Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-22


| it by its advocates.
| 10 dead.
| o. Robinson has got an artist at last who shows
some genius and style. He has just published
portrait of Miss Clifton, which is very beautiful
Clifton herself is getting to be most splendid wo-
man.
NATIONAL AcADRMY.-THE TRE-ToTAL-DEPRA
WITTY SCHOOL or PAINTINe.-It is most amusing to
| see the fever into which "Mr. Henry Inman, por-
| trait painter, President Of the National Academy
and brother Of the ssb-editor of the Commercial
Advertiser" Gas he not unfrequently subscribes
himself lashes himself about the Independent cri-
tesms that have lately appeared in several of the
city papers, relative to many of the miserable daubs
now exhibiting at Clinton Hall. Mr. Inman has thrown
down the pencil, which he with very moderate
ability, and taken up the pen which he with no
ability at ALL unless indeed it be merit in a to
make himself look excessively ridiculous.
| Mr.. Henry Inman takes credit to himself with
unequalled modesty, for certain proceedings
| nected with the establishment of the Academy,
| in relation to which there is credit whatever
due to him. The real founder of the National
| Academy, is Samuel b. Morse, Esq. gentle
man of education and genius, who has done more
to improve and elevate the character of the Academy
than all others connected with it; and if his enlarged
ana liberal views In III were carried
the exhibitions would be highly SUPERIOR its pros
perty would be unparalleled, and there would be less
of that bitterness which rankles IN the breasts
| of numbers of young native artists of undoabted
talent who will not contribute to the exhibition be-
they will not subject themselves to the insult
ing survei lancc Of the clique that control the
concerns of the institution.
Whilst upon this subject "a highly important one,
so far the impro in painting in this country
is eoncerned,) will be explicit, and place the
whole matter in its true light before the community.
There is a clique in the Academy, at the head Of
whom is Henry Imam, Charles Ingham, little Tom
nay Cummings, and Durand; and this clique at pre-
sent control the entire institution. The fact is they
afraid Of rivalry, knowing that il they allow
honorable competition, they must go down. Durand
is of those of mediocre talent, that dabble in
every thing, and consequently excel in nothing;
greater proof of the truth of this be given than
1 by referring TO the miserable head Of Joe Hoxie,
painted by him to produce sensation, which is the
best thing he painted and which is no more like
TO Hoxie than il IL to the artist He has sort of
l Caleb Quotem talent
| /" Plumber, glsrer. asctoneer--
l In short, he is faototuuin
Little Tommy Cummings never aspired to any
thing greater than miniature painting-the very low
est grade Of the artand in these he carcatures hui
manity most abominably. Charles Ingham will go
down 10 posterity as the painter of The Great Adj
rondack Pass" and the laughing child with the
fish face, both in he exhibition. Mr. Henry In
man will not be remembered as painter; for IN
opinion, his portraits the most pershabe things
ever saw; many OF them pretty and pleasing when
newly painted, but almost all totally out OF draw
ing; and consider that his style Of hot drv paint
ing is such that all his work will peel off the canvass
in less than ten years, aud leave trace of single
feature. Nor are we singular in this opinion; for IL
is entertained by the best artists in the city II is
style Of painting 10 get living by, and turn quick
penny, and was adopted by the pot boilers in Lon
don, TO enable them to buy dinner; they painted
against time as Sheridan wrote against it, for his
daily shoulder Of mutton And this is the CLIQUE
the leaders Of the tee total depravy school of paint
ingthat at present control the National Academy of
the city
The history of their present elevation is curious
one; previous 10 the opening Of the Institution this
season, the clique met in solemn concavc and resol-
we'd upon juggle TO elect Henry Inman, President,
and by trickcry to put Mr.. Morse out of the chair
they also bound themselves solemnly never to elect
another scademican; matter what his talents,
how eminent his productions, members were
TO be elected; the black balls Of these four could
effect this and faithfully have they stuck TO their
text. The dinner within the walls of the Academy,
like the orgies Of some miserable politicians we
have heretofore chronicled, and many persons left
the place disguised. IL was here that the consum-
nation given to their contemplate desigs Of
creating monopoly; II was here that the leaders of
the tce.total-depravity school elected themselves
censors Of painting, Of the press Of wine, Of any
thing and every thing.
The effect Of all this is in the present exhbi-
ton, which is perfect specimen Of the teetotal-
depravity style of doing things. They
strained, much against their WILL to admit the beau
tifsl pictures Of Mr. Richardson, without which and
those sent by Selous, and two amateurs, the
exhibition would be worthless. They have endea-
vored to bolster themselves up by puIs Of their own
pcnning in the Commercial Advertiser" and others
Of the tee total dcpravity press and thus endeavor
TO divert public attention from their msdeeds.
Inman got some one, who had a head there, to back
him. AID to call fair criticism gross insult both
the painter and his subject; and doubt Hoxe, and
Stone, and every loafer who has head there, would
also consider il insult to have either himself or
his panting spoken Of with truth. But the fact is
that these miserable portrait painters have almost
filed both rooms with daubs Of unmcaning, stupid,
senscless heads, which look bad cnsugh in real life
and still worse the canvass. Their works belong
neither to the style Of Titan, Raphael, or Ru-
bens or Carlo Dolci, or Guido, or Murillo or Rem
brandt. vandyke, or Reynolds; neither 10 the
Spanish, the Dutch, the Flemish, the French the
Venetian, the Roman school, or to any school but the
"teetotal -deprayity school" Of painting the works
Of which believe will perish in ten years and
which will only be remembered by that name. Last
year. Durand, one Of the clique had no less than rs
pictures, all in line OF sight to tae exclusion Of
many, very many, infinitely better paintings. The
result is that this year great number Of the best
artists have sent pictures ia the exhibition And
they have done right-they thus show their sense.
And we are pleased TO learn that some 30 or 40 la
Tented artists, intend TO found a new academy ON
the most honorable and liberal principles; and con-
duet u IN such manner completely 10 throw the
tce-total-depravity school into the shade The pre-
sdency OF the new Academy is TO be offered 10 Mr..
Richardson, asd we trust he will accept ". There
isa fne field open, the game Is an their own hands,
and they have nothing TO do bat TO go aheadI
- a.. r -