The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-30
THE FINE ARTS.
The Academy of Fine Arts and I'll,

The Academy of Fine Arts and the Artists.
In our first notice of the annual opening exhibit
ton at the Academy of Fine Arts we referred to the
quarrel OF long standing between the artists Pha-
delphia and the managers Of the institution as the
reason for the nferiority of the present collection
and it's inadequacy as a representation OF the pro-
gress and standing of Philadelphia art OF course
both parties to this quarrel consider themselves eXcu
sively and entirely in the right; but as is generally
the case in matters of this kind, there is something
to be said both sides, and our only desire is to
give a fair and impartial statement Of matters as
they stand and if possible to aid in bringing about
a better state of feeling. The artists claim
that the Academy of Fine Arts, the
oldest institution of the kind in the country does not
gve and has given, during the half century and
more that it has been in existence that support and
encouragement to Philadelphia art that they have
right to expect from it. On the other hand, the direc
tors of the Academy contend that the artists know
nothing OF practical business management, that they
are Jealous of each other, and that they would never
be satisfied under any circumstances. In answer to
the charge of want of business ability which has
been very frequently urged against them, the artists
point to the Academy Of Fine Arts, which has been
exclusively in the hands of business men, and they
ask whether the management under any circum-
stances could be worse. AS proof that American
artists have not been neglected in the exhibition,
and i'll answer to the complaint that undue promi-
nence has been accorded to foreign works. gentle
man prominently connected with the Academy has
favored us with the following statement to which
we very willingly give place in our columns:-
"An examination of the catalogues Of the Pennsyl-
yania Academy OF Fine Arts-frOm the year 1864 to
1S6S-annual spring exhibitions presents the TACT
that there have been placed upon the walls for pub
lie exhibition 1850 works Of art which had not previ-
ousy been exhibited there. further examination
shows that of these works 1875 were by Philadelphia
artists All by other Americans A by foreigners resi-
dent in this country, making total OF 11s6 COM
monty called American works, leaving balance OF
1854 works by foreign artists The present spring
QS69) exhibition displays 13S pictures upon what IL
commonly called the eye line, and of these 1902 are by
American artists and of this number 30 are by resi-
dent Philadelphans'
This statement proves nothing more than that q
greater number of American than foreign pictures
have been exhibited. What the artists complain of
is that foreign works and works by others than
Fhiadelphans have during a long series OF years
leen accorded the most advantageous positions on
the walls of an institution that ostensiby exists for
the encouragement Of Philadelphia art, and that our
home productions have been hung anywhere that
space could be found for them, often after such a
picture, by such noted European painter, from Mr..
SO and Sos collection, had been placed in such q
pos tion that the public could it to advantage,
and note the fact stated in the catalogue that its
happy possessor was Mr.. So and So.
1t would, probably, be impossible TO give entire
satisfaction under any circumstances, in such a
delicate matter hanging the pictures in the exhi
ttlon. Every artist of course has full appreca-
tiOn OF the importance of his own works, ana he
cOnsequ nty is not suited If they do not all get good
Iostlons on the eye line. We believe, however, that
they have a real grievance in this matter and 1t is
evident that there must be something radically wrong
| in the management of the Academy when such men
as Rothermel Ed. Moran, Isaac L. Williams, George
| II. Bensel and others well known for their ability
standing as artists, refuse TO allow their works
TO appear upOn the walls of the Academy, pTeferrng
| to take their chances in getting them before the
4 public in some other manner
| Last spring Mr. Edward Moran was urgently re-
| quested 10 forget his differences with the Academy,
and he consented 70 contribute under the assurance