The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-22 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE ART UNION.

The prize distribution of the Orptal Palace Art
Union took place yesterday ; Mr. Peoesson HAS?, R.A., in
the chair. The following report was read:
" The council of the Crystal Palace Art Union have much
gratification in annum* the result of their operations in
the port year. During a season of remarkable omonercial
depression, through which the interests of all kindred
societies have Wee most seriously affected, the Crystal
Pikes Art Union lass secured the patrouage of snarly 4,000
presealstio• works for the past season have,
=intense, been received with highest favour. The
ussails4 the possibility of supply, and nume-
ral@ snhow_iptleas were km by the delay of their pro-
ductios. Thhi was, however, under the circumstances un-
avoidable, as the production of the models, together nth the
subuquat dohs& of an elaborate and difficult manufacture,
secessarily involved considerable time, and the council pre-
tend to risk the adverse influence of such delay rather than,
by undue haste, issue the works in • Ism satisfactory manner
Aea hr hitherto made them so peculiarly acceptable to the
mincriben. They most confidently refer to this series as
evidenoss of the value of the society's influence in the ad-
mocement of art-labour. It is generally conceded that the
poinsettia= works are of the approximate commercial value
af the subscription, and that they have an artistic merit
which will always distinguish them from similar works pre-
=id far trade purposes. This was one of the chief ob-
is the establishment of the Crystal Palace
Art lcilrcredead it has least unquestionably been effected.
Per the pa* seism Mesa original copyright works have
hose expressly prepared, from which subscribers of one
vines have the optical of selection, together with three
available to sabsoribsre of two guineas, one for those of
three guineas, and two for those of live guinea'. The council
feel amitred that if the copies of these works had been ready
for dletributiona on application, the subscription list would
bore shown an important increase. They trust that by
future arrangements they @ball obviate this dithculiv, and
be able to have the works ready foe prompt delivery Imme-
diately after their publicatioo. This the council feel is
alone required to secure that ultimate success which the
society ie so generally admitted to deserve. Amongst the
artists engaged upon their production the council are proud
to refer to the names of Odder Marshall, N.A.,
David Roberts, R. A., Raffaele Monti, Joseph Durham, and
P. H. Miller ; whilst those of the various eminent firma
engaged in the manufactunng and decorative details of the
designs are suffizient warrant of their excellence in those
respects. In addition to these, the subscribes have, to •
limited silent, bad the privilege of choosing from the
works of previous semoos. Exclusively of thane works,
the prize list will be found to include lIIIIINIOUS examples
in art and art-manufacture of great merit. The council
having bad their attention drawn to the disadvantage of
closing the subscriptios lists so late in the year, when many
influential friends who would otherwise take an interest
are absent from town, have it under consideration to close
the lista in future and fix the prixo.drawing earlier in the
smaou."