New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-17
WASHINGTON Art ASSOCIATION.

last evening, by the Hon. j. X. Tyson, was an elo
ouent and beautiful production and was heard by the
elfe of the city In Corcoran Hall, in which building
fhe exhibition OF art thrown open TO the pubic at
Che conclusion Of the address.
FIR. ~ son commenced by abiding to the discOur-
aging circumstances under which the Washington AIT
Association had entered upon their present enterprise
fortitude deserving SUCCESSOR, indeed the ardor
which Gonna nds IT, was requisite. The minds OF men
astubed 70 appreciation of the beautiful 10 art
In the of repose which prosperity secures, but
zhe blossoms of elegance chilled by the frost of
adversely. The effort to impress the purposes OF this
Association upon the attention of the country at this
peicd Of fnaAc;al gloom worthy the heroic spirit OF
he masters OF the pencil and the chsel as well as Of
Bong who have lived and died for the glory OF their
Irofessiops.
The speaker sxtolled the patriotic purpose Of max
Ing repository of art for the genius of the country 10
tts national metropolis, amid the memorials OF our
greatness whittier the home student and the foreign
Tourist for gmp.es of the taste and intellect OF
che nation. Here all the peculaTites OF our people
are exhibited, here art is diversified by the variety OF
climate oil the varying conditions OF society and hore
an impartial and cultivated Judgment should express
in CANDID crihcsm its Christening and improving YER
dict.
DR. Tyson assumed tina! every citizen desired that
abe national capital should reveal tue EVIDENCES OF
nigh civilization ard would feel ust pride in reallz'
dg that the grace aud beauty surrounding HIM were
Che achievements Of bis own countrymep. 10 all ages
che artist bias been cherished by his own S2yernment
or by ts sovereign princes and mobiles Without such
aids the fno arts have ever languished. But we
Aaye no imperial patrican rank no law OF primo.
gelituIe; no permanent class to whom the artist may
foek for patronage. The fostering aid of Legisls
fms the appreciation Of scho0led and reading pub
He are his only resources, and he must turn 10 these
IN competition with the demands for the development
of vast ard enexpOred physical resources.
Practical knowledge fhe colossal machinery OF 10Y
srrrnert and the ordinary industrial pursuits, absorb
10 mzch Of the devotion challenged for the beauties OF
art that We may wonder at the efforts OF taste
ma behod Ia decor ation architecture, landscape gar
iepipg p,rtusry and painting for 1t requires tue CO.
epetasscn Ut artificial convenience ana mon.ai 49,.
Iaia
M al to the general appreciation oil ats'
Sc genus IA its higher manifestations ,.,uo,,
1Hsee uUths were eloquonty sustained by 1ranes
@ re ,,snerity of art In modern Rome. TIE de-
6cieneies u practical England, with Iespoct 10 Ino
ipe arts ware 0welt upon, add oeauuia Nl1uI1 "aS
repdeco TO the brief catalogue OF atlsts VINO nave
ndort &C tue eunas Of this land, OF high achievement,
and praofioG wisdom-whose genius has ulumlncd
scieI ce ard literature, and from whom we nave 70,
ceiy.d betscr lessons and qualities than Italy could
In hm,rica the native taste has been quickened by
cultivation and private wealth has been hoe.ai 70
Art But the number Of persons OF elegant tate ano
leisure js small few models Of excellence e1is' no
standard of taste prevails, and tho merits OF candi-
Sate are otter decided by caprice, whim paruai1y Q,
al-paiV,e This the artist sustains IN ms unaloeu
struesles and with mind Ill fortified oy alspne
Rams hence contracts disgust tor every DAY existence,
and acuu zee Taste for Fictitious elegance lhconeev
able with the struggle for bread, ana prosperity &c
rarely sti1ieed until the ieh8theneo sH"oo"S VI '
nv sn, er maintained that they who suppose
A. At The srtst has but few subjects OF study IN tnis
country or superior specimens OF an we hsve enoesu
e. Isstnr Toe license and recfy the errors OF geolus,
Eitkou, N pr sspg its originality The evenuu nls.oIy
and the ns esc scenery OF our country soVula an .u
ample Inspiration WITH themes 30 hSror an" $500
Tee frs becon 10 foreign ideas. The independent
spiiit Of Bcs amin West, an American artist led hun
Go the practc al adoption of conception THAI hsaga
.&alo Of art m
Asr the recital of numerous historic instances. and
seme Of them of udicrous character, lustrauVs Vi
he unequs co, 9ct Of merit and rank 10 Europe, al,
Ty,on ssd Ii il is merit which here commands the
avenues 10 distinction, rank and fame Waen mature
has done hes part diligence and honor VIII 40 !oe
Isst lie slsO descanted upon the practice OF vsiuug
Italy 70 acquire the arts and with them .ae Soh
ard vices 81 that artificial landau experience which
he did not regard az necessary Tor those ~hon MANURE
had favored, quoting the coupet;
How u1vOl a fool who has been sent 70 Rome
f:xsee.ls fool who has been kept a. home
Rrt djiiee,,ce as well as genius must co none with
a beni,1 sIt nature 10 produce great artist 40
day without o line was the maxim ny ~niVn APsne'
nose. ....x..x -, r,ars,v ~.
x;,eanepts ont the expressive life and soul, is no
mssn sch;evenent; but the pencil may combine oo'
iscts in acton and so dispose the paris as 70 etoSo
Ae co,rps atoms Of intricate narrative, OF IL may
create sct nee beycpd the effect OF language
Thus tbs sculptor Or painter is essentially poet, and
capable Of Utteiing the most punsent satIe Tue oe'
Weiic0te
II is a.o within bis compass to depict tne glandeu
conceptors Of the human mind in corresponding pro-
PortoIs OF beauty and majesty ana 10 reveal 'nep 1"
5eerfil a'pec's of terror and subhmity; con
TIE sp,eker, after paying merited tribute 10 Cop
Ny and AiFfon, entered upon vlnecatlon OF nens-
min West, end pointed out the political Lhaences
Which led To bis disparagement in Eugland. $500
He dreh with emphasis upon the meT1ts OF TINS
Da;nter wboee simple monument he had seen in 81.
baurs Cathedral in London, with It's mesgre nscrip-
hon. Wet hsd sat for many years on the throne OF
British ant but while the marble which covers his
ashes has TO soothing word OF regret OF commsndson,
she nor uuuts Of artists around him are loud in sasy
But NERVE Gus char ges had taken place in the sent-
xnsnt Of fne,aDd betw cen the period when West was
received with honor, before our Revolution and that
Of his death after our independence. let, II Is
sill marvellous that American writers and Ameri
car opihoE even under the slavish influence OF
the Biish press. The mists Of preudices, however,
have passed away in both countries and both coUntes
rejoice in bis fame.
brief mt Of the character and excellence OF
some Ct the paintings Of West given, bat the
speaker swolt chiefly upon bis transoendant compo-
al ON of Death on she Pale Horse"
The Difficulties over which this great artist tri'
uuphtd hi, life Of moral and religious purity, hl,
rnsrnsIs ss a polshed gentleman, his cordially OF
Selling and generosity, were elolueny presented Tor
approved AID emulation.
The a1afNce and especially the artists among them,
were TO informed that be was stranger TO pro.
fessional ioaousy; that he assisted the mentorousi
that the S.fe of art 10 bis country lay near his
hart ard Ghst the formation of an academy OF art in
PhDses, lila engaged his coun'enance and sympathy
Mr. Tyson, / conclusion earnestly commended the
- cd all oh