The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-27
The American Art Union.
TO TIE EDITOR OF DIE HERALD.

TO TIE EDITOR or DIE HERALD.
am compelled by circumstances to ask Of you
the insertion of this con- munication in the columns
of your impartial and valuable journal. win be
as brief as possible. 1t may be known to you, per-
haps, that have been Frustrated for the greater
par. Of the last fifteen months by very severe i'll
ness, and until lately-that is to say, within the
last three or four months, ony-have been able to
resume my pencil, with any degree Of vigor. have
ard the other necessaries Of life. i do not solicit
the charities Of any; my only wish Is TO sell my
pictures for what they may be worth. ! have ap-
piled to the Art Union as other artists do, bu. for
have assured Of tn cir sympathies; but their SYM
PATTY has resulted in nought but words have,
or should have, the same claims on their consdera-
tion which other artists have, and they have
paid no attention to those claims, assume it my
undoubted right to demand of them their reasons for
thus turning " the cold shoulder" to me. Will the
committee give their reasons for turning a deaf
ear to my repeated applications Win they ha the
honesty to say why, as professional man, they thus
uncere noniously cast me overboardl VIII the ed-
tor Of the art Union Bpitettn say Why he has 80
studiously avoided the mention Of my name in re-
ference to my Illness fox the last year. or even to
committee deny that they did in the spring expend
their means in most prodisal manner on some
half dozen or so Of pet artists, and now, forsooth,
they have not even n crumb for othersl Will the
fairs, by committee chosen from the subscribe rs
to the Art nionl oh, no-that would never do.
in conclusion, Mr.. Editor, have to remark that
this studied neglect Of me and Of my reasonable ex-
peetatons looks very like effort to put me down,
that some younger aspirants may rise ON my ruin.
There Is not, sir, respectable artist in this COM
munity, from the President Of the National Acade-
my OF Design, down to those who may claim TO be
artists, who does not consider the American Art
Union as wholly unfit to advance the true interests
Of art and Of artists The artist who are paronized
By the Art Union, are kept quiet by an occasional
sop; they are all trucuent. Some will say, per-
hsps, that am inconsistent; but If they will say II
openly, think can justify myself in the opinion
OF my friends, and Of the world. / denouuce the
Art Union, as ii Is conducted, as an impudent as
sum pton 10 dictate in matters which IL knows
nothing about and IL the artists Of this city are
men, and will cease pratine about the dignity of
art, and act as men should act when they see 9TH
eis usurpng the place that egitimately belongs to
them, then, indeed they may talk about the dignity
Of art. ! know very well, cir, that that door Is
shut in my face; but the Art [ nion IL not omniro-
tent there are other for the sale Of pictures
other patrons Of art. But be the case as Il may,
for ore, will never place myself in the Illuminating
attitude again, Of seeking aid from TIE American
Art Union. Your obt servant,
:. THOMAS DorGnrY.
November % ISL