The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-25

that the walls were covered with foreign paint
ings; and that their own contributions we're
thrown into comparative insignincance by
contrast with more ambitious artists across the
sea; that, in fact, native talent was not suffi-
cienty protected. To secure what they deemed
their rights, they founded an opposition society,
and have opened rooms OF their own, and pre-
sent very creditable collection of paintings
creditable both to their ability and their in
dustry. We think that II those who were
offended did but look at the rule of art appre-
citation, they would find themselves indignant
without q good cause. 1t is the manifest design
of the Academy TO cultivate proper apprecia-
tion OF art among the people. The great body
of Americans have not that highly-cuitl-
waited taste of other nations. This want must
be supplied, and after love of pictures is scat.
tered abroad, 1t must be elevated by placing
such works before them as will enable
them to gradually have their critical powers
cultivated by familiarity with the best avail
able paintings, so to be able to appreciate
real merit when it appears. To famliarze them
with the highest order of art, the Academy has
collected every good painting within its reach,
whether native or foreign. In this 1t did
perfectly right. In opening its rooms
to the display of foreign gallery OF
real merit, collected by private firm
and which was for sale, 1t did perfectly
right. The aim of the Academy is, properly, to
promote growth of taste among the American
people. Because, in the fulhlment Of its duty,
it collected two rooms full of foreign paintings
of undoubted merit, and which are thronged
with visitors, and because the contributions OF
the native artists happened to be Inferior 1t did
them no wrong. II high merit is possessed by
an American, he need not be afraid of a
foreigner. Connoisseurs will not condemn
good work because it is American. But If, on
the contrary native talant is wantlnu IL iS
tainly not reasonable to exclude all the people
from the cultivation of their taste by limiting
them to a sight of American works. 1t is as
though Napoleon were to seek to secure fresh
admiration for his "Llfe OF Cesar" by Issuing
an interdict against Voltaire, Thiers and Lam
artine. Talent need not fear competition. Me-
diocrity ought not to have monopoly to secure
for 1t appreciation. We do not say that the
members of the Artists Fund are not talented.
On the contrary, we think that to a great
extent, they need not fear any foreign compe-
tition-which belief makes us view their seces.
sion as doubly foolish.
The conduct of many of the native artists In
our city has been similar to that of the resi-
dent artists of New York, in Joining together
to petition for an increase of the tariff on for
eign paintings Such an attempt at prohibition
is unSound IN its conception, and most i'm
polite. If the artists did but know their true
interests Lney would join with The Academy in
doing all in their power TO cultivate and popu.
larize taste for the fine arts. Do they not
know that the wider the admiration for paint
ings, whether foreign or native, extends, the
larger the market for their works actually be
comes? Let general ana discrim native taste
be once well diffused among all classes of our
citizens, and there will be an ever-increasing
demand for paintings, which will absorb all
that the native and foreign artists can create
There is a vast stage, on which a few Indifferent
performers have been playing to a meagre
audience. Let great masters appear, and have
the building thronged. Let a taste be once
created for this luxury, and there need never
be q fear in the future of want OF appreciation
when merit appears. In fact, mediocrity itself
will be more advanced by reason of the re-
newed crowd of lovers of the amusement. So
it is with art. Let general taste be inculcated
| among the people, and it will benefit immea-
| surably all of our native talent There is no
| good ground for antagonism. The division of
| American works into two separate rooms, and
| foreign works into two others, obviates all
| necessity for fear of sights Let there, then,
| be a reunion of the ARTISTS Fund" and the
! Academy" Let the two be merged together,
| and let all jealousy be sunk in a common en-
| deavor to promote the extension of art appre-
citation among all classes of our countrymen.