New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-10-12
The Progress of the Fine Arts...No. III

Ii IS no, because our Artists will compare favor
ably with the Artists Of the Old World nor because the
American People have with great hberslity in these
latter days manifested an ardent desire to difuse
knowledge OF and an admiration for Art that write
these essays What has been done in relation to this
important subject and what is now doing are well
known to the Amateur aud the Public also We write
on this subject with the intention of making the
hice Of IDEAS which naturally suggest themselves to
those who love the study of Nature and exult in the
progress which Artists Of al denominations are
making in this age OF Advancing Civilization The true
Artist is teacher and is therefore both Illuminated
snd inspired and although be seems to execute his
mission unsided and alone what assistance may be
obtained from observation and the precepts OF the Illus
trious dead yet is be constantly attended by still
higher ministry-ihc ministry OF the Passions which
compel him to work on, his Destiny in spite OF the al
urements Of the world or the almost insurmountable
difficulties which in his ascending career seem TO rAe
higher and higher.
At the commencement of Art those who beheld iis
crude and simple Manifestations regarded il with the
simple emotion Of wonder. They wondered how one
OF their fellow mortas should possess talent notice
mon 10 themselves aud regarded (snd very properly
too the Artists being favored by the gods. Thus
Art, becoming a theme, and work worthy of the adj
miration of the wise il soon became OF noble
and devout emulation II not for gain bu, for glory
that the great masters Of the Dark and Heather Ages
labored so intensely and the unrivsed works which
have come down to US silently declare which Of the
two motives is the most powerful At a convenient pc
Rod after Sculpture and Painting had obtained place
Ia the affections of the nations the Drama appeared
and soon became emphstcsily the Temple OF Art-for
into its called the Muses-the fabulous
the iancul the real nine The form (or, rather the
impressive form) which Art as seen IN sculpture and
Painting assumes is in judgment solely attributable
to the character to which dramatic representations were
obliged TO conform Nothing of mediocre character
was worthy of dramatic representations, so no com.
mon subec excited the graf drfists Of ancient times
nor indeed now
The author of "Rssscas informs that the sncients
seized with ady all the great events OF history (pss
for the purpose of Illustration and embodiment" II
this were true it IS complimentary to the great
who have gone before US, then would Artists be
limited in degree wholly incompatible with future re-
nOwn. But Nature has not been exhausted, although
very many Artists who too indoent to study her
handwork seem 10 think 50, il we may Judge by the
passion for composition which seems TO rule rampant
over them. Nor Is History, Sacred or Proiane, eX-
hsusted Pilgrims Progress, and other works abound.
ing with suggestions capable Of exciting emotions quite
lofty and pure Painted and Sculptured History
yet have excited lie All around the Artist but where IS
the devotion 10 Art iet which will excite to new tri
umphs and greater usefulness The period which fol
lowed that in which the great Artists Of the world -four
shed and gave their immortal works TO posterity
one of contemplation OF difdence and dsirus 10 their
new disciples 1t seemed as though the Heavenly Mes
sengers who had established and glor6ed Art had taken
recess and hence the disciples, ike some Of old on
another occasion fell into the belief that nothing hence
forth could be done soon, however this deusion
dissipated The Artist iclt his immortality and Art
revived
To new and many thcmed Literature, Art in more
modern time. Is indebted for series OF splendid tri
umphs The immortal poets and prose. writers OF
ENGLAND when Americs terra hc0gRna, and all
France dancing school or tournament gave TO
Artists a new world OF ideas-ideas enough 10 employ
All the genius which has taken is aght from the natal
hour Of the world 10 the presen, time snd sub
ects too not beneath their notice, even in their IN.
doubted besiidc state. What subjects for the
Painter, the Sculptor and the Drama crowd on the
mind when coniemp la.ng the vslor Of the Reormers
Of two centuries since Why not Luther in marble
a. well - Jupiter Tonsns = Il Is an offence 70 the
memory Of real hero, when We are content with
autograph Of very questionable authority while the
memory OF an imaginary deity preserved in the most
mperishable material The ostrscism Of the memen
los Of saints and heroes Is contemplate as II Is per
aicous. Il Is not profitable in pecuniary point
1f view to say nothing Of the contempt which shown
10 Art or the obvousness OF the benehciare Of their
Ierculean lsbors But the world grown artistic and
Wesley aud Whitfield, and swedenborg and Chan.
hing and the lesder Of those who take TO the river
nay yet appear substances indicative Of their res
,ective creeds and qualities. W