New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-16
PROTECTION no AMERICAN ART

PROTECTION TO AMERICAN ART
The corporate body of artists known as the
National Academy of Design" has within a
few days presented to Congress, by the hands
of Senator Morgan, memorial asking that a
specific duty of 800 be imposed on each oil
painting imported into this country with an
addition of 10 per centum on the excess OF
value above 1000 each; and the % artists
who present this memorial declare that Its
object is the protection of American Art.
Whoever else, then, may be indifferent In this
matter we cannot be 80. On the contrary, we
feel the deepest interest that the Government
shall pursue the best course in this matter
best for the public and best for the artists;
and we consider il an important public duty
10 discuss the legislation proposed fully ana
freely. 1t il no trivial legislation, but will
have wide influence on the education of our
people. and must seriously affect the condition
of an art o( vital importance to our national
culture.
We have known of this movement since it
was first set on foot. IT must be now ten
years ago that prominent American artist in
the course of conversation on this very sub
iect. declared to us that he thought
uull ought 10 bc put RIbl lblNiEh BAAA"i'ot
so high as to be prohibitive the interests of
Art in America demanded, he said, that they
should be kept ont of the country, and our
artists allowed to work without competition.
This remark was made at a time when the inn
portati0n OF foreign pictures had just begun,
and when there seemed no danger that it would
ever be excessive. Since then, however, mat
tcrs have greatly changed. The importation
Of French, Belgian and German pictures
has become business of Importance,
in which large sums are invested.
Our readers would be surprised if they
knew what prices are demanded and freely
paid for choice pictures by the best foreign
artists. And it is now an everyday matter for
the best works Of the best modern European
CONTINENTAL painters to be imported into this
country. We believe that no consideration of
too high cost any longer prevents n picture
being brought to New-Yorl for sale The only
question is, Is the subject like to prove at
tractiye7 If it be, then it is imported; and
lately, in the case of one importer, it has fire.
quently happened that the refusal of pictures
has been asked for, not by one but by
several lpersons, merely on the strength
of the artists name, before the boxes
have been passed Mt tho Custom House;
and no sooner have they been seen than they
have been bought and carried home. Five
years ago, many pictures were brought to New
York and carried back again to Europe for
want of purchaser, that would now be bought
before they had been here n day. Who sup
poses that if Delaroches "MaIie Antoinette,"
or his reduction of the H6mcycle," or Yer
nets Joseph and his Brethren" or GGrome's
"Ave Imperatorw or Legs "Protestants listen
"ing to the Reading Of the Revocation of the
"Edict of Nantes" were TO come to this country
now, they would be allowed to leave it 7
They. would easily find dozen purchasers.
But the change that has taken place in this
matter of foreign pictures has another face.
There have been great number of good pic
lures by men Of repute brought here within
the last six years, and within the last three
years there have also been imported q great
number of trashy pictures by men of no repute.
And that is not oil. There has sprung up
very extensive trade in pictures pretending
to be, and in many cases guaranteed
to be, by the second-rate or third-rate
artists whose names are signed to them,
but which are in reality only clever
forgeries Of their work. 1t is we'll understood
that this is true; but the not very surprising
fact that the forgeries are often quito as good
as the originals, has naturally had tendency
to injure both the legitimate and the illegiti-
mate trade in this class of pictures. Neverthe-
less, the trade exists; and dozen painters
might be named whose works it would never
be safe to buy without written guaranty,
signed by the artist hinlself-a guaranty which,
it need hardly be said, it is i'll nearly every
case impossible to procure.
Here, then, are three classes of pictures which
are constantly being imported into our country:
the good pictures by men of mark; the poor
pictures by painters Of littley merit, by young
men, by imitators, &c, the forgeries of the
works Of men Of established reputation, but OF
reputation second-rate. How ought the public
and tho artist to look upon these three classes