The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-14
CINCINNATI, Feb. 8, 1849.
Western ART Union-Beard's Poor Relations
Conduct of the DIRECTORY.

CINCINNATI, req. ., io4o.
Western art Union-Beard's "Poor Relations
Conduct Of the Directory.
Among other matters of interest, our Western
Art Union attracts considerable attention. 1t is
based upon the same princip cs as your New
York institution of the ga e name. Whether
the operations of the dire tors in carrying these
principles into effect are conducted with sound
judgment, and are C .aracterized by liberal
policy, is a matter of which we are not so sure.
So far, ut least, the lofty pretensions contained
in their annual report, have been but lamely car
ried into practice, in their first and most import
ant movement for the present year.
In the same document the entire want of taste
among our citizens is deplored, and the heroic
efforts of the directors to change this amentable
state of things, as well as the comfort and sus-
tenance" given to artists in embryo. who will
now "yield delight and refinement to unborn
generations''-these we say, are set forth with
an inimitable self complacency
The movement, above alluded to, is the pur-
chase OF picture, representing several dogs,
called the " Poor Relations" by Beard, which
amongst the subscribers. OF Boards standing as
an artist In yourclty, we need not speak. His tai
ents, no one who pretends to be Judge of art, will
deny. We have but one word, therefore, to say in
reference to the claims of the 60 Poor Relations
to an original design, and that is, that it bears
strange and striking resemblance to several
engravlngs after the celebrated Landseer's paint
lngs. However, as the picture has been sent to
New York, to be engraved, those of your readers
who take an interest in matters of this kind can
Judge for themselves.
IT the "destitution Of true taste amongst us'' is
so great as the directors of the Western Art
Union distinctly assert, the question naturally
arises, when they purchase picture, to be en-
graved and distributed among all the members
10 be framed and placed in position where it
will be daily seen, and, being an engraving of
the rising generation as gem of art-the ques-
ton, We say, arises, is it picture calculated in
trlnslcally to create or even elevate taste
With all their generous Intentions, in behalf
of benighted public, we may be permitted
strongly TO doubt the efficacy of the principal
means they have adopted, this year, in order to
accomplish their truly great and noble aim. We
do not hesitate to say that they must take one of
the two horns of the dilemma; either dire ne
cessty exists of creating and cultivating "true
taste" amongst themselves, or they have catered
to our ignorance, of which, if we are to believe
their statement, we have, Heaven knows, al
ready too much.
Why the picture was purchased so early in the
year, before their new rooms were thrown open
why all competition was barred by such Ill
advised and premature haste-why no adver-
tlsement appeared informing the artists of the
west that an engraving was to be issued-why 1t
was stated in the annual report of the directory
that, In all probability, the new board would
find it neither practicable nor expedent'' so to
do, thus, to certain extent, misleading the mind
OF the public and OF artists-why they did not
give themselves time to make even show of Sc
lection and, finally. why is the engraving to be
executed in New York, when the institution
processes to be western, and when we have men
here more than competent to the performance of
the task These are questions more easily asked
of our directors than answered by them.
In conclusion, we may add that dead rat,
placed, conspicuously, by the artist, in the fore
ground of the picture, has mysteriously disap-
rats invariably desert sinking ship. AMATEUR.