The New York herald., 1871-03-02
Tho Fine Arts In Now YORK.

Tho Fine Arts In Now York.
Notwithstanding the tendencies which
oppose the development Of art in this city if
is manifest that there is growing desire for
the qualification to be derived from works OF
art
The concerts which, this season, in the
deplorable absence of Italian opera, are the
only musical entertainments offered, show how
eagerly and literally New York audiences
applaud artists of real merit, while at the same
time serving to bring forward the latent talent
which exists in private circles. We have
frequently alluded to the well known fact that
New York possesses voices requiring only .
certain amount Of training to exhibit both
musical power and rare dramatic quality.
Acting, although still lacking the scientific
basis on which every art must rest, has been
illustrated here this winter by such names as
Seebach, Janauschek, Miss Glyn, Booth,
Forrest, Fechter, Jefferson, Wallack,
Brougham, Gilbert and Fisher. Opera 6oufe
itself was admitted to display by Silly, Aimee
and Gaussin of the better qualities of the
French school Of acting, while the Majiltons,
at Niblos, have shown that even acrobats may
be artists. All the leading theatres, in the
correctness, beauty and splendor of their
scenery and costumes, have complied with
the exactions of the public taste. It il
rumored that the season may not close before
the production of an original and important
play, written for the purpose of introducing
promising young American actor, who has
gone through an exceptionally severe course
of study at Paris under Delsarte, the famous
teacher of Rachel and other European cele-
brities.
In the palatial stores and residences Of our
millionnaires, in the miniature predecessors Of
the rising cathedral on Fifth avenue, as well
as in the new buildings for the accommodation
of many families under a single roof. the intel
lgent skill of our Gilmans, Hunts, Upjohns,
Vauxes and Davises attests the rapid progress
of architecture.
The extraordinary multiplication of elegant
art shops and galleries, which are now scat
tered all over town, from Johnston's art
cabinet, near Wall street, to the galleries OF
Pollard, Schaus, Snedecor, the Miners,
Somerville, Avery, Knoedler, Bogardus and
the rest-thus following the upward move
ment Of population to the utmost limits Of
fashionable dwelling places, proves that
works of art have become household neces-
stiles. The numerous picture sales at auc-
ton, where thousands of dollars are expended
In single evening. likewise indicate grow
ing demand which in art, as in trade, must
be met by corresponding supply. However
unsatisfactory some Of the official exhibitions
at the National Academy of Design may have
seemed as promise of fulfilling this universal
law of supply aud demand, it must be remem-
bered that our Industrious artists enjoy fire.
quent opportunities Of selling their best produc-
tlons directly from the easel 1t is to be re-
GREETED, indeed, that by these very opportuni-
ties too many of the most Industrious
and best known among them have
been tempted to fabricate pictures hastily,
lured instead of warned by Goethe's dictum-
1.-The artisan is paid the artist never" Too
many landscape painters satisfy themselves
with commercially conscientious ''studies,"
which they somehow fail to work up into such
completed compositions as are alone entitled
to rank as works of art Others again.
neglecting indispensable preliminary ''stu-
des"-refusing even to take the trouble to
learn to draw-imagine that pleasing color can
supply the absence OF form. Even the ma
jority of our very few figure painters have not
the slightest knowledge of proportion and
anatomy. 1t is encouraging to know that this
deficiency is beginning to be felt, and that
steps to remedy it have been taken even at the
Academy. The anatomical lectures of DR..
Rimmer at the Academy cannot but be useful.
The efforts of Mr.. William Hart, at the Brook
lyn Academy Of Design, and of Mr. Victor
Nehlig, at the Cooper Institute, are equally
promising. The Central Park offers q fine
field for the genius of our sculptors. The re-
markable success of the Palette Club is largely
due to its life school, which is conducted ON
the same principles a. similar schools in
Europe, and, like them, must infallibly create
good draughtsmen, whether they aspire to be-
come sculptors or painters The recent de-
lightful festival of s'The Palette" was one OF
the most encouraging signs of the times, 80
far as relates to the fine arts in New York.
Tho New City Post Once.