The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-16

Fine Arfs-Iher Manif esfafion IN Public and Pri-
cate Buildings, Steamers, S-c.-Ine Art- Union
Picture GdLleries-drtiste Decorations Of Manu-
fdct,Tes- Ornamenting POrceLdin-A Son Of
Judge Story Sctdptor-Am9ican Artists at
Ronie-Internafionai Coppighf-Ihe Worlds
Exhibition Lordon--A,nuaIs for The Ginning
Season-Lonsyelo,o Poems printed, engraved,
and bound in London by Boston Publisher, &c.
New YoRK, Nov. Ii, 1850.
An unusual degree of interest in the subject of
Fine Art has been manifested in New York during
the past four five years, and the developments of
talent and cultivated taste for works of art every
where exhibited, must strike with astonishment
those who visit our city now, after an absence Of
few years. The facades Of the new buildings in
Broadway, well as the interiors and exteriors
OF the dwelling houses in the fashionable ave-
nues up town, give remarkable proofs of sud
denly developed appreciation of artistic efforts.
Mr.. Cooper in his satirical novel Of {" Home a
Found" called New York, not without justice, an
extension Of common places. But the case is
greatly altered now, and the marvellous extensions
Of our avenues streets, and squares, display good
many places that would be uncommon for their
elegance in any European capital. Iii not in our
dwelling houses alone that this love for the ecgan-
cies and comforts Of art has broken out bat in our
churches, warehouses, hotels, ships, steamboats,.
and carriages. The new Tripler hall, which saw
yesterday filed almost exclusively with gaiy-
dressedIades, giving that fine concert room the
appearance Of pavilion OF butterflies on the occa-
mon OF Jenny Limbs morning concert, is as much
superior TO anything Of the kind that before had an
existence in this country, as the Post Office in
Washington is 10 the old building Of the State De
partment. The cause Of this brilliant renaissance
of art in the world is owing in great degree
60 the increased facilities Of travel by the establish
mcnt Of ocean steamers which have taken thou
sands Of wealthy citizens abroad and brought
10 shores hordes Of artists with whom the cities
Of the old world had been overlooked. But a good
deal Of the newly born zeal for art among our cit-
zens may be directly attributed. think. to the in
huence Of the American Art Union. This institu-
ton eSpends annually in artistic productions,
which distributed broad cast over the Union,
nearly ono hundred thousand dollars; and, in al.
diton, it keeps open, free the public during the
year, gallery, in which is exhibited the best pro-
auctions Of our best masters. In addition TO this
much-yisitod gallery Of art, which is generally
crowded throughout the day and evening, there il
another gallery constantly open and containing
some Of the hncst specimens Of the modern school
Of German painters, chiefly those Of Dusseldorf.
Picture galleries in Italy have begot Of ollie
tant and art has declined in the land Of lis birth
But is not the fault Of the pictures il is the gov
eminent that rcprcsscs the energies Of the people,
and squanders it, in preserving the monu.
mcnts Of the past, instead Of encouraging tho talent
Of the present generation.
Nearly one half the amount VIC pay TO Europe for
manufactured goods is for the cost Of artistic deco.
ration, that might better be done here. But our
Government has not yet thought II worth while 20
pass any laws for the encouragement Of the higher
branches Of manufactures, and has been content to
cOntne its protection to "raw materials" In 1895,
i'll am not mistaken in the date, Congress passed
law giving the right TO patent artistic designs of
any kind intended to be applied TO manufacturing
puposos but, az this law is imperative in tho case
Of foreigners, whose right To tho product Of their
own inventive faculties is not recognised by il, il
could not have much effect in the encouragement
Of our art manufactures. while our manufactur-
crs have the privilege Of indtcrimnate plumber
among the artistic wealth Of France, Germany Y, and
England, il would be most absurd 10 expect that
they should be at the expense Of employing artists
here. short time since I had the curiosity 90 look
into the Patent Office for the purpose Of ascertain.
ing what number Of ornamented designs for manu-.
featuring purposes had been registered since the
law passed giving the privilege Of patent 10 this
class of inventions. did not anticipate n very bril-
liant display, but, TO my utter confusion, found in
Their repertoire Of the Patent ONCE such ludicrous
paucity Of American genius in tho arts Of design,
that am half afraid TO state the facts lest should
not be believed. Bot tho entire national wealth Of
which we can boast in the art Of ornamental de-
signing il one drawing FOR chlds whistle; one for
sptsoon, "a bonnie bouche for Mrs. Troope,) three
or four drawings for the handle of table spoon,
score or two Of designs for cooking Stoves a SGT Of
desgns for ingram carpets, and a few pieces Of
painted floor cloth. Although calico printing has
been carried TO high degree of perfection, yet,
from the fact OF there not being single pattern re-
gisiered in the Patent Office, infer that ell the pat