The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-20
The National Academy Of Design. !


The explanation offered few days ago b.
an artist correspondent touching the causes
which contributed to the unsatisfactory result
OF this summers exhibition at the Academy Of
Design throws some light on the management
OF that institution. We do not think that tha
explanation succeeds in relieving the president
and council of the academy from response
bility to the public for the want of dscrimina-
ton shown in the selection of works for admis-
sion. The plea put forward in behalf of the
academicians, that the power Of selection or re-
lection has been virtually taken ont Of their
hands and given to an irresponsible committee
OF three men who are uoknown to the public,
is unsOund. Because the academicians must
have been consentiug parties to this arrange
ment, and no complaint or protest was made
to the tribunal of public opinion until the
candid criticism Of the HERALD warned the
academicians that the press, as faithful
guardian of public interests, would no longer
submit to sham art exhibitions where foolish
little people might air their vanity. We hold
that the president and council of the National
Academy of Design had no right whatever to
abandon their duties TO committee without
first warning the public that they were no
longer answerable for the quality of the works
which might be exhibited.
II is to the academicians that the public
naturally look for guidance in art matters, and
upon the judgment exhibited by that body de-
ponds in great part the growth of healthy
art taste 10 this country. Nor is it possible to
regard without grave inquetuds the possible
continuance of such cart exhibitions" as the
one which at present disgracss this city. The
result must be the vitiation of popular tasta
and the total abandonment of the patronage Of
American art by people of taste. This ID
where the stupid vanity Of some and the care
less egotism of others are rapidly leading us,
and artists who are most likely to be affected
by the decay of national pride in native art
work seem not to perceive the danger, or, like
Louis XIV, think that patronage will last
their time, and after them the deluge may
come if it have mind. But we, who look on
art as something higher than trade or means
to make money, take exception to this narrow
view, and mean to insist that the dellge shall
not be allowed to come but that the artists
of to-day will faithfully discharge their ap-
pointed task, in all humbleness and faith, Of
clearing the ground for the great American
art of the future This is their destiny, and
they will find it their interest to work it out
steadily and hopefully.
Art cannot become q private speculation
without being debased and the founts of in
SEPARATION being poisoned at their very source.
We cannot, perhaps, expect that human SELFISH
ness shall be absolutely excluded from this
pursuit, but all experience teaches us that
this vice has most damaging influence on the
progress and developmen t Of art, which, ia
its higher aspirations, is entirely spiritual and
elevating. True greatness in art is always
allied with purity of subject-thought, and
though we have many clever works devoted
to unworthy subjects, those that have taken
the highest rank and that will live eternaly
have ever been the expressions Of pure and
noble feelings. All this is, no doubt, known
to the academcians, but We want them TO act
on their knowledge and secure to the public
an exhibition of art works where people of
taste may go without having their suscepti-
biities hurt.
1t is plain that the present arrangement a
having the works selected by an irresponsible
committee of three will not answer, and that
some change must be introduced. What we
would suggest is that committee of three
artists, who are not academcians, should,
with the president and council, be charged
with the selection of all works to be ex-
cd M fiQfrv
the public and the artists, and would
go far to save us from the inflction
of lot of rubbish. One thing is
| certain-reform must be introduced or the
| sham art exhibitions must be closed. We
have treated with leniency and the greatest
forbearance both the managing council and
the artists whose hasty and unfinished works
called for the severest censure but there is .
limit to our forbearance, and should the same
| faults be repeated at the next exhibition we
shall undertake to speak out plainly without
consideration for individuals. The interest of
art is too sacred to be sacrificed either to
vanity or selGshness, and our duty to the
public demands that we shall not be silent in
the presence Of a dangerous abuse.
| II is the duty of the National Academy Of
| Design to aid us in our crusade against worth
less art, and we know that the academicians
feel the business Of the structures we have been
obliged to pass on the present exhibition, and
| that many amongst them desire such change
in the management as would put an end to
| the evils Of which we complain. 1t rests with
these gentlemen and the exhibiting artists to
take some steps to raise the status of the
Academy of Design by insisting on
fair standard of excellence in the works
which shall be honorcd with q place
No matter how small the resulting exhibition
may be, it will produce better results and give
| more general satisfaction to tho public than