The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-13
A H II.
THE ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.

arls IN This city was OF such a character as to
greatly disappoint all admirers of that which
the Academy was founded to cultivate, and
called forth at the time such adverse criticism
as we hope has enlightened the directors Of
the institution. We do not know what
changes they purpose making, but we know
that radical changes are needed. The day
has gone by when large number of inferior
paintings will excite enthusiasm. Something
more is needed in a collection than the
number of works. Something more is
needed to attract the critical than "Por-
traits of a Gentleman" or representations
of "Death on Pale Horse" We need en-
terprise in art as well as in all other pro-
ViDces, and unless il is improved the people
demand a change in the connoisseurs who
claim to minister to their tastes. We are
not sufficiently familiar with the details of
the Academy management to know where the
evil lies, but we only see the evil, and ask for
the remedy. We want a good exhibition of
fine arts this winter. We do not want to wait
until next spring, and if the directors set
about the collection with energy, they can
furnish us with what we need, and give an
impetus to art much needed in our city. Is3 a
EDMUND D. LEwIs.-We understand that
Mr.. Edmund d. Lewis is about painting one
of his large landscape scenes, the original of
which he studied during his summer tour.
There is no one among our young artists who
can equal Mr.. Lewis in his delineation Of
nature. Although without extended expert
ence in his profession, he has achieved wide
spread reputation, and one which is destined
to become national The best sign of the popu-
larity of our artist is found in the number
who praiseland closely examine his works on
exhibition, and with that as our criterion, Mr..
Lewis stands foremost OF all the rising
artists of Philadelphia. His last large work,
"The Fishers of the Susquehanna," was a
chef Touure.
It was among the spring collection at the
Academy, and attracted universal attention.
The gorgeous coloring, the rich tints of
autumnal foliage, and the admirable perfec-
ton of that work, merit high encomium. Mr..
Lewis was a pupil, and is now friendly
rival, of Paul Weber; and, like his preceptor
he excels in the minute delination of the
foreground. Every Leaf is clear and natural;
there is none of that "muddiness" in his
foliage which is 80 common. He possesses that
within him that will make him, without doubt
great artist and with his energy, we can pro-
phesy great things for him in the future.
We understand that Mr.. Joseph B. Beale,
late Professor of Drawing at the Central
High School, has accepted a Government
appointment, and is about to travel abroad to
make draft Of certain Notifications and
sites which are needed in official circles.
Music IN THE METRoPoLIs.-The heat of the |
summer and the reports of cholera did not drive |
all the musicians from New York; on the con-
trary, many of them have done their best to en-. |
tertain the forced dwellers of the hot city. In |
addition to various musical festivals of German |
societies and Sunday evening concerts OF various
degrees of excellence, Mr.. Theodore Thomas,
with an efficient orchestra of about thirty good
performers, has given one hundred open-air
concerts at Terrace Garden. The programmes
included music of all kinds, from waltzes and
galops, which suit well the tinkling of beer
glasses and the smoke of cigars, to operate airs
and ove1tures, and even symphonies. Twice
each week was whole division of the concert
given up to music of the highest order and as
an index of the growing love for good music in
New York, it is to be noted that on those even
ines the attendance was always large, and the
most complete attention given. The audience
was not wholly even principally German, but
these concerts we're the resort of all young men
of musical feeling, and often of families who
were kept in town. Several symphonies of
Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn were played, as
well as movements and overtures by Wagner
Liszt Cherubini, and Mendelssohn. Besides
these, there were evenings set apart for special
composers, and we had Mendelssohn and Mozart
nights. Mr.. Thomas, we hope, made much pecu-
mary profit from these concerts; he at least has
the satisfaction of feeling that he has done
much for the improvement of musical taste.
The Central Park concerts on Saturday after
moons have usually been good, and have often
given music of much excellence. They were,
of course, always thronged.
The slowness with which the New York
Academy OF Music is being rebuilt will probably
dsarrange and retard the Italian Opera this
winter. The chances of the opera-house being
ready for January are very small
There lately died, in Paris, an artist namtd
Louis Lebreton well known for many years
past as a draughtsman and painter of marine
subjects, branch of art in which he greatly
excelled. Lebreton was formerly a surgeon in
man having attracted the notice OF the Minister
of Marine, he was selected to go with the expe
ditiOn to the South Pole under Dumont dur
vile, in 1887, in the capacity of artist Subse-
quently he accompanie the expedition to