian schools
you will trace almost to the last the influence of Guido
and Domenichino and the Cancels. Even in the Roman
school you will always trace something of Raffaele and
Giulio. But in the English school, there is no mannerism.
The Emzlish school is great in portraiture, in landscape ;
unrivalled in humour. It produced at its outset the greatest
master of humour in Hogatth, and till this moment it has
retaihed that choice characteristic. Well, I think where
there is originality there will be immortality. (,)beers.) The
sap always rises; the spirit is always present. (Cheers.) I
will not presume to make any reference to what I witnessed
to. day on your walls, because, in a few moments I have to
speak, the task must necessarily be invidious. Still, I may
generally express my conviction that on these walls there
are expressions of high art that will command the admira-
tion, not only of this country, but of Europe. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. J. A. Froude, who was cheered, in acknowledg-
ing the toast—" The Interests of Literature and
Science,"—said:

Sir Francis Grant, your Royal Highness.; my Lords, and
Gentlemen,—While I feel most keenly the honour which you
confer on me by connecting my name with the interests of
literature, I am embarrassed, in responding, by the nature of
my subject. What is literature, and who are men of letters?
From one point of view we are the most unprofitable of man-
kind—engaged mostly in blowing soap bubbles. (A laugh)
From another point of view we are the most practical and
energetic portion of the community. (Cheers.) If literature
be the art of employing words skilfully in representing facts,
or thoughts, or emotions, you may see excellent specimens
of it every day in the advertisements in our newspapers.
livery man who uses a pen to convey his meaning
to others, the man of science, the man of business, the
member of a learned profession, belongs to the com-
munity of letters. Nay, he need not use his pen at all.
The speeches of great orators are among the most trea-
sured features of every national literature. The orations of
Mr. Grattan are the text-books in the school of rhetoric in
the United States. Mr. Bright, under this aspect of him,
holds a foremost place among the men of letters of Esigland. '
(Cheers.) Again, Sir, every eminent man, be he what he will,
be he as unbookish as he pleases, so he is only eminent
enough, so he holds a oonspicurnis place in the eyes of his
eountrymen, potentially belongs to us, and if not in life, then
after he is gone will be enrolled among us. The public insist
on being admitted to his history, and their curiosity will not
go unsatisfied. (Cheers.) His letters are hunted up, his journals
are sifted; his saying in conversation, the doggerel which he
writes to his brothers and sisters are collected and stereotyped
in print. (" Hear, hear "and a laugh.) His fate overtakes him
He cannot escape from it. We cry out, but it does not appear
that men sincerely resent the liberty which is taken with
them. We never hear of them instructing their executors to
burn their papers. (A laugh.) They have enjoyed so much
the exhibition that has been made of their oontemporaries
that they consent to be sacrificed themselves. Again, Sir,
when we look for those who have been most distinguished as
men ot letters, in the usual sense of the word, where do we
find them? The famous lawyer is found in his chambers, this
famous artist is found in his studio. Our foremost representa-
tives we do not find aPrays in their libraries; we find them,
in the first place, in the service of their country. (Rear, hear.)
Owen Meredith is Viceroy of India, and all England has ap-
plauded the judgment that selected and sent him there.
(Cheers.) The right hon. gentleman who three years ago
was conducting the administration of this country with such
brilliant success was first generally known to his country-
men as a remarkable writer. During forty years of arduous
service he never wholly deserted his original calling. (Hear,
hear.) He is employing an interval of temporary retire
ment to become the interpreter of Homer to the English
race— (cheers)—or to break a lance with the moat renowned
theologians in defence of spiritual liberty. (Cheers) A
great author,
thcoonrt!ewmhpolaset contemplates the year e have been all lately reading with
year 3000 as a period at which his
works may still be studied. It any man might be led reason-
ably to form such an anticipation for himself by the admira-
tion of his contemporaries, Lord Macaulay may be acquitted
of vanity. The year 3000 is far away; much will happen
between now and then; all that we can say with certainty of
the year 3000 is that it will be something extremely different
from what any one expects. I will not predict that men will
then be readb g Lord Macaulay's "History of Englan-l." I
will not predict that they will then be reading '• Lothair."
(A laugO.) But this I will say, that if any statesman of the
age of Augustus or the Antonines had left us a picture of patri-
cian socitty at Rome, drawn with the same skill and with
the same delicate irony with which Mr. Disraeli has described
a part of Eaglish society in " Lothair," DO relic of antiquity
would now be devoured with more avidity and interest
e you a
our heartilymost
obliged to you for
(Loud cheers.) Thus, Sir, we are au anomalous body, with
and largeiv, we re
very ill-defined limwitiss.hinßgutu,ssliwCehlia,s
sincere thanks. (Cheers.)
Sir James Paget, who was much cheered, replying
on behalf of science, said :
Mr. President, your Royal Highnesses, my Lords, and
Gentlemen,-1 count it a great honour to be permitted to
return thanks for the good wishes for science expressed by
those who are the best and most worthy representatives of
the study and power of the fine arts. I cannot speak of all
science, but I believe that, in this instance, I can speak the
minds of all scientific men, for they are of one mind in their
hope that the fine arts and science may always work to-
gether, giving mutual help, and having for their highest aim
the display of truth. (Cheers.) The studies of the fine arts
and of science are often spoken of as if they were opposite;
and doubtless the artistic and the scientific minds are in
many things unlike; yet, perhaps, therefore, they may be
mutually helpful, each being, without aid from the other, a
very imperfect mind. For example, I have often tried to study
in these rooms the relation between the fine arts and the science
In which many
years of my life were spent, and I can see the
emosfanianefaacotrormiLt
hoaennmadrerteeh;pahon,,oiiewra; ittohhfeaiestosdneltrxs ppulrateys(es,
fidrthose, ararentpdtohsoeef
iwi
nt
shlo nhe egu
In life and death; how it has thus supplied good guidance,
and e
athrtessurhenslst,teinatro.
ft
accuracy in
feel, somest s o the i highestthink
am
moef n the
of
science do, that in the fine arts and in the view of nature
which they teach us the purest mental refreshment may be
found. (Cheers.) Iran see, too, that in artists may h studied
some of the highest instances, not only of the y power of the
railtivatect eye and hand, hilt, above these, the mental p w
which oan discern and portray the harmonies of all living
g
forms, which can make evident the idea which is above the
form. (Cneers) He that knows how tame and lifeless is the
mere anatomy of form can best prize and most desire the in-
fluence of the art which can clothe the form with permanent
life, and show its poetry and beauty. (Cheers.) But this
can only be with art restrained by science ; the ideal is too apt
to beemne grotesque where there is no knowledge of thereat.
((ibews.) let eompleteness, then, each needs the other;