Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-05-07

Americans were not proficient, and at once
bad, expensive, and unsuitable 70 such a
building, and q libel on our taste a. PEG
pie. II docs not seem 10 have occurred 70
those In power that however suitable this
style OF decoration might be for theatre,
muhlc or banquellng hall, something more
subdued and impressive was required for .
great national building, where 4 grave and
deliberatlve body Of men met TO discuss the
h1ialra OF tho nation. No one would think
OF decorating a courtroom in bright, shiny
eolorsi why should the halls Of Congress and
committee rooms, where subjects are ala
eussed requiring study and deep thought, be
exposed 10 such aggression agains, correct
lastei Another error was 10 permitting these
men TO go outside Of their duties as orna-
mental painters and try their SKIN In the
loiller sphere OF the fne arts. What they
did In that line, however, turned out q IA
mentable fallurei tho two or three pictures
they gave ne would pass, perhaps, for good
bits OF ornamental sign painting, but their
deed. .....I
This ornamental work, however, uotvilh-
standing all the expense and eStfavaganee
connected with II, was done hastily and
badly, as q glance At the walls will ahoW.
Il IL 10 be regretted that the money wasted
on this system Of decoration was not devoted
70 the purchase Of works Of art, that would
have not only had a lasting value, but had
healthfnl Influence on the people, and served
as a means OF educating them In the history
OF their own country. Tho American artist
would then have had a couRenial Reid
opened TO him for the exercise OF his talents.
But this country la not alone In expensive
art failures, where art was called In 10 dec
crate public buildings. England has had a
worse aud even more expensive experience,
ns has been shown In the now houses OF Par
lament, the decorations Of which have called
forth the seycrest condemnation. Nor do
We believe she has been any more fortunate
10 her statuary. Her sAtlriGtS have been
hurllng their sha1A against some OF Lhese
for the last thirty years, and n we arc 70
credit what they say, some Of the equestrian
statues OF her military heroes erected In
London do AZ little credit 10 the art tAste Of
| the Engllsh people as those erected In Wash
ington do TO the art taste Of Americans.
England, however, had expended ten
times the amount Of money we had on art,
as the report Of her art commission will
shows and yet her failures, so far as they
applied TO her public buildings, wero so
transparent as TO cause general cutlery
against them. And yet Engllshmen had Ap.
preclated art, and their Government had
encouraged and projected her artists, some
Of whom had made great regulations as AMI.
NAL and landscape painters. But, as In our
own country, decorative painting had re-
celyed but little attention, and Engllshmen
had not shown themselves proficient In Il.
Hence Il was that when the new "Houses OF
Parliament" were decorated, foreign artists
had 10 be called In 10 do the work, and Eng
llsh artists were held responsible for their
failures.
Here again the committee Of Parliament
was mlsled In confoundlng decorative art"
| with what Is commonly known rs the "nne
arts" Painting had not been regarded a.
important to education In England, and
schools, where women were Instructed In the
different branches OF art, were unknown.
But new and enlarged ideas as 10 the import
ant uses TO which art could be put were
being developed; and the fact that II might
be made blessing 10 the poor as we'll as an
Indulgence to the rich was beginning TO b
felt by all who had the interests OF the Who'll,
community at heart. Every EpglhhmAr
| Interested In art looked forward 10 the cree
tlon Of the new houses OF Parliament a,
opening new field for the development oil
the art genius Of England. Appeals were
made 10 the patriotism Of members Of the
House Of Commons not 10 overlook the ma
tive talent OF the country, and asking that II
share equally with foreigners.
The House Of Commons responded
promptly TO the request, and q select CON-
mittee was appointed to deliberate and de-
wise the best means OF employing the art
talent of the country In decorating the pub
lie buildings. This committee was composed
chiefly OF gentlemen known for their taste
and genuine sympathy with art, aud whose
decisions would be likely 10 have weight
with the country. An ample appropriation
was made, and II began its Investigations
which were Of the most thorough kind. The
| most distinguished artists in the world were
called before IL, and their opinions taken.
Agents well yersed In art matters were sent
sent on the continent, az great expense, to
examine the various schools and methods o.
palnlng, as wen as the different systems o.
decorating public buildlngs' These agenti
obtained much valuable Information, which
Is embodied In reports made 70 Parliament
and may 90 found IN the Library OF Con
gress, In Parliamentary PapeB Tor 1871, AZ,
Il tS, ~, vols. y, 70, ~. u.
| During an Investigation made by one OF
the committees sir Martin Arthur shee, ae'
copied as good authorlty 10 such mattert'
was called before IL, aud his answers 70
questions, as well rs his general remarks
on the subject, are worthy OF consideration.
In reply TO question as to what would be
bis opinion as 70 the employment OF foreign
artists he replied III the object Is 70 en-
courage the arts OF our own country, TO Gle
l 49, N.NN N~-f
think the proper mode would DO 70 tUlptoI
and e'iltipdte ndiipe fatsnf. II am correct IN
supposlng that the object OF the committed
In the present instance 70 render the op
poTtunlty which tho building Of the houses
OF Parliament now anords aVallaole ior inc
promotion OF the hne arts that me opJect Of
the committee Is not so mueh 70 forward the
arts themselves, as, through their influence
to advance the great end which the promo
tlon OF the aTts can DO considered bot a. 4
means-the civilization oil our peoples u
give 10 their minds . direction which may
tend to withdraw them from habits OF gros'
and sensual indulgeneei 70 secure and sus
tain the Intellectual supremacy Of our owl
, country, not only with respect TO the presen
' age, but with reference 70 posterityi an
. above all, TO prove that we arc capable
a approaching their exploits OF patriotism
J those exertlons oil wisdom and virtue while
have adorned tue annals OF british hiator,
and that we arc not at loss for taleul
worthy OF being employed In their common
oratloni these are me OBJECTS tne commi