New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-20
ART PRIZES AWARDED.
ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION AT THE ACADEMY
OF DESIGN

OF EARLY TRAINING IN ART sTuDIEs-Lisr OF
PRIzEs-REMARKs BY wHITEIAw REID
The annual distribution of awards Of merit
ct the Academy of Design last evening was witnessed by
large number OF visitors, the handsome rooms being
full Among those present a large number Of the
more prominent of tho Academy including the
late President Mr. Quincy Ward, and Messrs. Eastman
johnson Jervis McEntee, Henry Peters Gray, Richard
Story Miller and many Others Preceding the announce
ment of the successful competitors Mr. whtredge. the
President, addressed the students Of the Academy
briefly and in part follows:
ADDRESS OF Mr.. wHIrTREDGE.
am happy TO meet you in the presence Of 80 many OF
your friends this occasion We have watched your
progress during the past Winter with great interest
Your immediate training has been under the
eye Of of members; but the
Council has been mindful Of the manner
in which you have been taught and the uses you
have made Of your advantages There study which
IL 10 more important TO commence right than the
study Of art. Art Is too long, life too short.
TO admit of any mistakes being made In
the beginning. We believe, and, indeed,
know that what has been taught you in these schools
genuine and will shorten the road for you to the
plishment Of perfect work. Drawing lies at the
foundation of all the arts of design. 1t Is the Ian
guage through which they all speak No express
himself without knowledge of form. thorough train
ing this gives confidence and correctness TO all future
study. conscientious student in drawingone who has
ltuded sufficiently long to know Its difficulties and
lee Its relations-is never ignorant, but bears
about HIM the marks OF education and shows that he
somprehends the dignity and aim Of his profession Cor
fectness is the first requisite in drawing This we have
teen careful to urge upon you All the drawings sub
Htted for the prizes extremely good in this respect
1t was not an easy task TO select the very best.
have to congratulate this school and the country upon
Che many talented men and woman,here at work. Our
annual roll now is $50, large majority Of whom
are fable to be in attendance at different hours,
most devoted and active students The results
OF this cannot be to-day apparent. but believe ere
long they will well in thorough character
OF the works usually produced by aud often thought
enormously be the only work which artists do,
extended usefulness of artistic talent.
II ts by means the spirit Of the Academy TO
encourage only two three branches OF art portrait
history landscape painting sculpture engraving but
20 teach art in its simplicity and leave II 10 seek the
different channels into which it may afterwards run
Our object is to obtain art believing II will be able to
work its way 10 adapations-at all events,
satisfied that nothing else but Art work its way 10
art uses.
Let say to you as students that all that Is useful in
your profession must spring from n living 1t
must be in your hearts and minds You cannot Dor
You cannot rely upon others. You must step aside
from beaten tracks, and pick your own way through
brambies by new paths
At the conclusion of Mr. whittredge's remarks. he
read the following letter written by Washington AtOn
36 years ago to young artist at that time, who Is now
an honored member Of the Academy:
LETTER OF WASHINGTON AIIsTOY.
CAMBRIDGEPoRT, 6 June 1899
SIR have the pleasure to acknowledge your letter Of
May 21st and regret to say in reply to your inquiries
that not in my power TO receive pupils at present.
nor indeed can say when Of ever it Will be. II has
been my wish for several years past TO take certain
number of pupils who were somewhat advanced in the
art at least who had passed the threshold both in draw
higher branches but the OF the essential rcqui
Sites proper place for the reception OF students and
time my disposal have hitherto obliged me
90 postpone this my Iavorite wish to some indefinite
In the absence OF an individual teacher. however,
know that could ofcr you better advice t&n maj
you attend the antique and life schools OF the National
Academy of Design, which my friend Morse is Presi-
dent Ii the nave had OF that Institution are
correct you may there acquire mere tLsiSueh know
edge OF The human figure than anywhere else N our
ledge is 10 be obtained IN America and u you are not al
ready a proficient IN LIS, the grammar oI af.,
will venture 10 promise that YOU WAL not
hereafter regret day of the time as misspent should you
a couple there sOfelN 10 HuaWIhe Inc
70 paint to- Soon Tat is before icy laid
foundation in an accurate knowledge OF forms l1e acgu
siti0n becomes rksOinO when ia aiter NE tey
Tosbpa PcTnSds as Won nav have read all his life
deeply laInented Lis having neglected TINS essenta,
branch wren he young, and have often regIctteu
S9at , he qd So esnn SG i S nh had he So
. MASTERY of the human form lie would have ranked'
the higher branches OF his arr with the ESat
names OF Italy but the want OF this rendered more IMAM
half his genius unavailable; he was Often oongeu 70
guess his way where many men with tthe OF ms p0Tes
walked with confidence and Simply because tney h4a
been early taught the way WIN best WISHES TOT your
success fciI'in 'r' your WAsnINGroS AL1sroS
ToR.w.H.
Mr. wh.t;redge next mentioned that the Academy was
Indebted to Messrs. Mitchell, Vance, Co.. for the
means of making prizes substantial than would
otherwise have been possible. He then proceeded 70
distribute them follows:
life scbool-First prize 10 Edwin Russell the suydam
Medal Isilyer and $780, second prize, 10 C. Turner,
the Suydam Medal bronzel and 500 honorable men tion
60 Miss Jennie Brownscombe Mrs. NJ W. Hail. D. "eoer
md 10
Antique tchool-First prize TO Lloyd Branson the
EiIott Medal silver and so second prize to Theodore
Snb,Hson the Elliott Medal tbronze and $50 honorable
mention To Miss A Cunningham W T. Rooster MISS
Marian e. Bemsa, George :. Bdrnal, ana Miss carrie
Hounds.
whitelaw Reid was next introduced and said
Even the successful Of speakers might well hesltnte
speech to make These walls themselves more elo-
auent than any voice mat can De fasd w1H r aten
ton only wish, dozen sentences, to say what Our
artist hosts prefer aynan rather than themselves
sbond saw ABOUT one or two familiar features
OF the work and wants Of the Academy.
,aIaton bv special law and It Is required make
the stat the return of maintaining free Art schools
tonight. They do what is so rare m TINS iast
country in anything uS ana smey3can aftstshey
begin at the bottom, and make thorough worK OF
ii en az Tar Of as A sTfy But iH they teach them wen
Whether linedrawing, as studied mere, 10 USED
sac,re II 49, In any case, the foundation Our national
habit Is to neglect the foundations and to spend our
sutton that honestly begins at the beginning
thinE of Arr education as practical. but we shall learn
better before compete successfully with our neigh
nora An ex Secretary the Treasury trying the other
day TO snow France had recovered so easily from
her great dsasters laid his hand upon one Key 10 the
puzzle by pointing that she furnished the taste for
the commercial world Even her wOrkingnen ana her
shOp-giris peTmeated with the spult oI
Art children trained 10 the grammar or arr as
ours the grammar OF language The eye and the
hand educated beauty and thus they come 10 lr
sh object Of taste that enters into
the trade world and be, without exception the