Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-12-22
COMynU.YlcaTED.
RICHMOND, Nov. 26tb, 1927.

| s'T' WO submitting " To cOnsl-
GRAFTON" plan for the permanent encoura se-
'nent of the Fine Arts in the United S,a,es,n
having been addressed TO you by John Trumbul
Esq, AMI having been published, and Gas is stated
IN the publicaion) " listened to with great salts
fsciion'' by the Board of Directors of the Anne
rican Academy of Fine Arts, of which he is Pre-
sident; and copies of these le,ters'' in his o,cn
hand tcriting'' having been at the request of the
a'ithor, " deposited among the archives of the
academy, and these letters, moreover, having
oeen, IN consequence OF a motion. seconded by a
doctor OF the Academy, printed, from a belief as
the Boarl expresses il, :. that their publication
would be beneficial TO the Fine AR So shall
lake the liberty of addressing one letter to YOU Oh
the subject and publish it, with view of shey-
ing, To you and TO the public, tina, the plan of Mr.
irumbul, although sanctioned by all Academy,
would, in ITS most piominent part. be discours ge-
rrent, Instead OF encouragement, TO the Fine
/ Arts in Country.
| Mr.. Trumbull proposes :" that whenever an
event, political, naval, military, shall occur
which shall be regarded by he Government, as of
sufficient importance TO be recorded az matter of
history, the most eminent painter Of the time, be
ordered TO paint picture of the same 10 be placed
| In some OF the national buidings-that an artist G..
secondary talent be employed 10 make a copy OF
ihe same, which shall be given to the Mint +,
! Admiral, or General, under whose direction A
command The event shall have taken place. an
that The moot distinguished engrsver of the day
should be employed 10 engrave copperp,aie from
the painting so executed, and that one thousand
IMPRESSIONS first ned from this plate, be resery-
ed by government, 10 give TO ambassadors Sc,
> the remaining impressions which may be print
! ed, to be sold, snd the proceeds applied TO fund
| destined to deiray the expense of the PLAN"
need not ak you, sir, what that stimulus is
which ahiuates the gene mind in the pu, suit
OF the difficult, the great, and the sublime? You
know that II is not the desire of gain alone, but
the hope of excellng, of bene6ting mankind, or
OF acquiring fame Take from the artists of the
United States that hope, and our country will
never rival Europe in the Fine Arl.. If these
arts attain TO eminence in any country, il is by the
etnuIa tion OF many, all eager gain the highest
prize in the gilt Of public opinion. Let US see
how the plan OF Mr.. TIumbulI will operate: There
are now, we will suppose. six eight artists in
the United States eqnal.,o great historical compo
si'ion These gentlemen, we will suppose, are all
ready TO start IN the race for fame, at The call of
government Blu. let US suppose that one alone
should be employed according to the plan propos-
ed, and let US imagine how such call would opcr>
ale as an encouragement, otherwise, upon all
those artists who would thus be stigmatis.d as Sc
candary, and who, in time, might be called upon
TO copy the great mans pictures.
i Those artists who now in honorable COM
petition, striving for the mastery, would be dis
couraeed None but young students Of the art,
such as The writer of the letters was, when. as
he says. he "would have been happy 10 have re
ceiv SS5OO for copy OF Vests battle of La
Roqle'-none but such, or men who have given
! uP all hope OF fame, would accept Of such en-
pioyment. Painters are not made by copying No,
sr, the only way TO encourage the Fine Arts, is to
encourage emulation among artists. Let The Go
vernnent employ all those who have distinguishes
themselves, and thus excite generous competition.
Let the copies I've made reduced piices By the
ARTISTS themselves, students under their insoec-
hon then, indeed. painting would be enc uraged
Ii many are called upon. fair trial vii! he
made, an he public will decide o, the merits nj
h|' arita a tt,air
not by circumstances connected with the former
lie OF the man, Ihr question will be, not yyhe -
Their he IS Old or young, rich poor, distinguishes
Tor naval, military. or political services or other
wise; out his merit as a painter mu4t be alone
considered, II tie art OF painting is TO be encour-
aged The government could not be 90 blind as
TO think OF rewaTding Statesman for his services
by appointing him General, paying a sea Cap.
tain, by giving him pictures to pPin IL claims
foi tins nature bad not been brosght before the
public, should apologize 10 you, sir for such a
sosses ION May the psopIe aud G. vernmeni oil
the United States reward their servants bt NOT by
employing tn IN in that which must disgrace the
country.
ri Besides the above objection 10 employing one
painter alone viz that all Others are injured and
dlscou'ag ed-rnother may be added. That one
u anxious for fame, night employ years on one
picture, AMI the degraded copyists be lett TO pine
In neglect, while he is !aboring for immortality
But, sIr, feel that am Ing you iniu,iice, by
more than bringing 10 Jour mind The bearing which
such prhi i'iqD, If adopted, must hive upon The
Fine Arts of the Coustry
As the President OF the American Academy ha
Z men Ioned Alderman Boydell ia connection with
his proposi on for encouraging III. Fine Arts
viii bring 10 your Excelleucy's recollection, that
he dd not employ alone, but excited
emulation by employing all the painters Of Eng
iand at once and engrayer4 in pfoponionate
numbers.
Mr.. Trumbull asserts, th7t the Last war is
especially full Of admirable Subjects for the pen.
en- The revolutionary contest, il my opinion
deserves tie character much more Tine has sur.
rounded the events + ;he revolution with Hall
they are sancuhed by their known esulis. "The
present and rising srti-is'' may find subjects for
the Occupation OF long lives 10 the glorious srug.
sics ahd uiumphs of Ihst day. hese events,
painted by various hands. would call forth The tai
enis OF our artists, and whsn brought together,
would shsw at view the history OF the coun
try aud the state of The ats at the Time Of nsn,
! ing. The work ef one arGst could not sheyy the
lat, and would probably belly the first
I III sht here safely rest my cause, not only
WIN you, but with the public did I not know the
| weight which the appreciation Of an Academy
| mrs' give TO Mr. TrutDbGlIs opinions. Bot when
u ~ known that The American Academy Of Fine
Arts IS not 81 association 0f artists, and that d.
reciofs, the published let Of whom is before me.
are lawyers, physicians, merchants, &c. yfb Mr.
lrumsuii 90 their PRESIDENT; / trust that the opt
Mon Of an individual, if founded on Justice will
outweigh That OF The whole directory If msleI or
mistaken /, therefore, feaTlessy submit 10 the
decision OF The people and Government Of the Ii.
'2.ates' the question, whether IL is bstter 10 en-
pi0y one man, 20 the exclusion Of ~ o hers. in
decorating with paintings the naGonal buildings or
a o. 81. H..