Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-06-15
LOG AL NE w s.


cilEens who having studied In Italy, could not
ialI to Introduce "the foreign fine artsb in Amer
Ica' and were able TO work for a smaller compen-
sanon than The natives. Ii was a strange accuse
uon, that Of having spent too little of the public
money Captain Meigs defended himself by saw
ing that, although be would have paid ten times
as much 10 native artists, they could not have
executed well the decorations in fresco- paint no
winch require particular talent and an order Of
studies TO which the Americans have not vet
directed their attention.
This was plain enough; but the declamatory
oenunciaton Of ''foreign nne arts' introdu ced in
america, proved a bugbear for many. Congress
was called upon to interfere against such a pro-
hnation by appointing a commission of matt We
american artists TO be the channel for the dis,
alouuon OF any sum appropriated for the decora-
uon OF the National Capitol The Representa-
uVes, however, seemed TO suspect that petty
lealousies and disappointment might be al the
Dottom OF so much patriotism. An cart Com
mission" was authorized by acts of last Congress
out u was merely a consulting commission with
no other power except to examine the designs be-
fore they were presented for appreciation to the
regular committee. That cart Commission;;
nevertheless took the trouble of surveying and
examining the National Capitol and has lately
presented to Congress report condemning all
everything to be done, and asking for powers 10
carry on the work. and to be made 'sthe channel
iof the distribution OF all appropriations to be
made by Congress for art purposes" The Con-
demand ~
The establishment Of triumvirate of artists
of money annually appropriated for art purposes
does not bespeak well, not even from an econom
teal and administrative point of view. 1t would
be attended by less Inconvenience from the point
of art IL the three artists appointed for that Com
mission were so far superior to all other Ameri-
can artists that every idea of rivalry should be
excluded; moreover, If the members Of the Com
mission distributing the appropriations should
not help themselves or take TO themselves the
lions share Unfortunately the three artists chosen
by the President for the cart Commission ,;
though equally able az many Of their colleagues
are by no means superior to them The vieIrs
also expressed in the report presented by the same
artists do not reveal true conception OF what Art
is, or a correct taste. For instance they sav and
10 is true that art has its heroic period fs yolda
period, and period Of decay. BUTT is not logic
70 conclude from this that art in America sbo,,Id
De Kept at the hrst 1.-THE heroic) period leaving
tne actual progress to ian effste and decaved
race Tor this is neither possible nor desirable
ne heTotc period OF art, with its rude Representa-
ton Of nature-stif and awkward forms -
long since been closed for all the civilized ma
Art as well as science is manifs.,,,,o, -, a,
power OF the soul Ii is not local; il has no n,,is
country; il belongs to the general pfogress Of th
human race When art is at the second period
ia italy, no - commission" could draw IL back 10
the first period in America, whatever NAV n. 81
comparative degradation of the two races The
pest thing to do Is to accept with its
If posi- BILE. Ui 'ei
The Italians Of old have erected to art tsrrrr.
which Is still In the hands of individuals of he
IN er1ls
the oracle both the American and the En,ons
who aspire 10 the title of artist The paIIadfnm
which has not been stolen, may yet be Conquered
oY the successful children OF America provided
they are not afraid Of the ntrod ucton Of fo,eign
nae arts" Already truly distinguished American
artists have entered the field of COMPOSITION in
Italy, and earned laurtls well deserved The IL
lustriouS Crawford was Of the number hint he ala
has introduced - foreign fine arts" in America
The report OF the Art Commission is in favor
OF delaying the execution of some part of the
decoration OF the Capitol on the ground that there
are al present no native artists good enouob for
that work We know on the contrary that there
are now HVlng several native American artists
engaged In successful competition with the hest
81 Italy. At any rate, it would be very moor
plan that OF PostPoning the work in order to ex-
Clude competition and convert the Capitol into a
Kind Of experimental school, in which native art
lists should be raised to greatness by the ofBciaI
patronage extended to them
Art is the child Of Nature and must dsvalo, h.
the native force # genius in the field of COMM
hu)n. Otherwise ii would be Ike an exotic nisnt
reared at great expense and Of no use under Glass
The example Of England, which reouires Tn
years residence before allowing forei0ne, 70
compete for Governments work is not Of y,sst
weight for England has never attained much
success In art Moreover, England herself is civ
ing up her eXclusiveness. she was verv OILS 4 10
employ the Italian Pisrucci soon as that artist
beautiful coins of England "
Except from narTOw-minded political poipt
OF view, why should naturalized artist be ex-
eluded from competition with a native, WHY
price 70 a native artist for a work which :. nst
nraized artist, more educated for it, can mai.
better and for small compensation, IL tits for
the development OF art in America this object
Will be better accomplished by Competition and
by the Introduction Of good specimens of art
The narrow idea that works Of art having a
connection with a country cannot be well ex
ecuted except by artists born in that country he
Trays singular mlsconceptiOn Of the essence of
art TIE contingencies of time and place have
only secondary importance in regard To the
genius which presdes over the fin. arts Mo-
over, art does not consist IN a sterile servils 90
mechanic Imitation Of nature, of faces or Of
dresses " Vi
-Emilum circa ludum faber unus ct upguss
Exprimet, ct mOlles imitabitur are caniIIost In
teiix opeiis summa, quia ponere totum Nesciet.1
mediocre artist, oy the practice of seeino and
copying always the same faces NAV hsca27oa 80 =
good maker Of portraits in his native CITY RIit he
IS not true artist who is not able TO feel mbIime
excitement In the presence Of his subject who has
no comprehensive views; who is not able 10 catcb
feature % expression except by long and
mechanic process Of observation
The superstition that Horace VerDet cannot main,
except French subjects and would not h. IL g.
90 anything good In America, is another proof ~
nlsconcePuon OF art. Vernet has earned his hest
asnVs IN Airea, ana in the representation of
AFRICAN scenery, costumes, physiognomtes and
passions true artist, as be would never a,rivs
az tne conviction that every foreie ner who 20
speets his ART aud bis own reputation must TEL bf
incompetencv TO paint the history of anv co, us
but his ownn - my country
There is hardly any example of great arts,
AN@ SoHAnC1 genius within the umitS Of
bis country and its history Italian scenery Italian
subjects, and Italian costumes have been executed
and are still executed by foreign artists exceed
ingly well.
IL sounds very well, a piece of defamation
that here artists should give up ali Ornaments al
Iexoriss and Symbols such as are used In the Old
world, In order to represent only the great deeds
and the heroes Of the American revolution Rut
no person Of good sense will fail to perceive that
Whlis the pannels Of large halls and other prom
Ihent places are well adapted for historical and
omar subjects, the same could not be Introduced
.ue "Details OF the decoration Of large public
OuIohg everything must be In It's proper place:
oInerwise ~ would De mistake in art. and some
ne e., P,olanation Of sacred memories
Ony rev persons Of very corrupt TASTE would
IA ~ sas Goo OF every door representing the
neea .. " Sshington; the tablet Of every brscLet
supported by the head of FrankItn. a. D.aoAes
the constitution transformed in c.ristsSis. 80
50 on. In similar places and anv 49, ana
ornaments are required, II will be not on, me-,
naoie put quite proper to Introduce ,Ss ,s.on
PAinung decorations in the style used 81,
BY the Etruscans, the Greeks and tn PasIsy
snd brought 70 perfection by Raphael, MicbeI aus
gelo, and other great masters of Italv An
IL Is easy, also, to declaim apairst the s,r.,-,