The New York herald., 1869-05-22
ART AND ARTISTS IN LONDON.

ART AND ARTISTS IN LONDON.
Hanging Committees-American Painters
Display-Description Of Chefs d'Euvres.
LONDON, April 80, 1869.
few evenings since the reception Of pictures at
the new edfce OF the Royal Academy, Burlington
House. Piccadilly, was closed. Hundreds OF pic
lures, large and small were handed in, the number
being very greatly in excess OF any previous year.
The new rooms OF the Royal Academy are worthy Of
this increased activity Of the artists They are
large, well lighted, elegantly decorated and so
marked by band below the ceiling and above the
floor that no pictures exhibited there can ever be
''skiedn or "nOored' in the old, bad mode The
walls are painted duh maroon tint that will show
up the pictures to the greatest possible ad-
vantage. In every respect, both for the
exhibition Of the pictures and the accom-
modation Of the public, the rooms are
decidedly an Improvement upon the former location
of the Academy. 1t Is almost certain also, that the
display OF pictures this year win surpass any pre-
vious exhibition. Burlington House, built out qf
the funds OF the Academy is INTELLECTUALLY credit
to London. 1t is nothing like 80 fanciful as the We
netian palace at the corner OF Fourth avenue and
Twenty-thrd street. New York; but it is exceedingly
large, handsome, substantial and imposing
The exhibition will be opened to the public in the
third week OF May, and will remain open for three
months. Those of our American artists who can
spare the time and the money for summer trip
will be than repaid by the study Of these best
specimens OF modern English art. The hanging
committee is now engaged in wedding out the hun
dreds of pictures offered, and 1t Ia said that the
committee has decided not to lower the
standard Of acceptance, In spite Of the
larger space at the new rooms and the larger
number OF pictures sent In. Better bare walls than
bad pictures Is an excellent rule II hanging commit
tees could only be persuaded to adopt 1t. There s
an earnest wish that some Of the leading American
artists could be persuaded to send pictures over for
exhibition at the Academy. This is often done by
French and German painters, and the works OF
American painters would be even more heartily well
coined. or contemporary American art very little
Is kRown In London, except through the works OF
Church and Berstadt; and, although Church is
greatly admired here, the London artists Will not
admit that Blerstadt is great landscape painter.
the gallery OF American art In the British Museum
disgrace to the United States, and 1t ought TO be
removed and replaced with better pictures at the
national expense.
Tnere are several American artists located here,
however, whose works are always well received and
who do more justice to their country. Major DiX's
exquisite bits OF coast scenery are always admired
BartOns more ambitious but equally pleasing
pictures. An American artist named Whistler Is the
fayorite of the advanced school OF artists and great
Things are expected OF hin In future. His Is GER
tainly most original genius, as hls symphonies
proved. This year he has painted for the Academy
large sea piece, representing the waves dashing
against the shores OF the Mediterranean. The pic
with o fidelity to nature which ought TO
put many more experienced artists 70 the
bush. For instance, Mr.. Whistler has painted
the water bue-a genuine Due-and although
few Engllshmen have ever seen any water OF that
green, yet those who have sailed upon the Mediter
ranean confess the truth Of the color Very much IN
the American school also Is picture by an English
artist named Barnes. 1t Is called .'Ihe Last Rose OF
Summer" and represents dying girl and the setting
This simple and not unhackneyed subject is SO
forciby and genuinely treated as to become an orgi
nal gem OF art. such young men are doing the real
artistic work OF England now. Firth, Landseer and
many otner established painters with great names
are devotng themselves to producing 'pot bollersh
that Is say pictures that Will sell at once because
they hit the public taste regardless OF their artistic
billiard room OF the Garrick Club, when he is
really capable OF doing high things in high art.
In this practical age IN fact, lew disciples Of high
art remain. Artists have grown more worldly than
OF yore and are not content to accept poor Haydons
fate In order to win his lame. They paint Tor for
tune, not for art. They paint to please, not to
benefit the public Their highest standard OF taste
the whim Of picture dealer; their highest amoi
tion to get r. A.-the Royal Academy badge-tacked
on 10 their names by intrigue Of personal in
nuence court favor. Among the few elder artists
modern interest is one me named francs Who mas done
excellent work for years. but has never been appre
casd Ws Ne Ses Ma
hibited at Sir Edwin Landseers studio last Tuesday.
1t represents simple peasant girl carrying rake,
| who stops at The top of hill, just at sunrise, TO
listen TO the song OF the skylark. In this picture
the problem OF a bright figure against bright sky
is fully solved, and all the details OF the work are
marvellously executed. 1t is very doubtful whether
this valuable picture viii be exhibited TO the Aca-
deny exhibition, and IL Is quite certain that MIR.
Francis Will never be made an X. A. II he would
paint billiard tables he would be better appreciated.
You viii gather from all this that find the same
differences and disputes between the 'lns" and the
''outsi Of the Academy in London as there are in
regard TO the Academy In New York: 1t Is quite
true Listen to side, and you Will be told that
all that Is good IN art Is inside the Academy. Listen
| TO the other side and you will learn that only the
outsiders are really meriIorious and that
| Tne HERALD has always been impartial
I upon this subject and has distributed praise and
blame where they were deserved, matter whether
not at liberty. therefore, to take any side in this
discussion and so simply relate the facts as observe
| them. In other points find that the artists here
are In the same condition as those OF New York. A
few famous men are getting large prices for their
pictures. but the majority 0 artists making very
1 little money. often II Is dIilicut for them
to keep the wolf from the door except by putting
| themselves In the power OF that other wof-the
| can be done Business is very dun in London aud
poor men cannot afford TO buy pictures even though
| poor men can afiord TO paint them. The picture
dealers have lost most OF their best customers
| count OF the stagnaton OF trade, and accordingly
| they are putting the screw upon the artists. Such
| pictures sod 20 ridiculously cheap. Most do
not sell at all. Many English artists would emigrata
| 10 America, but the reports which reach them IRON
| those OF their comrades who have made the ven
| ture are very discouraging. II some New YORK
dealer could establish an agency here to buy up Eng
| lisn pictures Tor the American market he would
| make a fortune, II he would take good pictures
| without known names attached. But under nc
| circumstances would advise any American artist tc
come to England 10 make his fortune at present.
TIE COTT0S CRGP.