Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-14
THx WASHINGTON Ar A,,oc,,..o- r,....

THx WARRINGTON Arr pro.
eesoings at the gallery Of the Art Association,
Monoay evening, were Of an attractive character.
Inc demise Of Rufus Dawes, the poet and author
WI VINO was one OF the first members, was announced
marks. wa. fooWea Sr Esq ~ IN sC%s feeling re-
same effect " '" 'ne
Prof Loomis, Of the Lafayette Institute, then
u t, In pursuance Of previous announce
ment an interesting lecture on the subject Of
Taste He commenced bv saving tbSt Em.
erson had said that '.the bitterest disputes that
nave arisen among men have been upon matters
,aSte and tath, because there are no immutabe
principles TO which they may be Refereed But.
noswithstanding this general truth, and notwith,
standing the diversity of tastes among the All.
isrent nations and peoples, all felt 1t to be true
what We call the pleasures Of taste He then NO
ceedea to show that the Creator had filled the
universe with sources Of pleasure; that his created
can only reach these pleasures through the
powers given 1T that the lowest form of being
must have at Least single sense that every sense
necessarily supposed the means of ts orat alton
ana NAV hence there must be, in the universe
the h.man soul; that the existence of the intellect
proves the existence Of the sciences: and in like
manner the existence Of love Of the beautiful
proves the substantial existence of beauty.
taste Is the faculty by which we comprehend
ana ENJOY the beautiful; art the embodiment of
tue perceptions. The beautiful has been varjonslv
tba oy philosophers: Some have defined it as
ton, as unity in variety and vet Others as fitness
The lecturer discussed these as the basis of
oeauty iemark1ng upon proportion A building
IS beautiful when all the parts are harmoniously
tween length and height The moment its length
becomes too great for its height or its height for
Io le ing, , we Perceive II; beauty diminish AL
ton to its length, how then, is It possible to
double its length, IL it was beautiful before with
out now desPoiling it? Nor can this deficiency
proposed. Such height Of dome will but have
the effect to make the rest look still more COM
pressed and Hat We might as well attempt to
glye dignity to rope,walk by stretching upa
say, though our Capitol may be so adorned as to
merit the epihet Of very beautiful that there will
also ever be felt that it is wanting in something
TO carry 1t up to our ideal This Sometime viii
be found in the element Of proportion: and Of or
post Once this is equally perbap s more trne
and without relief. Beautiful az are it's CORN,
ai rotimns elaborate as are its capitals, moth
ing can give it dignity. 1t is hopelessly lost, e.
peclaliy While confronted by the most majestic
the Smithsonian f.' 'N'o
mts sneaia De true to images
not ART FOUNTAINS ornamented with animals
throwing water from their mouths; gas pines
coming from the heads Of delicate female fg-
u'ts, SO Tar from being art caricatures even
tho!gh they are found in the Presidents crounds
and the New Capitol Art should indeed be the
handmade OF morality and rrlic on; and herein
ne believed that American art d no superior. 1t
may DC wanting IN strength, x Inality or ideals
but as we look around upon these walls II ia a
source OF Just pride that while there is much
worthy OF admiration, there is nothing to debase
ne looked with pride upon these few American
pictures. They tell US Of American homes and
wives and children, and here We all are taupht
lessons OF sentences, patience, sacrifice, and all
kindred virtues.
After the lecture A. F. Cunningham, ESQ. an
nounced the death Of George r. w est who was
the nfst corresponding Secretary of the Associ-
auon an artist of great merit, and worthy and
PREF history Of his life and character.
heV. III. Parker also spoke I'm terms of high
commentator COZ Of the deceased, whom he knew
American Commission az a Young GcntIeman
OF excellent reputation, and an artist of great
promise. s0N'
. Hon H. Maynard, Of Tennessee, will deliver
the Lecture on Monday evening next