New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-14
TEE NEW PATH. MAY.


TEE NEW PATH. MAY.
The present number Of this journal commences
the second volume and new series OF the work
which is benceforth 10 DO published under private
management, without any control from the Society
for the Advancement OF Truth in Art. The name
Of the editor is not announced, but it may be pre-
sumcd that tho writer's who have heretofore con-
tributed to its pages, will continue their labors'in
its behalf as the same general views of the princi
pies Of ar, arc TO be urged. From paper entitled
"Our Artists and their Critics" we extract two or
three Of the most important paragraphs.
IYcREAssG INTEREST IN ART.
II not ~ be- denied that the fine arts occupy day by
dny more and Of the attention of Our American
public. The Indifference Of that public 10 all questions
connected with Art and to Art itself whether as
Of enjoyment n theme for the specuiatons Of
connossenTs. hns long been fruitful subject OF sheer
Ia the uprcudly and grave rcxet Ia the hind observers
In Europe Americans who knew enough of Europe to
understand t.at cur American Indifference was not
necessary natural state have been perfectly aware
that mns hll think more about Art before Art III
give much that Is worth thinking about.
ka that the opinion Of society j. likely obe yalua'
bic lie discussions productive Of sound views. IL Is
not he expected that the gossip Of drawing
the chatter and Irritation OF picture galeres-the com
pettiou of auctions 10 now or Is likely Ia be in
spied ny true feelings and real knowledge. But from
the constant and continued discussion OF any topic truth
the Anti Slavery reforrnerS Agitate the question
From sngnancy falschood ~ the only pos-lble preci
tate. wEsnthe paper. report the doing. OF artist
that Ia q good sign II the report be fsc.and Do Of
things worth reporting lime Was when the papers
did not themselves with such matters. When
marx catalogue Of some auction sale and note
how the battle fought over some very careless or
very bad picture, until II WAS sold Tor score oil
hun4r Ind cheer In that waste OF money. and
promise for the future IL sad enough to think that
every such sale the painting II numberess bad
pictures more IL Ia sad a. think Of tie worthy men who
make Of themselves mock heroic artists, IL sad 10
thAt OF the waste OF time and money and brains and
false admiration lies 20 only road to good Art TINT
have asked nothing from arfsts and nothing given
us; now begin to demand pictures. and piotnles be
gin Ia be painted by hundreds,-ie us admit that the
majority bad the minority remain which are good
Hraa Giea Ia piss For long years We have refused 10
believe that there good rt In Europe now wo turn
our thoughts thithervsrd there come 10 us most OF
spurious old mnstors but among them precious Neas
quez-n precious Giotto; there come 10 US modern
pictures by hundreds. rubbish in plenty. but among
Them a picture OF two by FIere-e picture OF two by
Wilems-a few Turner drawings--oDe noble Holman
Hunt since ost because there had not grown TO be
snouSh gossip about Art. For long years our book
world I'D NOT concern itself about Art now books ON
tie Gne arts begin fad publishers and sale, the ma
jory olerahy shallow. but among the lot are reprin's
OF Ruskin- books and one or two lan volumes Of
character quite unique and value altog ther beg ond
our deserts For long years the periodical pTess with
ifs fingers the popular pulse, thought nothing de-
handed q IL concerning Art but silence; no" The col,
trade must be crowded little more 10 MAZE
room for he almost daily record OF the dolngs OF artists
and their friends.
CURRENT CRITICISMS
II behoovcs those whose duty It is to take care that
this opportunity TO teach tie Il nth moi leti uninprove
For they may be that the opportunity to teach false
hood viii not be Jeff unnproYed. The experiment VI
leaving to chance the Gr-t conner tie education OF
child though tried without rulnous ELECTS by the elder
Mr. Weller IN The case Of ms son sa .h mol re,
education somew hat different from that which IS to be
secured by such mcans Those who Ike the views OF
art at present popular among us-those VINO look 10
popular ignorance for their living may well be content
with applying Mr. Welers principle; both these oasses
are pretty sure find things daily more and nore 10
their liking Those on the other hand VINO thnk mere
are improvements possible have now their opportunity
TO speak and write and "agate tho question OF truth
in Art
We are Of those who think very great improvements
possible We are trying ~ improve orr opportunity
Once in while wo have help. Sometimes there 10
sound criticism Of picture Of moro salient merit
or domcrit than usual The Mo- York I,s" mas several
times during the past year given Iitto OF such t
enough TO make us wish tor more. Sometimes those
who heartily 10 oppose ana 10 thwart US ma the
truth too strong FOR hem. and publish SOUND doctrine
enoughwe greet such accidents with Joy as friends In
the enemys camp The Atlantic houthly has been pub
fishing excellent articles on The Relation Of Art TO
Mature But we have had such help such hearty
assistance from any fellow soldier has recently beep
given M In the columns Of THE NEw.Y DIRK TRIBUNE
In IHE 1giBtEg for Saturday. April y. appeared
Ions and elaborate criticism OF some Of the pictures e.
In this city. In the Journal week later another
such article appeared. As We read these notices not
knowing and hardly ablo to guess who the author OF
them might be-. experienced the new sensation VI
reading in speper criticism meant 10 be true and
NOT popular. teaching for the popular Judgment not
fatteTy Of il.
II wns OF course to DO expected that tho artists most
severely criticized would disagree with their critic and
that OF those would BIO weak enough TO be angry
aud resent plain talk. Farsccng this second reading
seemed advisable "a decide how for resentment could
he justified BY anything contained in the article named
And 1t certainly appeared AID nov appears to US that
there are evidences Of nnkindnes VI unfnrnsss Or
even OF 10 carpng spirit tho part Of the author
Yet wo hear such violent language used We hear OF
such threats against the CENSOR that compelled
conclude rs that the eensnrsd and their friends
feel their weak one and such attacks too dam.
aging to be allowed. II scolding prevent them; |
soDHdiy that the censurod and their friends
have extraordinary notion VI the nature and uses oil
criticism.
A word about the article itself The frat name men. |
toned 10 that Of Mr. Leutze 1t 10 quito unnecessary TO
quote at length Of the readers Of this article oil those
Who have ever seen Nj Leulxes work. have certainly
this read and re read the criticism Of which we
are speaking. TnB TRIBUNE fortunately. olcuates
everywhere among those who likely to care for |
pictures We submit that thore Is not proposition
concerning these pictures made In tho article under dis
cussion which 10 not denonstrably true We dislike
exceedingly says the critic. speaking Of The enormous
picture. Washington Crossing the Delaware. inc
spirit In which the subject 10 treated the arrangement
OF the figures and the style OF tho painting That
not statement except Of opinion. and therefore not
susceptible Of proof but 70 there anybody ut al aooas
toned 10 pictures who disagrees with the critic and
does like the spirit" arrangement" and stylef IL
cannOt bA Tlero In No Olo good Quality NECESSARY 10