New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-10-24

Mr.. Dunlap, in his Biographical Notices of the
Artists who have aourished and are still aourshing
the United states has given brief sketch Of the RISE
and Progress Of the Fine Arts from the birth Of BEy
JANIs WEST down to the gear Eighteen Hundred and
Thirty four The two volumes which contain the 10
cubraton. Of their fscetous author will possess
historic value Of no ordinary kind their suthorby
hi= own and other testimony, enjoyed the confidence
OF the met artists and the fret Of his age 4. the
close Of the ast century and the commencement Of the
pre- sent several unsuccessful efforts both in Phadel
phia and New York, were made 10 place the Fine Ars
hrm ioundaton-tO enlist public feeling IN their
behalf end to attraction toward which artists,
amateurs, men OF letters and the public might be
drawn
We have SAID the FIRST efforts unsuccessful,
but perhaps. they did much frs, efforts general
~ de they demonstrated the feasibility Of the thing
intended but lacked, fret efforts always do, both
the wisdom and the power essential to anal success
Compared with the harmonious movements OF existing
academies for the promotion ofthe FneArts their ample
generously contributed by An Artloving people
the eng htened and impartial minds which have for years
past Influenced the decisions OF the Directors OF these
Institutions the efforts OF the pioneers seem puere in
excess. That day, however, was the seed ume-now
is the harvest Under the (almosp dictatorship OF
TRUMBULL President Of the old Academy the young and
energetic Artists Of the City Of NewYork were, from
OF self respect as well regard tor the success
of their high vocation, compelled to adopt course Of
proceeding which, at that time, deemed suicidal
both to themselves and the which OF all others
had the strongest hold their affections Youth sm
oiton and consummate ability on the part OF the New
School party into utter darkness the meager
institution which the mperious TRUMBULL WELD
ed barren scepter. The demise Of the Old Academy
and the advent of the New, under the admirable guild
ance of s r. b. MoRsE and the other gentlemen asso
ciated with him. soon followed the conflict. and was
hailed the harbinger Of the approach Of moro aus
picious times for the encouragement OF Art
Touching the merits of the controversy between
the Artists and Mr.. President Trumbul of the
Old Academy, il are to give implicit conf
adence TO the statement of DUNLAP, all the fault
was with the latter But after careful perusa OF the
very valuable compilation which this author has left the
world we are constrained to say, that mauger all his
a4ectation Of csndor there many evidences Of
bad taste biogrspher and OF critic, to say nothing
of professional hostility and jealousy which nigh, have
existed between two gentlemen psssionstely devoted
10 Art that we cannot believe all the natured sugges
lions and insnuations which profusely and
eagerly directed toward the reputation Of the President
and some of the early patrons Of the Arts Col Irum
bull was no doubt exacting An officer OF high rank
in the army an artist OF great reputation albeit with
much bad taste both in the selection and composition
of some of his most important works was still gen
emsn of very great consequence in the age In which
he lived 1t was An age OF arms, as well as OF Arts
in both these occupations he served his country to some
purpose and IL is on this account only that we are
pained at seeing an otherwise valuable work sullied
with memenio of undying spleen, attributable more
most probably to differences in education than to pa
trician assocations-a supercous disposition toward
body of gentlemen whom Art If no other kind Of
education had been received would have taught him TO
respect
All institutions have Procrusiesn character Distrust
on the one hand and presumption on the other render
this attribute unavoidable Il s the grasp Of the Pre-
sent on the Future is mpositons and restraints are
conducive TO progress In the instance In which We
are considering IT, doubtless stimulated the young
Hotspurs Of the pencil make greater sttanmens in
their professionals tsmiliarze their minds with the
history of Art and TO obtain the knogedge necessary
for corporate and comprehensive effort IN view OF
their contemplated enterprise. No " Hunkers' no
= Bsrnburners' Active, deyout and intelligent minds
alone mske the notable erss in human progress. Men
gifted with these endowments survey the circle and
control the circumstances necessary TO success Iney
In fact beget the race which builds up their system
By them whole muttudes possessed snd sooner OF
later If the enterprise be useful success must attend
their efforts such man, by the testimony OF Al
men, was SAMUEL I. B. MORSE W"