Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-11-23
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. LITERATURE, AND
THE FINE ARTS In NEW YORK

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. LITERATURE. AND
THE FINE ARTS In NEW YORK. us
New YoRx, NOVEMBER 10, 1850.
The AMERICAN Arr UNION during the present
year. which is now drawing rapidly 10 us ciose' mas
very much extended its operations, and has made
great advances in the objects which It was designed
to promote. The great interest felt all over the
country in this truly National Institution, and the
number of its friends and ll-wishers-counted,
am sure, amongst the readers of the National IN
telligencer by the thousand-prompt me to devote
NV letter Of this week 10 some details with regard
% the present position and past history of the Art
Union, which may be of value to those who would
like to know more about its plan and system than
they now do. @
The American Art Union was founded in 1890
eleven years agO-under the name of the Apollo
Association, by which name it was incorporated
by oct Of the Legislature of this State in ls40 the object
the society being the promotion of the fine arts in the United
States. This easy task. There at that time
very little appreciation of the practical advantages Of the fine
s an element of social refinement national culture
American artists, class not regarded possessing
any peculiar claims upon the taste appreciation Of the pub
lie forming the nucleus Of national school OF art
to compete with the more favored artists Of Europe Whit
ever done for American artists too apt to be 10 the
way Of patronage in answer to individual applications or
on personal grounds there but little encouragement for
tho friends Of in general who wished TO test i caPabi
lies and resources and shape is dssinies in the United
Statss as58iS ssl $685. 3f Sa
The best way promote the fine arts here to excite first
the attention and then the interest of indifferent
nifty, and enlist their sympathes in the work, matter
Of the first consideration and the plan adopted at the outset
and since steadily adhered has proved by the successful
manner in which has worked its excellence. That
plan the public familiar with. The funds received from
the subscribers applied directly the production and pur
chase Of works Of for the subscribers first to the poduc
ton Of large and costly original engraving, of which every
subscriber receives copy and, secondly, to the purchase Of
paintings statues and other works of by native resi-
dent artists which, aer being publicly exhibited without
charge during the year, its close distributed BY lot
amongst the subscribers.
Objections have been made to this SYSTEM but after all it
is the only way in which equivalent be obtained by
the subscribers for their contribution towards the objects Of
the association It is the only way in which the Art Union
can as it ought the agent Of its individual members
and fulfil the which it undertakes. The great advan
tge the plan pursued by the London Art Union Of dis
tibutng prizes in money be applied to the purchase Of
works Of according the and discretion of the draw
ers, is that it discriminating distribution Of
the funds amongst the various artists and also
permanent gallery to which constant additions made du
ring the year, thus exhibiting the condition of and the
latest progress has made 10 the complete and satsac-
tory manner. M Fl
In 1889 the Apollo Association bad about 500 subscribers
and spent something like 900 in its operations During
the next few years its much greater but in
1914 impulse given to the work, the Of the
association changed to that which BEARS the Anne
can Art Union and the subscriptions for the year amounted
70 $4,000 Since that time the public have gradually
spite Of the kindred institutions of which has
been the exempla and the original it maintains its
nence and in ls49 received, from $4,000 Subscribers the
Of to scatter amongst American artists the
best mulant to honorable competion and the earnest Of
the public sympathy with the efforts Of genius.
Could American artists clas have secured such
remuneration for their abors the Art Union affords
them in any other way In fact the general influence Of the
Art Union upon the public ta the increased knowledge
upon all subjects connected with which has dsed by
Of its operations and the beray Of its dealing with
artists has done vast deal towards increasing individual
outside patronage and helping the painter and sculptor
better market for their works than they had before
This the inducements to the public subscribe the
Art Union greater than before In addition to the
regular engraving, Of which the subject is taken from the
Merry Wres Of Windsor," and is called T" Sweet Anne
Page, and which is taken from fine picture by LESLIE,
album Of Eve smaller eDgravings from paintings by CoLE,
DURAND, LEUTzE and EDMosDs, is 10 the Of pre-
Psraon for the subscribers of 1885, and will prove of
the most elegant specimens of American art both the
merit Of the pictures and the style Of the engraving ought
also to notice the attractive character Of the Bulletin of the
Art Union, which has grown to be regular monthly
periodical and is embellshed with engavngs Of works on
exhibition, and is furnished gratis to the subscribers
But the strength Of the institution lies always in the paint
ings purchased for distribution These for the present year
far superior in merit to the collection Of any former year.
The gallery in Broadway forms the most attractive
hbiton Of paintings opened in New York. Portraits
those pests Of the exhibitions Of the National Academy
banshed from the Art Union. Red-faced aldermen, and
marons with exubeant lace caps and floating band form
part Of the display while that interesting congregation Of
rcd and white babies which usually figures such collections
entirely omitted Our artists to have been quicken
cd to an unusual degree of diligence by the fact that in the
gallery Of the Art Union they stand upon perfect equality
and have the est chance of appreciation The subjects
have generally speaking, been well selected and much
more striking prdsminsnco Of truly American pictures, both
in subject and design, apparent This 10 as should be-
and h the legitimate consequences Of the efforts made BY the
Art Union for the promotion of American art The character
cs Of splendid natural scenery, the Of early
history full Of romance, and the poetic spirit begin
claim the attention Of painters. They begin to find
thst the galleries Of Paris and Rome the only school
70 which they for their models and examples but
thst there 10 field home in nature and history and their