The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-25
THK FINE ARTS,
Tho National Academy of Design.

Tho National Academy Of Desiau
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is not
the only institution OF the Kind In trouble at present
The National Academy in New York is also the sub
ject of an agitation for reform which promises to
produce good results in making it a really progress
sive school OF art and in smotherng the spirit of old
fogyism that has hitherto Kept it back
The New York Evening Mol, in discussing the
subject says that the most essential OF the proposed
reforms are
First That the Academy shall he in ract os in
name, National Academy, ana to this end that any
artist in the United States shall be eligible for cleo
ton as member.
Now residents of the city only can become mem
bers and thus many OF best artists are excluded
w. 7. Richards, OF Philadelphia, for instance, an
artist Of distinguished merit, who has earned his
spurs long ago. has not the coveted N A. and has to
submit to have one OF his best pictures hung out of
sight at the exhibition, while the other Richards that
is T. A., who is but the Corresponding Secretary and
only says with his palette for consistency sake has
his daubs placed upon the line and the n A. after
his name half dozen, ay dozen times in the
The Second reform is to limit the term OF office for
President and Nice-President to two years That is
to say, that they shall be elected for one wear ana
shall be eligible for reelection once, but no more
This Will prove an excellent reform, we have no
doubt as it will prevent fossilizing and afford the
Academy frequent opportunity to nstil new life into
their two first offices at least every two years. while
at the same time it will prevent the retiring from
office without any seeming dsgra attaching TO it.
Had it not been for the sympathy Of many acade-
miCans who saw with what feeling the proposal to
elect a new President and Vce-President instead OF
Messrs. Huntington and Gray was received by these
gentlemen there is doubt whatever that the Page
Whittredge ticket would have been elected at the
late annual meeting
The third reform is to reduce the Hanging Com
mittee from thirteen to three and these three not to
be officers of the Academy, and TO be changed every
year. on we remember right it is proposed 10 give
the association voice in the selection OF this COM
mittee) This great change will fix the responsibility
and so place it that those who carry it cannot afford
to act sefshly dishonorably. Three can be tried
and convicted of bad behavior, but thirteen! thir
teen is mob
The fourth will be an article, probably, calling for
quarterly business meetings, so that every member
may take part i'll the conduct of the affairs of the
Academy. Now there is but one annual meeting, at
which the whole time is taken up in voting for
officers and members and hearing reports.
These, as we have said, are the principal reforms
aimed at all Of which will be secured do not for
a moment doubt, knowing the overwhelming ma
ory in their favor II is that the conservatives
have done their utmost and still fight hard against
every effort to curta their ancient prerogatives-to
do nothing and enjoy the hOnOTs; but their day is
done and it is time. The reformers aim to make the
Academy live institution, and credit, not a dis
grace to the country. The reforms they propose
are those in keeping with the spirit of the times
they are not based on selfish or ambitious grounds,
hut are earnestly progressive, all Of them.