The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-16
AMERICAN ART UNION.

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ofthis very successful institution, whose programme
in another column will recommend itself TO the at
tention of our readers, that both the registry OF
members and the letters of Honorary Secretaries
| ity There are already on the books the names
of more than four times as many members as there
| were at the same date last year, The engravings
and etchings for lS4S appear to give general salts
faction. The plan of delivering them in the order
of the dates of certificates which has been adopted
by the committee, and which is so just and impair
tia has already caused many persons to anticipate
their usual time of subscribing. This will have
the effect of placing funds in the hands of the man
ayers before the end of the year, the advantages of
which have been too often forth to need reret-
ton in this place. A member in Pennsylvania
writes very intelligenty upon this subject:
81 make my subscriptions early" he says, "from
conviction of the necessity of closing the books of
the Union some sixty days before the distribution
Crowding one-half of the receipts and disburse-
ments of the year into few hurried days at its
close, if persisted in, will perver the great objects
of the Institution. The true interests of art will
suffer from the purchase of inferior works, for
your collections cannot yet be rich enough to sup
ply with good pictures such demand as was
created by the unexpected thousands poured into
your treasury last December Besides the dig
nifty of the association is destroyed by the mere
Picture Lottery character given to its dstribu.
tons, by the army of eleventh-hour subscribers
that rushes forward under the excitement of an inn
pending drawing" 1t is hoped that these rational
views, so clearly expressed, will add force to the
appeals already made in this behalf
We extract from the same number of the Bulle-
tin the following paragraphs:
FINE-ART GOSSIP.
We are very happy to learn that the department
Of the Fine Arts will receive more attention from
the of the Astor Library than it has hith-
erto experienced from managers of similar institu-
tons in this city. We notice in the lists published
by Mr.. Cogswell, of works already purchased, sew
era OF great value upon the subject of architecture
We hope see in future lists the names of several
large and expensive illustrated works. descriptive
OF public and private galleries in Europe-works
which are beyond the compass generally of the for
tunes of individuals, but which are indispensable to
full knowledge of foreign art. We trust that we
shall enjoy, throug IN Mr.. Astor's munifcence, at
least what the citizens of Boston can command in
the Athenaum Library. few years since one
OF the most extensive collections in this city or
State, was so barren in works upon the Fine Arts,
that we were unable to find in il Flaxmans Lee
lures, or, indeed, any book of authority upon the
subject of Sculpture.
In connection with this topic, our readers will be
pleased to hear that the Library building will be
one of architectural beauty competition for the
furnishing of the designs has been invited and quite
number have been handed in. The only one we
have seen is that of Mr.. Cary Long, of this city,
which we should think would be eminently satis-
factory, both as respects plan and elevation. The
interior arrangements are spacious and convenient,
and the facade which is in the Italian style, exhb
Its that unostentatous elegance which is particularly
desirable in structures of this character. We have
heard that the Trustees have awarded the first prize
TO German architect, and the second to Mr.. Rem
wick 1t is desirable that there should be an ex-
hlblon of all the designs submitted, if for nothing
else TO promote public taste and knowledge on this
subject.
The National Academy of Design have lately pur-
chased quantity Of land in the of No. Gel
Broadway, and taken lease for twenty-one years
OF the lot in front of them, thus securing conve-
nient entrance
The commission OF executing the bust OF the late
Jonathan Goodhue for the merchants of New
York, has been given TO II. X. Brown, who will
undoubtedly produce work entirely satisfactory to
the contributors TO the fund. Mr. Brown has been
IN Washington lately modelling bas-rehef of the
President TO be used in making the dies for the
medals which are struck for presentation to Indian
chiefs on occasions Of treaties and other ceremo-
mails. He has completed the design for the Art
Union Statuetie, which is an admirable work We
shall give more particular description, and per-
hsps drawing Of it, hereafter. The statue for the
Clinton monument, designed by him, will probably
be executed in bronze and erected at Greenwood.
The cabinet picture Of The Microscope, by Weir,
Is finished, and has been on exhibition at the store
of Messrs. Williams q Stevens, IN Broadway. Ii
displays great knowledge Of the laws of chiaro-
oscuro, and is laborously and carefully finished. II
Is the most complete work in It's peculiar depart
ment which we remember 10 have seen executed by
an American artIst
specimen has been lately shown TO us Of
Chromo-lithography, produced by p J. Duval, Of
Philadelphia, which, for finish and richness ofcolor,
rivals the best European work In this specimen
are brilliant garands Of flowers architectural orna-
ments, NEUROLOGICAL designs Of figures, in which
the hesh unts and draperles are all properly color
ed and decorations IN gliding and en- grsaile, which
are truly beautiful In a few years the most accu-
rate copies in color Of pictures will be printed, and
the great work Of popularzing art, which il one Of
the distinguishing characteristics Of the are carried
nearly TO perfection.
Tinted Wood Engraving, which, within year
or two, has been greatly improved in England, has,
we are happy 10 perceive, been at length attempted
with success in thIs country We have before us
two very fine specimens from designs by barley,
one executed by Childs, the other by Leslie 4
Irayer. They are intended 10 illustrate an origi-
nal and interesting book, entitled "kaioolah on
yolTneying, 70 the Djebd kupri," edited by w ;
Mayo, NJ ID, and published by Putnam. The
designs are spirited, and the effect produced by the
contrast between the tinted lights and the dark
lines and masses. exceedingly soft and agreeable.
Mr. Rldner, 49, Broadway, is about publishing
PRINT called The Good Shepherd, drawn on stone
by the late Thomas Colo,gn printed IN tints by
Sarony and MAJOR. Il was completed by Mr.. Cole
just before his DEATH and cannot fail to be highly
interesting production. II is sthied that the bene-
hts Of the publication will be applied 10 the family
Of the artist.
1 III