New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-04-18
EXHIBITION OF THE NATIONAL
ACADEMY or DESIGN.
IRifst AItcle.l

On The 10th Of arch last the journals ofthe City an
noun csd the opening of the Annual Exhibition OF the
Academy of Design. On the 10th Of May next they
will announce its closing Msny of those who said
at hrst, 1--WE must 20 and sec this Exhibition, will
say, when 1t 10 all over, eve forgot to go; and
then everything will have been said. Some articles
published here and there, will have excited little
ait, ntion ard sweed, by a few lazy louugerI, the
number of visitors TO the galleries but the annual
Exhibition Of Paintings in the crest metropolis
Of the New World will have passed, in 1885, a.
Quietly and unnoticed as in former yeTs. This poor
success for al Institution which ought to to
its title of National, is douby to be regretted. It
nroves in the outset, a radical Indifference 10 prog
rees In Art, In q couatry where every other sort Of
"proeress is the distinguishing national characters
tic 1t is explained besides 1t were as yell to con-
fe.s by the inferior value Of the works exhibited Is
II the public Indifference which dsnps the inspiration
Of artistsl Oris it the poverty Of the show which
djscouraees public favorl We believe that the two
propositions ave equally true, aud that this deporable
reciprocity IT, at bottom the secret Of the relative
il ferority of painting in Amer'cA
Painting mast have its traditions no. only to be
executed at ALL bu, in order to be fairly understood
and soupe ly Judged. There traditions wanting in
whose successes none have surpassed AID very fe.
have squaed, is necessary to the education OF tee
artist. They are the guides of tasts the originals
ard mooels Of artistic science-things which, IN
general, are wanting to our painters. The ah't nav
pg acquired from these sources the needtul prsetlc
knowledge, Is next to apply 1t TO the production Of
oona Creations and that be may DO so With grester
az greater perfection, he must cultivate familiarity
with contemporary masters. The frequent comparison
of their inspirations their processes and THAR Styles
are sources prolific Of ideas, OF secrets OF the pal
cite. and OF useful com binaiions Hence comes also,
the noble emulation the enterprsing rivalry which
produces great works while developing great artists
But where can we find all this among us
Lsft most Of the time TO the nselves, withous
,etooI without known principle without practical
notions. our Young artists employ their genius in
wrestling with obstacles which European beginners
,,d.a by the precepts of the studio learn from the
start to surmount 1t is therefore, for the most part
only by dint of perseverance, OF laborlous expert
nenis end discoursgpg re.eaiches that tney are en
sbed TO discover path in the wide field where
others Hrd il eIeady marked out.
Here, not to multiply details, Is the prIncipai cause
Of the infs loriy of ART in this country compared win
the old world. As for the lack OF interest wnica 'he
public eyipce, as yet for national school OF pant
Ing, the explaostion is naturally to be sought In tue
state of our civilization. We are too busy with otecr
things. We have founded political community
which Is no vety under the SUM- we have thus Tar
oiv.n an unknown expansion to our social instliu-
ton, and in this d,ube rel.ton America has accom-
nli,bed a yerit.be revolution in humanity. romsrch
at the head of universal movement and ouiia ne"
es On ipdestructibls foundations We have sppuea 70
the range of our prosperity all the resources OF inoa'
try, all the developments Of commerce. al tue
achievements of agriculture. In word, I" " mol .
vain boast to say that we have developed certain
practical greatness, for the profit Of our nan'nA
!, s,;tu,;ots. This work, accs nptshed Ill lapse
~ ,ime which once scarcely suffced to waan