New-York tribune., 1873-02-03
THE COMING WATER-COLOR EKHLBI-
TONS.
70 Mt Kditor of TAe rrfbnns.

TO the Edftor Of TIE Tribune.
SIR: II is my delicate duty as visitor to
this country to have to mpugn the accuracy OF state
ment Of its leading newspapers with reference
60 the paragraph which appeared in IHB TRIBUNE oi
Saturday last stating that the American "atef>Cooi
Society To have the Exhibition entirey to,ltSei OF
rather 70 speak more correctly under its own control
also that Mr. Henry Blackburns muoh-talked-0f and
ttan-abOut International Exhibition has been
abandoned for the present. am in the first place
authorized by the National Academy to deny that the
American Society will have any control over the forth
coming Exhibition. have next to inform you that the
English pic have arrived and are already on the
walls OF the large room in the National Academy Of
Design. The collection made in England IN nine
days, and arrived IN New-York ON Tuesday last.
On the tone the article referred to viii not COM
snent question the Of its statements 10
The small promise Of the English schools" will
merely observe as repreSentalVe OF he Ehgish artists
Who In spirit Of rivalry desire to make their works
better known IN this countTJ) that II seems rather
matter regret that the American SOcety Of Painters
an Water-Coors should have taken so much pains 20
which may be found 20 occupy places on the ne in
their galleries 70 the injury as far as position Is con-
permit 10 aud that being sincerely anxious for the
future of American art, the greatness OF which have
LAND Snnoi bat believe that the present movement
y continued annually IN the spirit ~ Which u has been
viii tend eventually 10 the benefit of art aud artists in
Century Club, Ye,s York, Feb. ?. Is75.
I'VE had never any mind to say a word in dispar-
agement of Mr. Henry Blackburn OF of his intended
exhibition of English pictures On the contrary, we
have had aud have, only good win for the gentle
man himself aud for his enterprise That we are
naturally much more interested in the fortunes of
our own American Society Of Water-ColOr Artists
than in any foreign society, and we confess did
not regard with much satisfaction the threatened
absorption of own sOcietys yearly exhibition in
the promised international Exhibition Of Mr. Black
burn. When, therefore, we learned that the exhibi-
tiOn Of society for this year was to be
As 1t has always been quite independent
and not under the control of either Mr. Blackburn
or Of the National Academy we were glad of it, and
said so Mr. Blackburn says he is authorized by
the National Academy 10 deny that the American
SoCiety viii have any control the forthcoming
Exhibition" and we confess that we do not under
stand hm. The American Society is entirely in
dependent Society managing ITS own affairs, and as
free from any outside control as the National Acad
cmy itself The Academy gives the water color men
~ rooms rent free aud pays all the expenses and in
return receives all the profits of the Exhibition but
II his. we have said absolutely no control over
the Exhibition and il will DO found when the pub
lie is admitted that all fears lest the English
Exhibition should swallow up the American were
quite groundess; that in every sense the American
another illustration of the lean kline swallowing up
Che f1t kline.
Thcu. we did not say that Mr.. Blackburn was to
have no pictures at all after ali his promises We said
m plain terms that his International Exhibition
had been abandoned for the present. He replies,
The English pictures have arrived. and already
the walls Of the large room. &c" To which we
answer. Doubtless; but what pictures and how
msnyf Are they the frst-class works by the first
rate men that we have been led TO expect and do
they the walls Of the large and run over
into one at least Of the small ones as Mr. Blackburn
himself expected If so. why has Mr. Black
burn repeatedly of late expressed his dis
appointment az the way in which his
hopes have been fulfilled and whv has he made the
charge against the American Society that it has PVT
forth unusual and great efforts to collect English
pictures and 70 put hem in the best pacespiCtures,
too. that bv rights he should have had himself.
For the present. If it be true that Mr.. Black
burn has not abandoned his International EXhlbi-
tion, we think he will frankly admit that it has
abJnCJne him. He cannot even keep for us the
first part OF the promise implied in the word Inter
national. We said that be could not bring any num-
Der OF rst-rate works by hrst-Tate Englishmen and
we said the simple truth. Where, let US ask Mr..
Blackburn IN conclusion would he be, If the Ameri-
can society had not been able to cover his nakedneSs
with the skirts Of It's ample garment i-bd.l