The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-07
THE ZINE ARTS
ne Academy Of Fine Arts As it Was, ns n Ia
and as IL Ought TO BE.

attention, would be Of comparatively little moment
and not worthy OF any extended notice by the press
and public, were the parties 70 the squabble the only
ones interested. Art culture however, in city like
this is to great extent Influenced by the good or
bad management OF an institution like the Academy;
and claiming as it does to be the instructor OF
artists, and the headquarters Of the art influences in
Philadelphia, all who esteem general diffusion OF
artistic knowledge and taste for the beautiful as
necessary to the highest development Of civilized
nation in the present age, are as much concerned In
the matter as the artists themselves
With regard to the fine arts the American people
occupy an anomalous position. In literature and
beience we keep pace with the most advanced
nations, but IL is q somewhat remarkable fact that
Americans who appreciate heartily and read critically
the best books are, in the vast majority OF cases,
totally unable to pass Judgment picture or piece
Of statuary, even TO give the most superficial
opinion to the merits Of good or bad work Of art
Of any kind. This is singular but not altogether
nnaccountabe fact which cannot be disputed. The
culture OF the United States is confined to very
small coterle and although there are gratifying evil
dences OF increased interest in the subject among
the general public, and rapidly growing taste which
romises to produce good results in the future is
no less true that while we have among men OF great
talent who have given American art standing that
is in high degree creditabe, the great mass of the
people are yet profoundly ignorant on the subject.
In fact, many persons have an idea that there is
something exclusive about it; that it is only TO be
enjoyed by the wealthy; and it is not uncommon to
hnd persons Of intelligence and culture on other
subjects speak OF art II they considered it mat
Der out Of the reach Of their purses, and conse
quenty out of their sphere altogether. To disspate
such an idea this, and to encourage appreciation
Of art for its own sake, is the desire and should be
the endeavor Of all who have any interest in the sub
ieet whatever. The popular idea OF the exclusive
ness OF art is to great extent due to such pseudo
patrons pride themselves upon the eXtensiveness
Of their collection and the mercantile valuation OF
their pictures more than they do upon the only merits
which are worthy OF consideration in such connec-
ton A long-established and influential insti-
tuition like the Academy OF Fine
Arts, with men OF wealth at. its head, who
have the ability to give material aid for the advance
ment OF art interests, is to great extent responsible
for that want OF appreciation On the part of the
public OF which we have spoken. The education OF
artists is only half the duty of such institution
and its position educator Of the public taste is not
less important In consideration Of these facts it is
worth while to inquire what the Academy has done
what is doing and what ought to do If it is to be
considered as aught else than hybrid concern, half
museum and half school, and not worth much in
either capacity.
We may premise that the quarrel with the artists
is not q new thing brought about by a few restive
and facous spirits Of the present generation but it
had its origin at the very foundation OF the instltu
hon and it has continued, with few intervals of
patched-up peace until the present time. The Aca-
deny Of Fine Arts was Incorporated in 1906,
and its founders were a number OF wealthy
gentlemen who professed to have taste
for the fine arts, and on the strength OF their
wealth and influence they procured charter from
the Legislaturechartersw were not as easily procured
then as they are now-and commenced the erection
of a building, Although there were q number OF
eminent artists in Philadelphia at the time, they
were not consulted in matter in which 1t might be
supposed that they had particular interest, nor was
their cooperation III any way invited; in fact they
were totally ignored as their successors have practi
cally been ever since. The establishment of the
Academy took the artists by surprise, and its first
efforts in the way OF educating the public taste
cited their disgust The first exhibition Of the Aca-
deny consisted Of casts from the antique and some
pictures loaned by Robert Fulton and others,
and the whole affair was looked upon by the
artists as simply a museum, and in no sense
OF the term an academy of art. Fully APP
preciating the Importance of having in this
country an institution for the education Of young
artists society was formed, which included among
its members such men as the Peales, Sully, Birch,
West Stuart, Aston, Vanderlyn, Copely, Trumbull,
Jarvis Rush, Farman, the Ecksteins, Ritche, Dennis
Volozan, Benjamin Trott, Luke Robbins, Benjamin
H. Latrobe and others; and 1t was their sincere de-
sire TO establish an art school which should be dis
tinctively such. The exhibitions arranged by the
Academy were condemned by them in the following
language:-"The artists have ever deprecated the
only useful TO students, and never having in any
country formed a public exhibition. II has been
considered as extremely indecorous, and altogether
inconsistent with the purity Of republican morals" "
Ideas have altered the subject OF the ndelicacy
OF nude statuary since then, but the artists
were certainly right on the main point
The poverty OF the artists prevented them from
accomplishing all that they wished although they
made arrangements with the Academy to carry on
the schools and to arrange exhibitions in their build
ing 1t will thus be seen that the establishment Of
the schools which are the most valuable features Of
the Academy of Fine Arts as it is constituted at
present was due entirely to the artists; and the
founders OF the institution not entitled to the
slightest CT edit In the matter this important fea-
ture OF an art academy appears not to have been
even thought Of by them.
Various efforts were made 10 bring about a union
between the Academy and the artists, as all dlsin-
terested lovers OF art felt that the for which
both parties professed to labor would be materially
aided by such combination Of forces. The direc-
tors OF the Academy, however, held aloof, and re-
fused to consider any proposition which would not
leave them in entire control Of the institution, and
after many failures TO come to satisfactory under
standing the artists in despair at their inability to
accomplish what they desired in building up an ART
school without assistance consented TO dsband
their own organization and join the Academy-a steI
which has been the cause of all the subsequent DIM
Guilty.
A certain number Of artists were elected acade
mcians and others associates, with the understand
ing that they were to supervise the schools anC
assist in arranging the pictures for exhibition. Ac
eOrding to the rules adopted, every academcian wa
hxnected TO deposit specimen Of talent and ever,
new member one on his election. The academlcian
we're required 10 make quarterly reports to tn
Al,,, uyho of had