The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-06-20

It's pleasant to know that the cultivation of a
taste for the fine arts, in this CITY has made great
progress within the last two or three years. Time
was when artists who selected Baltimore as their
'e Vi residence were but indifferently encouraged
y o"r ciuzens, and were possessed of but few ac-
'1ou'uons for prosecuting those studies which
% absolutely essential to the proper develop
c"' vi genus, and 10 the perfecting of artistic
sNHI' Inc organization of the Life School,
Tow rus The close of the year 1853, was the first
energetic step which was taken in the right di-
iectioh' Copies even of the best pictures though
,ney form means of instruction which is not to
'e uespised are never productive of such satisfac
F"S results as studies from nature. If an Ameri-
' S'nool OIL painting is to be founded, and the
uVoess oI CHURCH, and CRoPsEY, and DURAND and
-Ai'l' ana JOHNSON, and of many other promising
"s'S with whose names the public is less familiar
indicates that such, at no very distant dav will
oe Inc case-lt must he based upon originality of
treatment, growing out of a profound apprecia-
ton OF natural objects, and of the best mode of
transferring them to the canvas In figure nain+-
ing, resort must constantly be had to the liv;pc,
model, and in landscape painting TO the woods
and fields, the mountains and the sea shore W.
do not of course, desire to underrate tbe ,o1o -
a careful analy teal study of the choicest pctnros
by the old masters the manner in which thev
worked; the pigments they used the effects they
produced and the peculiarities for which they are
respectively distinguished. Such knowledge,
wherever it is attainable, may undoubtedly be
put to good use. But slavish subsection TO old
theories and precedents, and TO the authority of
great names, is quite as fatal to originality in art
as it is in literature. Every man who hopes to
distinguish himself above his fellows must place
reliance upon his own powers and must seek his
sources of inspiration in whatever is vital around
him. 1t is for these reasons that we regard the
organization of a Life School in this city, and its
present prosperous condition, as matter of public
interest. Every institution of the kind must have
a beginning, and as artists in general are by no
means of that class which is very largely endowed
with this world goods, are not at all surprised
to learn that the existence of the School during
the winter of 1859 was at times quite precari-
ous from the fact that its treasury like the shelves
of the apothecary's shop in Romeo and Juliet,
presented little more than I" beggary account
" of empty boxes" The expenses incurred for fix
lures and for providing ffmodels, who themselves
had taiiors' bills to meet and butchers bills to
pay 9uite exceeded the weekly tax imposed
o upJa 'ne members of the School, and which
800 NOT have been increased without ex-
s some of the poorer and more ener-
seu. u he students from the benefits of the I
i hs In this emergency, gentleman, who
''n guished himself as a generous ma
hsnas of tae artists, quietly placed in the
nanu " INC management liberal contr;but;o,
when kept the School going through tha winter
TINS was the turning point in the foruno, " 80 ~.
school, At the opening of the ensuing ses.on