Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-15
EXHIBITION OF THE METROPOLITAN SCHOOL
OF DESIGN


Metropolitan Mechanics Institute, the pupils, together
with large number of ladies and gentlemen met at the
hall of the Institute The meeting called to order
| and H. AMIDos, Esq. appointed to preside.
Prof WHITAKER, who is Principal Of the school, then
delivered eloquent lecture the history and
Of art from the earliest ages down to the present time
He commenced with giving the Egyptian ideal of art
embodied in the massive structure of her pyramids and
temples; and alluded to the hierogyphcs of Egypt
embodying the idea Of Trune God instead Of the pan
thesm or polytheism which have generally been atribu
ted to the other nations OF antiquity He said that the
Greeks and Romans aso in their representations of God
by painting and satuary rather sought to embody the
various qualities and attributes of God than repre-
sent multitude of separate dees. He alluded to the
intellectual character Of the heads of Greek and Roman
statuary as indicating high degree of progress in
When down TO later times we arrive at what
may be called the christian period of in the middle
ages and here there need of embodyng the three
attributes of the Creator, viz. intellect strength and
ublquy in visible form, did the ancients in their
statues OF stone and MARBLE but he in all His
works by earnest trustful faith The lecturer went
on to aude to the developments of the present age
and he took occasion to speak in Of deserved ap
probation of the boness of the American artist who had
dared In his equestrian statue to disregard the
OF the past and to represent American his national
garb He said he had much any man for
the past but while may study the works of art Of
ancient times with much profit, not to be
imtaors of their productions but should strive to en-
body our own ideas in pure and elevated FORMS which
will be in advance Of the ancents much the cvi-
zon and progress science the present day exceed
those Of former times. America has been called ut
tartan, and there may be foundation the state
ment; but there many reasons why she should be
So She is new continent regards settlement, al
though perhaps, geoogcay speaking the oldest in the
world and her citizens compelled by the circum.
stances that surround them to cultivate their inven
tive powers He alluded to the Patent Office as con-
tanning abundant evidence of the genius of people
and he hoped that in application of art we should
render it snbseryent to in the qualification OF our
daily wants. that the household utensils that surround
US IN our homes may embody such artiscal and beau
tful forms as to minister to intellectual culture
and enjoyment
His remarks, of which the above is very meagre
SKETCH were received with much interest and attention
and the lecturer resumed his seat amidst prolonged ap
plause.
At the close of the lecture very handsome silver tea
service, consisting of five pieces presented by Mr.
A. G. MARLETT in behalf of the pupils to Prof WnITA
kER in the following brief and appropriate remarks
Professor WHITAKER On behalf of my fellow students
permit me to present to you this gift token of the
gratitude they feel towards you their preceptor and
Of their appreciation alike Of the energy and fidelity with
which you have discharged your office Principal of
the Metropolitan School Of Design. ,....
They beg your acceptance of this, with their best
wishes for your health and happiness and an earnest
prayer that as an artist you may live to realize your
highest aspirations.
Prof whitaker replied as follows 1t is with sincere
pleasure receive this token of your kindness and regard
which feel far transcends my poor deserts Since we
have been together engaged in the work. pursuing
the same ends and with the purpose in view, it,
has been with deep and heartfelt graduation that your
progress has been marked The relations which have
existed between has been of that kind which cannot
fail to give pleasure to teacher and inspire him with
renewed efforts to advance the work in which he is
gagged came among you stranger, unknown to most,
but have met friends; and can forget the
m ndnas Shou IN mn VheI
results of your abors have been more satisfactory than
that of any yet had the pleasure of conduct
ing to this land Of America stranger but have
been every where received with hospitality and kindness
and hope that life spared to devote further
of art in the country Of adoption YOU sir and
to your fellow would offer my most grateful
and trust that the efforts you are
pleased to mark with favor may prove but an earn
est of what the future shall bring forth In return let
me wish you each all health, happiness and prosperity
in every undertaking of fe and with fervent Goddess
you take my leave
Prof HENRY then and said: beg leave, in behalf
of the Board of Managers of the Metropolitan Mechanics
Institute, to tender the thanks of the Board to Prof
WHITAKER for the admirable manner in which he has
conducted this school, in which he has realized and more
than realized all the hopes of the managers the time
he was employed The experiment has been eminently
successful, and seeds have been planted here which,
doubt not will continue to germnate and bring forth fruit
to make glad the hearts of hundreds perhaps of those
who are yet unborn. No man knows his influence. A
single man may commence system of efforts which shall
widening and widening until it embraces all space
and oil time. The pupils Of this school have been made
wiser, and know they have been made BETTER under
these instructions Their minds have been awakened
Of the beautiful; but they will not stop at the
beautiful they will proceed to investigate the rue-the
truths of science well the beauties of nature Eve
ry branch and department Of knowledge is intimately
connected with every other No can make advances
in one department without preparing his mind for ad-
in every other. There very little in what is
called genius Not in million possesses that
popularity of mind which enables him to produce new
results without much toll and labor by Kind of spon-
aneity Such men are like the flowers Of the aloe soli
tary productions of century There scarcely
ceed more than like Shakespeare in age but eve-
ry man of ordinary mind has within him soul that is
capable of indefinite expansion and indefinite cultivation
Look at the savage what does he know of art He is
merely pleased with gaudy coors; but by putting that
savage under of training first showing him one
another little beautiful STILL you gradually awaken
his mind to art and give him higher perceptions and
higher enjoyment In this way you may develop the Ia
tent power within him.
Art is emphatically province of labor The student
must labor himself his teacher must labor with him. and
the whole must be the result of labor 1t saying of
some Of the ancient philosophers that the gods have
placed price upon that which is valuable. He who
will win the prize labor for it. Labor always brings
its reward By aborng little every day, and continu
ing always to make little progress the student win at
length advance far beyond his first attempts first anti
cpations.
also beg leave to present to the pupils of this school
the thanks Of the Board Of Managers. believe that
they too have done their part They have taken great
ishing progress, not merely progress in imitation the
of the copyist but in the higher of design and