New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-10
SKETCHES OF LECTURES.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY COURSE.
The Culture Of Art In Republic.
BR GEORGE BANCROFT.

grateful proof Of the interest taken by citizens in
the proposed Course The lecturer introduced by
Hon. LUTHER BRADrsH, who remarked that the object
Of the series TO be opened the erection Of
hreproof building for the ofthe Historical Society
The valuable collection Of books and documents
belonging to the Society liable any moment to be
accidentally consumed fund had been raised by public
spirited citizens for the building required. This
safely invested and at interest further sum was
needed in ordert warrant the enterprise, and this
doubt would be furnished by the avss Of the present
Course. Several of most eminent scholars civ
ilians and public men had generously consented to
take part in the lectures and among them the dis
tnguished person who then to address the audi.
enoe He was both a subject and writer of history.
Eminent a of letters he was also eminent in
the service Of the State having brilliant repus-
ton in administrative and diplomatic functions
He had illustrated the fame Of American genius at
home and had enhanced the splendor of American
glory abroad.
Mr.. Bancroft then came forward and received
with enthusiastic greetings by the audience He took
his stand on the front Of the stage and without any
notes Of his discourse proceeded in strain OF extern
pornneous eloquence alike nervous and compact in its
STYLE and copious and graceful in its expression. The
last time said Mr. B. that had the honor of speaking
in this Hall on the occasion of the conmemoraton
Of Cooper 1t was then proposed to erect statue in
memory of the departed genius But that statue has
not been raised, cast, nodded, designed.
You all remember that Webster presided thst coca.
sion. You beheld his majestic form not wholly
touched by age but vigorous in its manly proportions
you listened to his grave and impressive voice, "a the
venerable statesman paid touching tribute to the
man Of letters, whom death had removed from
our sight But yesterday. our City was shroudedin
black for the death of Webster himself Our homage
to his greatness expressed by solemn funeral
pageant The brave defenders of soil marched in
military array and TO the wall of drge-like music, in
imposing procession. The honors Of civic pomp
ewelled the saddened spendors of the But the
effect however impressive and sublime for the moment,
was temporary. The memorial TO the honored dead
left nothing permanent The feeling Of the occasion
passed away, with the light that flashed from the bur
nshed arms of our citizen sodiery 1t melted as the
last notes of the martial bands died mournully the
pensive air. The heart demands more durable me-
mortal. Let the soleinn marble rise in monumental
grandeur within sight of the busy thoroughares of tho
popuous city. Let the artistic structures in memory
of departed greatness not be confined to the lonely
cemctery-there they are often merely lugubrious in
their expression the tributes Of private gref-but
let them tower upward to the skies in the midst of the
crowded haunts whose prosperity bears witness TO the
labors of the men in whose honor they arc erected
With these views, said Mr.. b., | venture to solicit
your attention to some remarks The Culurc the Sup
port ind the Objects OF Dirt in Republic The culture
of Art is suited to Republic inssmuch it isfounded
on a universal sentiment 1t has its origin in the
deepest roots of Humanity. Like conscience like tho
elgOus sense inwrought into the very texture OF
the soul The feeling Of beauty like the perception Of
truth and the consciousness of right is the pecu
liar patrimony of the few, but the ample inheritance OF
the many Every one that is born into the world pos
sesses the elements of the privilege of his birth
right
Nor does the enjoyment Of the master pieces of art
depend on their ownership. Like the beauties OF ma
ture they arrest and charm the common eye The soul
can comprehend and delight in the idea Of the artist
without combining his production to private gallery
The great works of she immortal masters are repro
duced In the progress of civilization, by copies which
cultivate the taste of the public, and train the eye
TO the aesthetic appreciation of universal beauty
By the processes of engraving Steel oflithography,
and of wood-engraving which has been carried to such
exquisite perfection by native artists of own City,
the mass Of the people virtually made possessors Of
those glorious creations which among the noblest
fruits ofthe culture OF the An illustrated Bible
reproduces the wonders Of Raphael and Michael An.
eelo bearing the representations of angelic beauty and
the celestial loveness Of the Madonna to the rudest
logcabins on the frontiers of civilization. Artists
moreover spring from the people In the selection OF
her darlngs Nature recognizes social distinctions
They spring up al her WILL like wild flowers In the
forest She calls them from obscurity at her sovereign
pleasure She seeks them not in courts anu palaces
! but among the mountains and along the streams OF
free people They come from Vermont and Cincin'
NATL and the prairie homes OF the West Artists, too.
love to work for the people The inspiration OF the
common mind is q more kindng source of encour
sgement than the caprices OF individual America
has already given birth artists of noble promise and
admirable performance. Without making any nyidious
distinctions Mr. b. said he might refer to Powers, the
work of whose chsel had received the highest NEED
Of appreciation at the Great Exhibition of All Nations
| in the Crystal Palace at London.
But how shall Art receive support She presents
an urgent claim patronage the hbersity of New
York In this metropolitan City which may justly be
called the eye Of America the sensorum OF the Con-
,inent, Art demands hospitable reception and gen
erous sympathy. New.York Is open TO such nde OF
emigration as the world never saw in the proudest
age of teene colonies. With Ireland at gate and
Cuba on the other she extends her to the chill
dren of every cline Her boundless wealth presents
favorable soil for Art Here in the midst of gushing
prosperity Art should thrive uxurianty than
did even in Antwerp where Rubens found such con-
genial home and nourished his pencil on the popular
smiles Venice glorious in her galleries Of painting
and sculpture possessed advantages for the cul-
tivation Of Art which cannot be enjoyed TO much
grsater degree by own City Art should
be supported in New.York by the Corporation. But
the time for that has not yet GENE Out civil fathers
have other duties True, the high priests al Rome
annually headed procession to the temple OF Janus
and drove nail int its walls so our municipal rulers
each year drive nail in the City Hall on which Is hung
the portrait of governor mayor. Their care Tor
Art as yet extends further They must first give the
/ poor man a Park-a place where he can WALK In
health or sickness-eheer the monotony of toll oy a
glimpse Of Nsurerefesh his old age in the pure air Oh
Heaven-or lead out his children TO rejoice IN the
fair Paradise of the omnipresent sky. Our Cor
porstion must give to all liberal but frugal