The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-24

nudity Il would require stretch OF prurient imagi-
nation that we are incapable OF to even a sug
gestiOn OF iDdelicacy in this graceful and poeticai
figure, and, with the "Hero and Leander" up stairs
and the gallery full OF antiques In the cellar, II Is
singular plea to urge against the Academy pur-
chasing It.
The tendencies OF modern figure art are certainly
not towards the nude, be demonstrated TO the
satisfaction OF any one who will look through almost
any gallery CT art, or examine the works In the
various picture stores and Pages 'Venus" is de
cided exception to the general rule, that II must
be ruled out OF the argument altogether. American
landscapes are preferred to figures simply because
landscape art has reached higher state OF perfec-
ton in this country. THIS is to be accounted for by
the fact that landscapes-that is fairly good land
scapes that viii sell readly-are very much easier
to paint and they are turned out by
hundreds, as "pot-boilersr by artists who
would gladly do something better Landscape art
too has advanced, because the artists who adopt il
are, TO certain extent at least Independent of the
Academies they have nature before them, and IL is
not with them with the figure painters, question
OF opportunities for study. With regard to foreign
works, ten figure pictures are brought here to one
landscape; and good works OF this class although
Oftener more costly will find reader sale simply
because the public taste prefers them. The average
picture buyer wishes to have something that will tell
its story and he is seldom educated up to the poInt
Of appreciating the sentiment OF the best land
scapes
regularlyappointed art academy, under the
direction Of thoroughly-eduCated artists is abso-
lutely necessary If to have race Of American
figure painters who will w0rthily represent our
social culture, and the academic training is scarcely
less important for landscape artists; indeed they
must have such training to produce pictures that
will vie with the classic works OF the Old World
In Europe all the landscape painters Of eminence
obtained their training in the regular schools of
ngure art Ihe North american, in a sneering way,
says that the professors in the art schools inculca
the notion that the human figure is the grandest of
art studes.' This is perfectly true and il our con-
temporary denies this axiom Of art proves imme-
dately TO any one competent to judge in tue matter
that II does not clearly understand whereof il
speaks. 1t is in the study OF the human fpure Ehe
greatest nobest work OF the Creator that
artists OF all grades acquire that skill and de-
cision in drawing without which their works
will never attain to the highest excellence
1t is in the study OF the human figure
with its graceful mOdulatons of FORM its delicate
gradatons of light and shade it's prismatic tnts and
half tints its glow Of color that the eve of the
artist is educated, until when he goes into the woods
and fields the whole great book OF nature lays open
TO MIN he sees loneliness in the works of the
Almighty that are hidden from the common observer
and which necessary he should see if he is to throw
anything of poetry or sentiment on his canvas or
give an Interpretation by the outward and visible
signs OF that inward and spiritual grace which makes
poetry anu ART Jne naIumaldenS OF religion.
This subject is not merely question between the
artists of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Acade-
my of Fine Arts but it one that the public is really
more interested in than either. We hope that the
North in,erjcdn will not be discouraged because we
demolish its carefully selected arguments The
matter is one that ought to have thorough discus
sion in all its points and bearings and we are pleased
to believe that an interest has been excited which is
likely to lead to important results. We regret that
we cannot think well of our contemporaries
proposition to raise by subscription a
fund TO offer a series of prizes for the
best works OF figure art by resident Philadelphia
artists This would be matter of but transient
interest and of doubtful utility, and it could have
no permanent effect as stimulus If any money
can be raised it had better be devoted to the cause
of art education, and have not the slightest
doubt in the world that if the Academy should prove
itself worthy of the respect and confidence of the
public by completely recognizing its way OF doing
business it could without material difficulty obtain
all the money wants As it is managed at present
there is not the slightest possibility that it will ever
get any endowment or material aid OF any kind.