Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-04-27

To JAMES G. BENNETT, Esq.
Dear Sir-YOur observations on tne Nat'onai
Academy of Design, ia the Herald oil the 10th uit,
induces me to hope that you take much interest In
the advancement of correct taste and knowledge IN
the fine arts. With the cliques, that would gov
ern the business of the artists, not of the pro-
fessiOn. but what are called amateurs; men who,
without sufficient stamina Of their to raise them
above mediocrity, determine to sustain themselves
by clnging to the skirts of Others and II possible
ride into notice the backs of the artists Those
who evnce the most genuine love for the fine arts,
are not incned to NEEDLE with the artists, but leave
TO them the entire control of their own affairs
In our world Of art the following circumstance
has TRANSFERRED. Some months since an artist, who
neglected to study frem nature in fact having often
violated her. found that he could not sustain himse
In the rank he aspired determined to make poid
push at monopoly and form society OF his own
After talking loudly about conspiracy formed
against him, which was quite unnecessary, as no
one ever thought him of sufficient consequence TO
against, the heat and flame abated, ana out
Of the ashes of his wrath arose phGnix, named par
excellence, the Artists and Amateurs ASSOCIATION
of Philadelphia" This institution is to be sustain
ed by yearly subscriptions OF five dollars, every
person so subscribing to be considered patron of
the fine arts, and entitled, among the other good
things promised, to add to his name the significant
term amateur. The most aughable part OF the story
remains to be told. After permitting the prosecuted
artist to collect and arrange the pictures for exhi
bition, committee of gentlemen amateurs, in which
there is good sprinking of editors in and at
one fell swoop took the whole concern out of his
hands. This caused great deal of amusement in
certain quarters, as the great Prosecuted had
waged deadly war against all meddling gentlemen
amateurs.
Our new society-by the way you have one
the priacple in New York, the Apollo-is i'm
properly named. 1t ought have been called "The
Artists and Amateurs Patent Expander and Safety
Valve, for creating and difusing me aiocrty in the
Fine Arts" or, "The Transforming Amateuri-
an, by which on the payment of fue dollars, man
without previous study or knowledge can be in
stanty made good jndge of Art" This is turning
brass into gold with vengeance! That plan Of
this kind viii foster mediocrity, is evident, For all
artists o. taste, though young, wn2 labor to i'm
prove, will meet with sufficient employment, while
the lazy and idle will hail any thing as good plan
that precudes the necessity Of Individual exertion
u this letter p.eases you, will continue to send
from time 80 time others the same subject; also
SON. remarks the Opera house, late of Phil
delphia, deceased, with interesting anecdotes OF
Mr.. Opera Fry. ] am about publishing work On
"the possibility of getting up pictures aud concerts
by steam and the advantage Of erecting manufacto-
RIGS Of the old in this country on the prin-
ciples heretofore adopted in Europe, dedicated to
the amateurs Of the United States" This work
will be successful and the plan profitable, as rail
roads likely to go out of fashion this summer
The immense enterprise of the American people
must be employed in some way.
ARIEL PHILADELPHIA.