The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-18

ENcouRAexnxxs 70 A11 n NEW Yoax.-An
opinion has very generally prevailed here and
elsewhere, that there Was no more ungenial soil
for an artist than New York that there existed in
this community taste for the nns arts and that
the unfortunate artist who would set up studio in
this city, would hnd very scant remuneration or en-
couregement from the wealthy people Of this metro
polls. II ever there have been grounds for such
complaint, We think they do not ct present exist
and We appeal to the last three days austion sale
Of the pictures Of tho Art Union for confederation
Of this opinion. We think that most complete
refutaton il thereby furnished Of all such libels
the taste and hberality Of this community. The
competition Of bidders at this sale was most ex-
traordinazy. A painting WORTH perhaps, fifty dol
lars, would be started at forty and finally, by ad.
vanoes Of five or ten dollars on each bid, would be
knocked down at two or three hundred dollars.
This was the case in numerous instances And
there was no falling of perceptible in the spirit
with which the aale opened but the whole paint
ings on the catalogue, numbering about four hum
dred, were sold at prices which must have aston.
shed the artists themselves, realizing in the aggre-
gate, the sum of thirty. six thousand dollars.
But while we cite this fact as Q refutation of the
complaint to which We have alluded, We must in
candor confess that the purchasers of these paint
ings do not exhibit any very high degree of eusi-
waited taste in their valuation of them. We are
afraid that merit had but little chance of competing
with size. In too many instances the price of the
picture might be calculated by irregular
operation, taking data the length and breadth Of
the canvass and in other instances, as in tho
painting of the Babes in the Wood, which brought
three hundred dollars, the prestige or popularity Of
the subject made up for tho meagreness Of the dc.
sign and the deficiencies in execution. But these
latter were, it seems, but minor points, and wore
most generously overlooked by the purchaser.
We think that the proceedings of the last three
days in the gallerysof the American Art Union,
should satisfy the greatest grumbler that there is
no occasion for complaining Of want of patronage
Of the fine arts in this city, and it, hereafter,
artists Of merit should find their studios deserted,
and their paintings remaining unsold, we have dis
covered certain and unfailing remedy for this
state of things. Let them make a record of the
names of those who have distinguished themselves
by purchasing the pictures Of the Art Union, and
which they will find in the New YORK HERALD of
these three days. ard let them intimate to those par
sonages that they have pictures for disposal, and
have need Of their patronage Or, failing this lot
the artists club together, and get up an auction
d u the Art Union, and they will then be very apt
to procure three times much for their works as
they would have had the conscience to demand at
private sale. If either of these plans are pursued,
there will be no more occasion to complain of tho
neglect of art in this METROPOLIS