, 1874-07-26

prepared to set veracity at defiance, be is not
prepared to do this. Before Mr. Healey ever
sos loot in Rome, before he ever. set out upou
his Pretended mission of investigation, he knew
Thatever the results of that Investigation might
DC. who were to DO the artists named aB imIos-
tors: They wore to bo those artists not belong
ing to
,r TIE CLIQUE WHOSE INTERESTS he SERVES.
Inc fea! question Of our integrity never found
place in his programme. IIe obeycd motive
power, unseen by the public, but OWNED and
understood by nll artists, and bv many beyond
the urtstio ciiele,-a power which governed
every movement, and which inspired every wold
lo pcnncd To those who arc familiar with
Rome, and who know how completely artis:ic
society is divided, this assertion will excite but
little surprise. Visitors to this city not BLOW
IN discovering the total absence OF gocial iutor-
courso betvoen artists who composo this clique
aud others of tho fraternity. We indeed form
pleasant ideal Of artst-life in ITALY, when from
distance VIC contemplate the possibilities
Which exist OF rendering that society delight
ful but personal observation Of that so,ioty,
Ertlsts, sooa disEel tho agreeable illusion,
aud the now aspirant to artistic
lcrors Ii not long in espousng tho cause OF
one or the other OF these factions; the barrier
becomes complete, and o1tonls taelf, not only
to artists Btudios but to their homes; and
monshs-uay. even ycars-pass without any oc-
cas!on presenting itself for two artists who arc,
perhaps, working within stoue's throw Of ouch
NkAE4 W tAG.lt1IES Hblu OI bl4uts-llcIis 1LlEu
aa this condition Of thiusa is to be dop!orcd, it
nevertheless exists, and, when kanwn. may serve
to rendor the truo point OF Mr.. ucalcy's attack
more pegspicuoua.
Ard here must protest against tho use which
has hecn made OF the nnmo of Mr.. Powers in
connection with this nttack. 4 man utterly do
void OF all petty jealouslcB; greater, even, us a
Ean thHn as I'LL artist, kindly and helpful to his
younger brethren, generous aud just to ALL I
believe him to. have boon utterlJ incapable Of
41rIs Jn3%r Sv$a
tlons, which have beon attributed TO him by Mr.
Healoy, aud this iB. by fur,
THE MOST Injurious FEATURE
Of The whole transaction. The living are here
to defend themselves, s,-the dead rely upon cur
generosity.
No! tho object Of this attack is not to defend
the honor OF American art. It is not to defend
the integrity OF her artists nor to protect their
honest interests Would that its aims woro SO
pure! 1t is now many years since first Eot foot
in Rome. and tho sa1ne influences aro at work,
now as then, to undermine the reputation Of
houost artists. Is it not time that these disgrace
full attacks should ccaso2 What diacredit they
cast npon noble profession! What infinite
name of American artist! WLat!" exclaimed
Sisnor Gentiii, the Roman lawyer, upon rcceiy-
ing luis instructions regarding Mr. Patti. ''is it
possible that the American artists speak
of each other in this manner! Thank God
that our 1taliana, jealous OF each other az they
may bo, have never yot descended to such mean
ncss!" And it ls true 1t is lett for tho Amer
ican artists to asuail each other With pertinaci
tY aud an luminosity unknown TO- any other
nationality Of the fraternity. It ia lott for ouz
countrymen to organize 4 form OF attack which,
for utter bascness, can never be surpassed. Is
there nothing in Art, nothing in the exercise Of
q noble vocation. which should ra1so us little
why boyond the sphere OF
VULGAR AIMS AND MISERABLE JEALousrEs?
Must wo be forever trailing her white garments
through the mud, and be forever viliiyiuS our
brotLren7 Our calumniators may, indeed, i'm
pose upon tho c1edul4ty OF afow :; but is it not
possible that, by thoir very bitterness, they may
yet defeat their own object? Is it not possib!o
TINT all honest and honorable men may yet dis
cern the truo voices which have spokon.-Toices
which, however ingeniousiy disguised, are not go
effectually disguised as to escape recognition
There are many who will discern this possibility; !;
aud. whom those artists havo reached the status
OF true gentlemen, they will discover this fact
for themselves. II. u. uo6AER.
ROME, Juuc g, 1874.