The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-10-18

When the Crystal Paace-that miracle of
lightness, and beauty and grace-rose suddenly
upon the vision of the delighted Londoners, a
fitting receptacle for the ar-treasures of the world
quite number of persons were disposed to re-
gard the exhibition rs merely a great show, and
but few fathomed its real esthetcal Importance, or
the industrial advantages that would be derived
from it, Acting upon the hint thus afforded them,
our own enterprising countrymen built a Crystal
Palace at New York, and inaugurated it with i'm
posing ceremonies, and gathered in contributions
from Europe and the far realms of the Orient
There was much talk of it in the papers, and PUT.
NAM greatly to his sorrow-issued an illustrated
Magazine, crowded with choice engravings of the
rare and costly, and strange, and ingenious things
that were collected beneath its airy dome, or that
filled It's asles and galleries. The attractions thus
presented drew, for brief season, a large con-
course of visitors; but rs speculation, the whole
affair turned out disastrous failure, and we fear
also that our industrial classes did not for
the most part duly appreciate the suggestive
nature of the bri liant exposition-for we have
not yet been able to see any marked
improvement in those branches of art and
mechanical science wherein foreign workmen are
acknowledged to excel, and from whose specimens
of skfu workmanship and elegance of design the
observant eye might have gained many valua-
BILE lesson. The English on the contrary, have
turned the knowledge acquired at their Worlds
Fair to practical uses. The mode in which they
have profted by the occasion we now proceed TO
explain. First ofall, however, we would premise
that previously to the Great Exhibition q move
ment had been set on foot for elevatng the ntell-
gence and increasing the artistic taste of the work
ing classes-which movement resultedin the organ
ization Of Mechanics Institutes and Schools Of
Design in all the larger manufacturing towns, and
also in many of the better class Of villages. But
those Institutions, though capable of imparting
much information in regard 10 science and the
useful arts fell short Of what was wanting in one
essential particular They were deficient in those
choice and varied specimens Of ancient and modern
skill which educate the eye to comprehend the
soundness and practical importance of the rules
laid down in lectures and treatises, and the abso-
Lutte necessity for their observance. To accomplish
this end in the best manner shortly after the close
Of the exhibition at the Crystal Palace, a museum
of Fine Arts, applied to manufactures was founded
at South Kensngton, near London, which at this
time contains "more than 1000 specimens of or
'namental art, Il large collection of British pic
''tures, circulating Art Library, architectural
'examples and various other collections" 1t has
also a normal school for training art teachers and
affords besides substantial aid TO various local
schools of art The character of the museum is
essentially practical throughout. 1t includes an
educational collection, in which are to be found
plans and elevations of the more approved school
buildings; food collection, indicating the
different powers of nutritive substances and a col
lection of patents running back for many years,
in which the growth of an idea-that Of the steam
engine, for nstance-may be proftably studied
from models which, starting with the first steam
engine patented, embrace the whole series of i'm
provemeuts by which it has been brought
to its present state of perfection. But ornamental
art is the main feature in the museum, because
the Crystal Palace Exhibition showed concu-
sively that, in this particular branch of art
the English workman fell far behind his foreign
competitor. Mr.. COLE, one of the Directors Of
the Museum, in the evidence given by him short
time since before Select Committee of the House
of Commons--for the Institution was established
under the auspices Of the British Government
thus describes the principal collections
"In iapanned and lscquercd work strong; in
glass and painting have good collection in pottery
and in works in metal collection is by far the strong
in Europe in glass manufactures we are strong; In
watches and clocks pretty song and also i'll jew
elry and decorative objects in the precious metals IN
and armor and in furniture and leather
strong; in basket work, middng; of textile fabrics we
the best collection in Europe and in book binding
and book decoration we are pretty fairly represented
Whatever purchases are made, and these chiefly
relate 10 ornamental art, are strictly confined to
such objects as will aid the manufactures of the
country and free admittance to this we'll selected
is said TO have already had striking effect in
elevaling the taste, alike of the public, the manu-
facturer, and the workman. Decorative art i'll
England, and more comprehensive knowledge
of the laws of color aud form, have been greatly
advanced by this collection of choice examples;
and so important are the results which it has ac-
complishe1, that the Chamber Of Commerce OF
Lyons sent over Il Commissioner to examine the
Museum and the Schools connected with it, who,
in his subsequent report, warned the manufac-
turers of Lyons that they would have 'to fight
"vaiantly if they would preserve for their city
cher superiority in the domain of taste and art"
To obviate the difficulties attendant upon concen-
trating so large and valuable collection at one
point, and that point remote from the chief manu-
featuring districts travelling collections contain
ing thousand selected articles at time, are
taken to various towns to give the artizans an
opportunity of studying the best examples. This
circulating exhibition, periodically changed, has
been found of great service in suggesting to de-
of md IN
many improvements in their art. In Sheffield, a
retired manufacturer asserts that ''the ornamental
tcastings made in that city will now compete
"with the beautiful designs of old Italian manu-
"facture," and that the art students of that city
'have executed works in wood carving equal to
'the productions Of any country" In brass and
iron work; in Britannia metal and cutlery; in
silver and plated ware, similar improvements are
manifested The manufactures of Birmingham
have, in like manner, been very much increased
in purity of design and beauty of outline
during the last five or six years. Testimony
equally conclusive with regard to other dis
tricts, Indicate in like manner the great advantage
which every department of ornamental art
has derived from the Kensington Museum. How
this remarkable change has been brought about is
besfexplaned in the words of Mr.. REDGRAvE, the
Art Superintendent of the Museum
"What now produce said he in response to. ques-
tons put to him by the Parliamentary Committee, lis
Limoges enamel copper of the date of the sixth cenu
ry It is no in collection than something of
the same kind is produced by Mnton not copy, but
translation it is translated from copper into porcelain
Here again article in Nevers pottery, which, being
placed in the Museum manufacturers are stimulated
to produce something like it, but differing perhaps, IN
the mode of decoration have here beautiful DISH the
AF,Sac hoe Oft he
the Museum years. and has been to the potterles
and from that has resulted great deal of our mslolca
We might multiply instances which go to show
the various WAYS in which the art collection OF
Keusincton has been turned to practical account;
but those we have cited will probably be regarded
as sufficient The moral to be drawn from this
statement is equally obvious. We have in many
of our cities Mechanics Institutes and Schools
of Design. They are capable of doing much
good but they fail at the very point at which
the Institutes and Art Schools failed ten years
ago in England-they fail III demonstrating to
the student the excellence of art by making him
familiar with the best examples. Those examples
do not merely serve to improve the taste, they
are in the highest degree suggestive they not
only lead TO better copies of a given thing they
give birth TO new creations, novel combinations
of old forms. and a finer and truer perception OF
- aud Ing