The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-30

and secure the support of all classes of our
citizens in their enterprise Now is the time to
turn over a new leaf, and If the men who profess
to be the special representatives of art culture
in Philadelphia will endeavor to establish the
Academy of Fine Arts on a proper basis, the
probabilities are that the public will be found
ready to respond in a most cordial manner to
any appeals for assistance.
The hot weather is fast driving the artists out
of town, and in few weeks the studios will be
entirely deserted. Mr.. Edward Moran has
already taken his departure having accepted an
invitation to spend the summer with Mr.. Joseph
jefferson at his country place, in company with
Mr.. William Warren and a number of other con-
genial companions. Mr.. jefferson is reported
to be an adept with the brush and pencil, and
the excursion in which he and his guests propose
to indulge will undoubtedly assume, by means
of sketch-booEs and portfolios, quasi
artistic character at least. Moran will thus
have an opportunity to study Grip
Van Winkle' as he appears upon his
native hills, and next winter he may be expected
to devote himself with as much assiduty to the
representation of Irving's hero jefferson does,
to the abandonment of marines altogether,
unless he transforms rip" into sailor and
takes the poetical license of making him take
his twenty years nap in the main-top of the
tlyDlR 1nere is o rumOr a1OaJ Inat
Moran intends after his summer excursion to
shake the dust of Philadelphia off his feet and to
locate himself in New York in the future where he
thinks that there is more to be made both in the
way of cash and reputation This is the old
story--"A prophet is not without honor" ETC.,
and it is to be hoped that by the time the new
Academy of Fine Arts building is erected and
in operation. q sufficient enthusiasm on the
subject of art matters will be excited to attract
artists to Philadelphia, instead of driving them
away.
Among the Philadelphia painters of very de-
cidcd merit whose works do not always attract
the attention they deserve may be mentioned
Mr.. Isaac L. Williams, The landscapes of this
artist in certain qualities not equalled by the
performances of anybody in the country. MIR.
Williams pictures are generally in low key,
and they therefore frequently escape the notice
of visitors TO exhibitions and galleries filled with
brightly -colored works, but carefully examined,
they will be found to better repay inspection
than some performances that appear more
striking at first sight. Mr.. Williams excels in
the rendition Of the delicate pearly effects that
are characteristic of some of the most poetcal
phases of nature. There is now in
his studio a picture that combines in
an eminent degree some of the most
in Centre county, and any one acquainted with
the peculiarities of Pennsylvania scenery will
recognize il as literal and at the same time
gracefully idealized representation of certain
class of scenery that for quiet beauty is unsur-
passed in the world. Such picture as this will
be perpetual refreshment to the eye and Joy
forever to its possessor, and as Illustration
Of the intrinsic character of its treatment, it is
worthy of note that it loses nothing. in
tone or quality, when placed beside
copy of Claude's brilliant but not gaudy
Landing of Cleopatra which Mr.. Will
liams has now upon his easel. This
copy is a duplicate of very fine reproduction
of the original in the Louvre made by Mr.. Will
liams several years ago, which was pronounced
by competent judges to be as exact reproduc-
ton as could be made. Such picture as this
! is not only enjoyable by any one who has the
slightest appreciation for art, but if placed
where it would meet the public eye it would
be a material aid in cultivating a correct taste.
1t is impossible in a copy, however carefully
executed, to represent the exact touch of
master, but a competent artist like Mr.. Will
liams can give the effect in manner to satisfy
the most critical and it is not creditable to our
art institutions that they have not long ago
taken measures to secure collections of really
fine duplicates of the masterpieces of European
art.
This deficiency is now supplied, in a measure
at least, by the "autotypes," which do give the
touch, although they of course lack the coloring
of their originals. The "autotypes" are un-
doubtedly destined to exert powerful effect in
the promotion of art culture as their remarka-
| bic cbeapness places them within the reach of
nearly every one, and they enable the people of
| this country to study multitude of works that
| would otherwise be absolutely inaccessible
| This will readily be understood when we say
| that there are now to be seen at the galleries.
| No. 1925 Chestnut street, over 5000 subjects by
| the most famous artists of ancient and modern
| times. 4 large number OF these are exceedingly
! interesting studies and sketches while Others
| like the frescoes of the SstiDe Chapel, are among
| the most important auxiliaries to art educa-
! ton that can be named, as they really
afford facilities for critical examination
and study, that the originals, from their unfavor-
able situation, do not. In connection with these
| there is also en- exhibition series of magnii-
cent Photographic views of Swiss, Italian and
other European scenery, Pompean and other
antiquities, and there is expected shortly
large collection of Egyptian subjects that will
| reproduce all the famous ruins and works of
art remaining in that country. Some of these
photographs are several feet in length, and they
! surpass in beauty anything of the kind that has
ever been brought to the United States.
Mr.. D. +. Knight, whose picture of "Jessica"
attracted great deal of attention when it was
! exhibited few weeks ago in the windows of
Messrs. Bailey & Co., has started another Shake
| spearian subject of larger aud more important