New-York tribune., 1877-11-13
TIE HISTORY OF APT.

FIRST LECTURE IL THE REV. MIR. CORNING'S COURSE
The Rev. J. Leonard Corning began ycster-
dav morning at Association Hall course Of lectures on
the History Of Art About severtyhye ladies and half
dozen gentlemen present The lecture was intro
ductory ia IL character and included brief survey OF
me ground which viii be covered during the succeeding
mornings Mr Corning said that man was no pensi1rer
Oh Naufe-nc worked his passage ami paid he board.
Primitive man was Cu.itarian, and civ zAuon began
where mere uuiitari1nism ended. The nne arts,
as distinguished from the useful arts, possessed
vass aim, and comprehensive survey of
line arts would include record Of all thai
man had done in all ages to give expression 10 Lis
perceptions The fine arts. the meaning IN which tie
term was commonly employed however, included archi
lecture sculpture and painting. Mr Corning described
briefly tho vast extent OF the study All tie eXtnt pie
lures OIL earsh probably NOT one-iionh part Of
wla had been done in tins realm dur1s he worlds hs-
tory The sources Of art history hd Tor tue most part
dried 1 -e known and the Ano"aJie ia thS CONAN
eer, q drop, wulle the unknown ana the unEnO"aDe
formed ~ ocean. The lecturer continued:
History has Go do not only with fact, but with philOs-
ouhy not only with effects. but with Is would,
pei Al,, ~ INST seem r u "rt-hsto! "rea sprcLuJ
closely related to al departments and events
% human progress that u becOm essential part OF
tAen-luseiaidoe anu licAuca' 10" al tLe lOicrs o
nature ana civilization nave acted On art and how art
lie sisc of tue ART historian 10 SHOW. /. may be in
qured, W the uses OF art E.sJoryf Art made
record of history, long before history made Of
@ ar ~ AZ to2 ''0 of ancrnp Ire womb ne an 10Y
story. without art, mankind would be IN darkness
cnncr ruiu many OF the great OF axes ptsi
The story Of y great arr work Of tIe past combines tue
history OF the nation ~ whIch1t belongs"
Ie spoke OF tne relation OF art study gen
er cdltlrr, OF winch, taste essential element
Tnste as acquired. or J1shua Reynolds had recorded
ft ON his first yIst 90 Italy, he was disappointed the
9r tnctures OF Raphael aud he SUBSEQUENTLY became
cf,f1c,d that tsstc for and appreciation OF
rue arr must cO.Ie, II az ALL after Ong and assIduOus
sndy and contemplation. knowledge OF real prn-
cnr of architecture would have been OF immense ad-
,re 10 this young country, ana would have spared
"A yast number OF costly buildings, watch now bear vii
ue.s 10 coarse val gar taste Mr. Corning spoke OF
he AID to the study OF mythology language and history
rnthutrd by pictorial representations OF the works %
sen ut0r and architects without these, what
would vitn tcir asss. .auce a delightful pursuit
AN r,ome ANA icult task. Art was the great store
house Of object lessons.
The lecturer spoke Of the methods by which the
ht-tor. 2 studied. ideal art historian
hI- mi act as know Inem mother knew her children
In nj first seemed Incredible that sucn vast store or
kuowlrdge could be Possessed by any one mind, out u
was uoss Die An ordinary person, however, should make
fine Intimate acquaintance OF OIC-,enth OF tuat Huuincf
of ART works. Photography had become an invaluable
U1T1lre OF art oi life and even Of death, mad
been taAen captive by the sunDeams aud gwen
10 the world. Add 10 photography the autOtype, and the
world possessed all that necessary 10 the ds-
..uu4fO OF art knowledge every part OF the cartI.
For II 900 could be purchased collection OF photo
~ an art student Corning spoke, in conclusion of
e Use aud progress Of art history and literature AIT
knowledge was a very recent requirement IL FOR
merry by Ouy very lew, ana was al Dert rag
| urutaIy and incomplete Now It was distinct and
noble depart meu OF literature Ihe next lecture on the
AMI OF r ORIENT wI be gwen a. Association Hall. al IL
1 q. u Oh Tlur,day.