The New York herald., 1875-12-24
FINE ARTS.
THE DEBT OF THE ACADEMY or DEsIGN-
NOTES FRon TILE srrnIos AND oALIERIEs.

OF ITS mortgage debt Of S35 900 and failed The amount
obtained ct the sale and from money contributions
amounts TO less than IS 0O0 For various many
Of best would could not pictures
being able to afford give the work OF perhaps
months the beginning Of this tho most unfavorabs
which artists have known for many years.
The lne always the first suffer in times oi
financial depression Others have not contributed
from principle they arguing that institution like the
Academy be supported by the wealthy citizens
and not the artists who proverbaly poor money
though rich 10 intellect culture and the higher qualities
OF the human mind and heart BY far the greater
number OF who refused TO send works did 80
from q feeling Of opposition to those whs
manage the affairs OF the Academy Il may
not be generally known that about year ago the Aca
demicians called meeting OF the members OF the
Academy-which consists OF Acadomcians. associates
ana honorary membcrs--,o devise some plan BY which
this debt might be paid The officers are chosen BY
Acadcmicians from their number who also promote
associates to their own ranks well appoint them
in the lrs place the having voice in any
matter. When called upon they asked TO have the
privilege OF vote in the management OF affairs, Du
this being denied them they in body resigned theh
positions as members of the Academy. No action wal
taken by the Academicians on their resgnaons and
they are, consequently, still members, whether they
'swl or no Most these associates and OF the
building and the erection OF less expensive one with
stores beneath that tho institution may be selfsup
porting. But the more conservative and aris
tocratic of some of the older men, wish TO keep
the building exclusively for art The debt is mostly
that incurred by the erection OF this same building
which has been entirely finished. Fifteen
thousand dollars has been added 10 II within
the past Ave years for the benefit Of the
schools which showed the appreciation OF III
increased advantages by the high standard Of work at
tanned by It's pupils An appeal was made 10 ths
onnaires of the city for means to keep up these ad
vanages, by adding the amount which supports
the schools the income Of $4,000 left for that pur
pose by Suydan. Extra support was refused and
as the Academy could not continue in debt until
it's property all gone, OF the school depart
ment had to go back its old level The majority Of
the students have, however, formed an ASSOCIATION
among themselves which bids fair to become permanent
If the associate who will next take the placed
of those now in power should adhere to their resolve
not TO remain members OF the Academy, the nstitu-
on still find way to support itself instead
or begging money 1t is the representative insti-
tuition OF American art and the nucleus around which
art should the metropolis OF the United states
The best works of artists should hang its walls
at the exhibitions that the aesthetic tastes of the peo
pie may be cultivated and those who can appreciate,
but cannot afford buy good works OF art may see
them for few weeks in the year. The ideas OF ior-
eeners are generally taken from institutions which
ought to represent a standard gained by nation and
that Institution shows only the poorest instead OF the
best it Is own fault II they gain erroneous IDEAS
William +. MacMastcr occupies pleasant stgolo
in the Domestic building iacing Union square. Here
may be several OF his works, varied in SUBJECT ne
having been journalist and politician as well Us artist
and peculiar interest Is attached 10 some OF MS paint
ings from associations connected with thsn, ihdepen.
dent their artistic merit Here is the last portrait
of Buchanan, painted during the campaign portrait
OF MacMahon, which pleased even the critical tastes OF
the Frenchmen THE Opera Belle, which was ex-
h.bited AT the French Exposition in 1856, and por-
trait Washington by Stuart The last was purchased
from Mrs. Madson's collection by the artist. Having
been extensive traveller, Mr. MacMastcr has, OF
course, many foreign pictures; one OF a SWISS
inn, showing the thrift Of the people OF
flowers the balconies IN close contact with drying
nen the tables out OF doors with guests seated and an
old woman with bed and wooden bucket tied
her back stopping before group seated ut one OF
them. In the distance are seen the Bernese Alps
towering above the church steeple, and In the lore.
ground is.a donkey laden with wooden panniers used
carrying milk, &c Another picture represents one
OF the lace weavers of France sitting IN q barnlike
apartment built the ground for the delicate fabric
only be made damp places. She sits with The
bobblns the cushion before her. little child plays
on the ground her and nds nonship in the
rabbits which nbble aud leaves vegetables
strewn around. In corner Is seen goat tied, and
the picture ideal ons but actually represents the
condition Of hundreds OF women ia the mountain dis
tncts Of France, who earn about twenty cents :
day making The laccs, which cost not only money
but the lives OF the makers besides, Tor these
women rarely i've over thirty to thlrty-hvc years
"A Farm in Normandy in the Spring Time" pleas
ant subject aiter the sadness OF the Lace Weaver"
The apple in blossom, and the chateau OF the
owner in the distance, while the pretty cottage
OF the farmers scattered the landscape. Thu
place Paris what Orange county is TO New York
and surprising that more OF our artists in France
do not transfer its beauties to canvas.
Gilbert Munger has taken studio IN the Tenth street
building He is one OF the most industrious OF oul
artsts bringing back with him every year hundreds q
sketches made during the summer months These ara
oil uniform size, and are strictly from nature Even
the effects OF sunlight and storm are placed upon
canvas with facility which comes only from
long practice. The grand mountains OF the
West his special delight, and many OF his studies
made while accompanying surveying parties are valua-
bic geologists from their accuracy-for example,
the glacial rocks seen among soe OF the Scrras aDoVe
the Yosemite These rocks are still being polished by
the action of the fields, but at higher attitudes than
formerly Groups Of cypress trees in the only grove
this species oil America which Is situated
about miles below san Francisco, the coast The
snowy peaks OF the mountansone Of them lS 600 feei
above shows the famous Emma mine, with the
dwellings OF the miners scattered along the mountain
side in the the valley below, also clad
us the eye reach beautiful emerald noun
tain lake and many views from the Yosemite, with ils
waterfalls, and the river, mere thread, winding
It's way along at the foot OF the noun.
mountains in distance Is the site OF portion ol
Salt Lake CITY The white houses merely indicated
by the little dots along the banks OF the Jordan, which
flows through the plain. One OF the old Jesuit ms.
sions by the spanish settlers forms the inter
esling feature OF another sketch Some OF these mis-
sions are still kept up by the Franciscan brotherhood
but this Is last falling to pieces which renders
valuable TO an artist. Lave OAK grows IN hetcn-
Hetchcy Valley and many other of interest are
among his sketches The picture which he 10 now
painting upon large and gives view OF Mount
Hood looking from Hood River, Dallcs The Cas-.
cadc Mountains, covered with blue haze and dwarfcd
10 hly proportions by contrast with the immense
white mountain beyond occupy the middle distance,
and in the foreground the wooded banks OF the
river with the warm browns and greens, which give
feeling OF lie and reality never let IN looking upon ths
grandcst OF natures beauties.
Frank Manly is putting the finishing touches to
medallion in alto relief which is called The Madonna
nfl lhn BrgEA A
her lap and looking lovingly down upon II as Il holds
out its little hands play The mammals figure Is pnr-
TALLY draped while the child is entirely nude, and
shows very delicate modelling. larger work IN
the style is 'Thc Blessed Darnozel, from Kos
sett poem Little Queasyn is pretty, girlish face,
with hair lying and the half dissatisfied expression
peculiar some children An ideal head - ia low re-