The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-13
THE ACADEMY or FINE ARTS.


THERE appears to be hitch somewhere in the pro-
ject for theatre on the site OF the Academy OF
Fine Arts, and the probabilities OF our having new
place Of amusement, as proposed some months
ago with considerable enthusiasm, are getting rather
dim. 1t is announced, however, that whether the
theatre company completes the purchase or not, the
Academy will sell its building and lot on advan-
tageOus terms, and proceed as soon as practicable
to erect new and more appropriate edifce. We
sincerely hope that this will be done, for
vnCed that OF the first things necessary to give
us such Academy as we need is TO get out of the
present quarters, to clear away the dust and lumber
that have been collecting for more than half a cen
tury to out into the light Of day, and finally to
wake up and start afresh.
The Academy OF Fine Arts has been asleep for
about fifty years. and its directors have been dream
ing all the time that it was a model institution.
With new and properly designed building, fresh
interest in 1t will be excited in the public mind and
the excitement OF moving will, it is to be hoped,
wake them up to sense of the fact that the world
has gone by them, that the Academy as a school
OF art is a mere burlesque, and that display OF
energy lberality and good management are needed
if they expect to come up to the requirements of the
times.
The breaking up of the old establishment will
afford an excellent opportunity to reOrganize the
Academy OF Fine Arts upon proper basis and we
sincerely trust that false pride will induce the
gentlemen who have charge of its interests to
neglect their obvious duty in the matter. We now
want thoroughly organized school OF art an art
university, if it may be termed, and there is no
better place in the United States for such nstitu
ton than Philadelphia The art collection belonging
to the Academy will prove excellent nucleus, and
we have all the means at hand to make right
commencement
We need scarcely assure all parties interested that
any liberal project for securing this end will receive
our cordial support. We are not so bgoted not to
he willing to sacrifice some OF opinions as to
the best method of securing the good that all lovers
OF art desire for the sake of accomplishing great
end, and if the Academy is reorganzed on a proper
basis, and becomes really what hitherto it has only
been in name school OF art its most bitter enemies
will be obliged to forego their enmity and give their
aid in building up in this city the first great Academy
of the Fine Arts in America.
If the work is started, and carried on in proper
manner there ought not to be and will not be any
difficulty securing all the funds required, not only
for the necessary buildings themselves, but for
permanent endowment, to carry on the schools and
to fill the galleries with hrst-cass representative
works OF art.
& nti such reorganization as this is attempted
it will be useless to deplOre the hostility which exists
between the artists and tine managers OF the
Academy, or to deprecate attacks upon the system
which now govern its affairs The Academy it is
organized and managed at present is not worthy OF,
and it will not secure, the support of either the
artists or the public, and a very radical change
will have to be made before it will receive
such support. We shall hail with unfeigned plea
sure the first evidences of Improvement and will ito
all that lays in our power to bring about right
feeling among all the friends of art in this city.
There is properly organized school OF art in this
country and is the time and opportunity for us
to establish one in Philadelphia that will be credit
to us, and stimulant to artistic culture throughout
the whole country