Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-09-11
The American Nrt.ltniOn.


AMERICAN ARTISTS. This reproach inst as it
is to considerable extent, would possess cs-
pecial point and force, if our countrymcn were
particularly diainguiShcdGo for their protection and
patronage 0 foreign art and artists But the
truth is the correct explanation of American
neglect OF native talent in this respect, is to be
found not wholly in The imputed cockncyism of
an affected admiration for the works of ancient
ana lorcign artists, nor yet in amy spirit 'o mn
d'irolning what is produced a, heme, hut rather
in the want of any extensive taste for. and appre.
ciaticr ri, Art itself The American ponplc
have hitherto been, aud will perhaps continue for
while to be, too much cngrosscd by the pursuit
olwlat is regarded as the main chance mon
ey making, to cultivate n taste for what they
most enormously and unpflosophicay deem
the lesser concerns Of the Fine Arts. They are
lesser concerns only when contrastcd with the
ofogeiher Indispensable objects of human pursuit,
food and raimcnt-when regarded in their rc!a-
tons to our intellectual and moral natures, and
in their influence upon the character Of people.
they SECURE consequence of no secondary
stamp.
| is professionally true, however that Amer
itriS do no, afford that eucoura cement md pa
! tronage 10 our nativc-born Artists to which
their frequently unrivallcd excellence entities
them. aud which a just national pride demands.
1t is true that American Artists of the first rank
in their profession, are compelled to look ojro0d
for the aid that is essential 10 their progress and
improvement in Art.
But American Artists themselves understand
the true reason why they fail Of obtaining a
HOME ENCOURAGEMENT commensurate with their
merits. They know that in America, " Litcra-
tire and the elegant Arts must grow mp side by
side with the coarscr plants of daily necessity"
They know that there does not rrrnH. in their
own country. the cutiraicd taste that secures for
works Of Art, the appreciation which must al
ways prcccde effective patronage; and, Ike
sensible men, they are more socous to remove
the capse Of the evil, than to utter useless COM
plants against its unavoidable effects.
But we rejoice to believe that the Agency is
devised, and is already in successful operation,
that by dili,ing through the country a better
knowledge of Art. and thereby creating taste
for its productions, will relieve II, from the re-
proach that we have mentioned. The Am'rican
Arj-;ri1n is the agency TO which we refer.
! Thi, truly national Institution WA, founded in
SO, for the ayowcd purpose Of promoting the
Fine Arts in the United States" and. through
the Jealous and unring efforts of its officers and
friends. we arc confident it will avoid the fate
which Details too many "good intentions" in
| th, working-day world. and fairly accomplish
the object at which it aims. It is Il scheme that
certainly smacks a little Of its yant origin, be-
ng sort of "mutHai insurance." association
but it is cgcctuai in its beneficial results, and
therefore is most praseworthy. We cannot
perhaps. better state the method on which il
proceeds than by copying the following from the
Annual Report for 1873:
! rnc Hmcrt'- arr T"io~i- uunn e,,i by rcn,lclucu
who are not artists and have privileges beyond the
other members, ana NJ compensation.
In iurtherancc OF a Truly national object, 10 unit
great public good with prya" qualification small in
dyidnal expense in manner best suited to tE" -ua-
ton OF our country, the nature Of oar institutions and
the wants, hnbIis and tastes OF our people the Com
mttcc have adopted the following
PLAN.
Every scrihcr of five dollars is a member for the
year, and Is entitled to all its privileges
The money thus obtained, (atcr paying necessary
eNl NEE, + ,' ,co, -, ,,o ,,,,, ,o.,t,
original cHsraring from an American printing o
m ,n" ,n r .J soIry oJ i,s G"nr, ~ ''
OF this engraving every member receives copy fol
Nnhcrs cn,;,l,J ,o innli ,,t,s NJ, o liberty IN Co.
l'ct from tn cnsravlngs ct previous years
work of arr is Also furnished 10 cycry mr,nb..r
Every member also receives iul Annual Report o
Sfic,,J n, ,Hg nIr,hns. Of un;o,;ogs and s.,I,
TIRE by native or resident Artists
n, the Gallery Of the An!umion til the annual meet
ing in December, when they are iHblicy disriC"te'
sh,re for every five dollars pad by him.
ThTd Ih' Institution keeps an oIilcc ana irr'
~ broadway, in the City OF New York, and the
haIr Honorary S.rttn,s 10 ",.In 10 t,G,r pu, n',
Members IN the Civ OF New York receive their en-
EaNln4s' alLll,sS u i a. W. Vr VI, t ~,
receive thrn from the Honorary Secretaries, WHOM
cy M DE- s al ,Ie ,,bc vi tr . lew nys vi"
Ths rntnying Tor the year 1916 will be ST. Val
YER ""c'sh FtWn9 "''" Gn mI, yi' ,a "'0'""s .
~, r, ,....,.. ,..,;aa ,o. hoo, ,;,,r;,n,ol +.
n
r '''o .'''"''.' W.
r ~"
''S Wy "0"-''' "''e'''''5 wye
s'htation ol AN occurrence l" o"i hc\o'"''ona'