New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-13
ART IN PHILADELPHIA.

Last Saturday our neghbOrs in Philadel-
phia laid the cornerstone of new Academy
of Fine Arts the old building on Chestnut-st.
long used for that purpose having been sold
several years ago. It's treasures of canvas
and stone are still, we believe, boxed up
somewhere, awaiting their call to resur-
rection. The Philadelphians are begin
ming the work with cOmmendable zeal;
we find among the names OF the
inaugurators of the scheme not only men or
wealth and public spirit but those whose real
love and knowledge of Art will enable them
to direct properly both money and zeal, 50
that Art shall not, as is too often the case III
public Academies, be wounded worst In the
house of her friends. The venerable Horace
Binney, who is almost a centenarian, the
sole surviving member of the founders
of the first institution, took part in
the exercises, and Caleb Cope laid the
cornerstone. Besides such men, eminent from
a social, professional, or pecuniary point OF
view, we are glad to note that the artists OF
Philadelphia were also present, and apparently
heartily in accord with the directors.
There is where the keynote of sue
cess was struck. In the old Academy
perpetual feud ragged between its managers
and the artists of the city. The place Of honor
on the walls was covered by the CHASTITY hor-
rors of West because the Quaker City is held
to have an ancient lien on bis renOwn; while
Hamilton and Richards were suffered to eX-
hbit their best works in an Artists Club
Room.
During the few years in which Death and
IL Ioo foI,r nod hOt
ever, Philadelphia has grown not only in
knowledge Of true Ant, but, let us hope,
appreciation of her own artists Tue culture
and wealth of individuals have done for the
city what the old Academy failed to do
brought good pictures into it; and taught the
people to comprehend them. Citizens begin
now to turn their backs on the store-box
order of architecture which came down to
them from forests primevap with Quaker
hats and shad-bellied coats, and to build
houses with angles and curves. and glimpses
of coored tiles and windows-hints of o
cropping within their souls after strange
gods who knew not Penn. Many of
the best pictures and engravings brought to
the country have found ready sale in Phila-
delphia. These things encourage us to hope
that the schools and galleries which are TO
form the new Academy may be grounded
not only on tue ideas of Art, but on a GER
tain metropolitan lberality of feeling which
was perhaps too much lacking in The old. Let
them begin by testing the good which they
have at home. Philadelphians, it is said,
(falsely let us hope,) are born jealous of
Philadelphians. The blue blood that has come
down from, tho Swedish dup-outs nt VlcocO
flouts the blue blood of PENIS followers in
Southwark; the nOuUeau richie in the Northern
Liberties gibes ut them both. The poet, the
actor or the artist of Philadelphia complains
that while he plays to his own city, it is New
York that rises to him: applauds and pays.
If there be any truth in these charges it is
high time that our sister city saw the folly
of such short-sigbted policy. Especially in
matters of Art, it is not our capability of ap
probation of outside excellence that establishes
a reputation for city, but our home creative
power. We have hopes that the new Academy,
whose cornerstone has just been laid
with such hearty unanimity of feeling.
will be mutual ground where the disciples
of Art and its patrons may work cordially
together. 1t would DO inexpedient, as was
proved in London, that too much of its man
agement should DO placed in the hands of
local artists. But assuredly such men as
Ramsay, and Lambdin should be
able to regard it AZ at least an impartial
court of appeal from which they would be
sure to receive intelligent criticism and
prompt recognition.
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