The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-02

the public taste. While admitting the force
Of many Of the arguments advanced by the
artists, the press Of the country, almost with
out exception, discouraged the idea Of pro-
tective tariff on works Of art, on account Of the
impossibility Of deciding by legal enaotments
on the merits Of pictures and statues, aud be-
cause protective tariff would exclude many
meritorious works, aud, without beneating our
home artists, it would have damaging effect
oD American art.
The artists have now started new proteo-
tive movement which we think is in every
way worthy OF encouragement and support.
As the matter now stands, pictures and statues
can be copied dd iafatum, to the serious in
jury of the artist's pocket and reputation, and
yet he can obtain no redress. Some months
ago Mr.. Rdward Moran wrote a letter exposing
the case of Q pirated copy OF one OF his pic-
lures, which was exposed for sale as original;
and this instance ia but one among many, the
best and most popular artists being the greatest
sufferers. When an artist sells q work, 1t Is
understood, as matter Of courtesy, that he
does not cease to control its duplication, unless
there is an express understanding to that
effect at the time Of sale, but beyond the rule
Of courtesy he has no protection what
ever. Since the introduction of photo
graphy, especially, the evil they con-
plain of has greatly increased, and by the
pirating of their designs they are deprived
of a revenue from their works to which they
are Justly entitled. The chairman of a meet
ing held few days ago in New York to con-
slider this subject, very forcibly remarked that
'the man who invents new mouse-trap or
flying machine may take ont patent for
every part of his invention but the painter
cannot take out patent for his picture. A
sculptor produces statue, but he cannot
patent it. A photographer can take view of
the statue, and inscribe thereon entered ac-
cording to act of Congress- and II the sculptor
were to take a similar view of his own work he
would be liable to a suit for infringing on the
patent of the photographer"
No reasonable arguments can be urged
against the passage of a copyright law for the
benefit of artists of every description. No
damage to art in general, or American art in
particular, would result from such a measure
as in the case of a protective tariff designed
to exclude works of art from the country: and
as a matter of simple justice, the artists are a;
much entitled to the benefits OF legal pro go
tion against the piratical multiplication o
their works as the authors are. The copying
} of pictures and statues by means of photo
grsphy and ohromo-lithogrsphyi is getting t.
be an extensive and important business, ant
the artists certainly ought to share in tn
profits. We hope that thoss who are in
, terested will combine and push this matte
l with energy, and we are confident, if it i
1 properly represented to Congress, that salts
f factory law will be passed. The newspaper
i, of the country are, we believe, without excer
= ton anxious to advance the interests OF tn
9 artists, and, as far as their influence ez
g tends, will aid in bringing about the desire
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