The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-18


lost. The eye of the South is upon us, and it
waits to see whether, on tomorrow, the mer-
chants of New York will do their duty.
WHERE ARE OuR MERCHANT PRINcEs?-WHERE
ARE THE PATRONS OF Arrive have frequently
had occasion to refer to the works of Mr..
Barbee, as illustrating more than those of any
sculptor, except Mr.. Palmer, the capabilities of
our countrymen in this branch of art His
"Coquette" and Fisher Girl are unquestion-
ably two Of the most exquisite conceptions
that have ever been worked out in marble. Il
has been matter of wonder to us that they
have not long before this found their way into
the gallery of one of our rich New York col
lectors. A merchant of st. Louis has recently
had the good taste to purchase the "Coquette;"
but the best work of the two, the "Fisher Girl
still remains on hand. The statue that has
been sold has not brought anything like he
price which it is worth, the artist having ben
compelled to sacrifice it to meet the pressing
edgencies of his position. He had spent all
his available resources In the prosecution
of his studies abroad, and had relied
upon the procccus or rnese two works to
enable him to settle down TRANQUILITY here to
the labors of his profession. He had pictured
to himself, in all the glowing warmth Of an
artists imagination, the pride that his country
men would feel in his successes. He has been
met only by trials and disappointments, his re-
naming means having been exhausted in the
effort to bring his works under the notice of our
art connoisseurs. Unable to await the slow
progress Of public appreciation, he finds him
self compelled to expose the Fisher Girl" at
public sale, and has obtained permission to
place it in the Exchange for that purpose. We
are truly sorry to see an artist of unmistakable
merit, and who is as modest as he is deserving,
reduced to such a strait Are there no collec.
tors amongst our rich merchants sufficiently ge-
nervous and discriminating to prevent man of
genius from being thus Inundated and work
Of great value pitilessly sacrificed, merely be-
cause 1t does not bear the cQchet of foreign
reputation?
In Venice and Florence the most munifcent
patrons of art were the merchant princes of the
republic. They not only fostered native talent
but they invited foreigners Of genius, from all
parts, to settle amongst them. They allowed
no works of merit within their reach to be
outbid for by king or kaiser. Nothing
that wealth could do to render their native
cities distinguished and envied was spared by
them. The consequence is, that whilst their
political institutions have persisted, the artistic
glory which they won for those cradles Of
genius has outlived, and will survive,
the influence Of revolutions and of decay.
There are amongst us plenty Of men who are
in position to play the same generous and
patriotic part as that Of the patrons of art in
the Italian republics We may cite, amongst
others, Mr.. Aston, Mr.. Lennox, Mr. Aspinwall,
Mr.. Belmont Mr.. S. Whitney, Mr.. Moses Tay-
lor, Commodore Vanderbilt, Geo. Law, the
Browns, the Stewards, &c. Why do not these
gentlemen, individually or collectively, come
forward and do something towards the foun-
dation Of permanent art collection, by
raising fund for the purchase of Barbee's
Fisher Girl" as beginning! If dozen
Of them were to subscribe ten thousand
dollars each it would 60 far towards the erec
ton Of q suitable building. At all events, thew
could prevent the dispersion of the works
OF merit at present exhibiting here, by pur-
chasing them ana presenting them to the CITY,
leaving it to the Corporation to provide a.
ting gallery for their reception.