The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-11-24

those OF Great Britain. united minority Is
infinitely more powerful than majority which
is made up of discordant and contending fac
TONS
We put these views before our readers in all
candor and sincerity. The time has arrived
when we should look our troubles squarely 10
the face Men Of the North have been too long
the dupes Of miserable politicians who have
presumed upon the generosity of the South
and studiously attempted to dsparage our fell
low citizens OF that section. The black re
publican leaders have sown the wind, and the
whirlwind is at hand.
The FINE ARTS IN Nav YoRK-NEw BUILD
ING Tor THE ACADEMY OF DEsIGS.-N otwith-
standing the disturbance caused Ia financial
sffain by the political dangers impending over
us, the art season opens under peculiarly
suspicious circumstances. The impetus given
to enterprise In this line last fall has resulted
in the investment Of large amount of capital
in new galleries, and In the Importation Of
foreign pictures. Two important collections
have just been opened-that Of Mr.. Derby, in q
fine marble structure specially erected for the
purpose and that of the French and Flemish
schools at Goupil's. In the one the history Of
art, from Its earliest Christian development
down to the present day, may be studied by
the aid Of works chronologically arranged, and
marking its different stages of advancement
In the other can be analysed the peculiarities
Of two of the most esteemed Of the modern
schools, In the productions Of their best artists
Besides thete we have the purely German
school, represented BY the International Art
Association, and q number of smaller csllec.
TONS chiefly in the hands Of the print sellers,
which comprise works of undoubted merit
such as the Cinderella" Of Van Lerius.
1t would be no exaggeration to set down the
value Of the foreign paintings exhibited here
and for sale this season at half million Of dol
lars This estimate Is confined to this city
alone, which Is far from monopolizing all
the valuable pictures imported into this coun-
Try. Many Of theee find their way to other
parts Of the Union, where the taste for art col
lections Is rapidly spreading amongst those
who can afford to indulge In such expensive
Injuries.
In the meanwhile the patronage thus bestowed
on foreign works, 80 far from hurting, Is bene.
fitting greatly native art. II Is natural that II
-hould do so Competition operates as an in
centive to ambition In this az Ia every
other pursuit The more good works our art.
lists see the better they will paint; and the more
extended the opportunities Of comparison. the
more the public will appreciate genius, native
as well as foreign. The proof Of this is to be
found in the fact that there Is scarcely a
painter Of any merit amongst us who
Is not in the enjoyment Of fair income. Some
such as Church, Kensett, Durand, Huntington,
Elliott and Gignoux enjoy, socially As well as
pecuniarily, positions quite rs enviable as
those Of the leading European artists The
aggregate amount earned yearly by our New
York painters speaks well for the taste and
liberality OF our mercantile aristocracy II GER
tainly is not less than s3O0O00 and very pro-
badly exceeds that sum. In five years more,
considering the educational facilities in art
which are now being afforded us by private en-.
terprise, this amount will be quadupled PEG
pie who own fne houses are beginning to under
stand that good picture Is a greater evidence
of taste and cultivation than fine furniture, or
than gaudily decorated apartments.
II Ia curious that whilst private enterprise 10
doing 80 much for art, the National Academy
should exhibit such little interest In the
general movement II L. content. year after
year, to hold It's exhibitions In the dingy rooms
In Tenth s'reet-to occupy place on the walls
OF which Ia considered BY artists Of repute as
q equivalent TO entombment The lesson given
the committee by Elliot last season should
have shamed them into taking steps TO remedy
the complaints caused BY the crowded condition
and bad light Of their rooms A little sxertion
would place them In location where neither
of these Inconvenience would be felt, and
where they could concentrate under one roof
their library and private collection Of portraits,
now huddled away In q small house In Thir-
tenth street They possess at present about
sixty thousand dollars Of funded capital; and
With this to 60 TO work upon, they might soon
rase fund sufficient to erect building equal
70 their requirements. II each member Of the
Academy, for instance, would paint one import
ant picture In aid Of the fund, taking two
years TO complete II In, so as not to interfere
With his other avocations, the sale Of the whole
would produce all that rs needed. We recon-
mend the suggestion to the consideration OF the
Executive Committee Of the Academy. IL thew
really feel an interest Ia the progress OF art il
IL time that they should manite eat some practical
evidences Of IL