New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-08
dRT WORK BY no hEN.

II may be true that the American has known
very little of Art hitherto, but he certainly is
proving himself more ready than any other
man to make a vigorous, productive use OF
the little he knows. The effect of his innu-
merable pictures and statues and the atmos-
phere of beauty which has surrounded the
Italian for centuries has only been to make
HIM more lazy, tranquil, and happy; but the
American falls into no passive dreams or rap
lures over anything of beauty; he goes to
work instantly to turn it to practical account,
to bring it into his own house, to utilize 1t In
his business. The Exposition of last year af-
forded TO hundreds of thousands of our people
literally their first glimpse of the world OF art,
long familiar to other nations. They were by
no means stunned by ii, but calmly asked
themselves, "Why not go and do likewise
"Why should rot we too carve wood and
L" stone, make pottery, decorate our houses ac-
"cordmg to the true rules of art /"
Now the two great obstacles in the way OF
this resolve have heretofore been: First, that
our people, as people, cared little for objects
of beauty, and would not buy them when
made. An article brought into the market was
much more likely to sell readily, either in
New-YOrk or the Ohio village, if it could claim
to he "stylisllA than if it were modelled ac-
cOrding to the strictest rules of high art. This
difficulty is passing away. We have begun to
open our eyes and see more clearly, and be-
sides, Art is now the fashion; carpet-makers
and paper-hangers and their customers gable
AZ freely as artists of the Renaissance and
pure style.
Secondly, there being no popular taste for
a sl,.1 rigat
and our artists have had no means of bring
ing their work into the notice of possible pur-
chasers. This difficulty in former years drove
many of our promising young artists into the
clutches of picture dealers and auctiOneers,
and to the painting of "p0t-bOers' for them,
until Whatever original power they possessed
was muddled away in most impOtent cOnclu-
sions. The same difficulty too rendered the
free Schools of Design established here ana
elsewhere almost useless. Women gave years
of faithful study TO make themselves cOmpe-
tent workers on wood or stone, design
ers in all kinds of decorative art; but when
the time came to leave the school they had no
use for their skill. Manufacturers as rule,
employed foreign designers or stole their de
signs ready made. Owe cannot buy occasional
work from amateur decorators here one of
the largest china importers said TIE other day.
1--WE can have the work done in Europe at
"half the cost by people who make it the
business of their lives" This difficulty may
seem trivial but woman, when her work is
done, whether it be the Sistiue Madonna or
pattern for oilcloth, cannot go into the streets
to find a market for it. There are thousands
Of women through the country already trained
l.,
of offering such work to the public, and thou
sands more who have the natural ability and
would gladly educate themselves to do it if
there were any chance of earning a livelihood
by it, Six years ago THE TRIBUNE urged the
establishment of shops or warehouses of
design, in order to bring producers of all
kinds of works of art and the public into
communication, but the suggestion was never
carried into effect
We are therefore especially glad to learn
that this serviceabe scheme is about TO be
carried into effect by some of the most intiu-
entail WOMEN of New York, who are interested
not only in giving to the people who buy
clearer ideas of true art, but to women capable
of artistic work occupation and market.
Their plan is, in brief: To establish place
for the exhibition and sale of sculpture, paint
ings, wood carvings, lacework, art and
ecclesiastical needlework, tapestries, hang
ings. and decorative work of any sort done
by women Work offered will be examined by
a committee, and if accepted will be placed on
exhibition for three months II sold ten per cent
of the price will be deducted to cover the charges
of the society and the remainder forwarded
to the artist. Articles sent, or returned when
unsold or rejected, must be shipped at the
expense of the artist. 1t is proposed to estab-
lsh auxiliary committees through the country,
which can examine and decide upon the
merits of work offered. The society intends
too to furnish instruction in art needlewOrk.
in the decoration of pottery, and to obtain, if
possible, orders from dealers in china, cabinet
work, and house decorations. The list of
officers includes the names of some of the
women in this city most active in useful and
wcll-organized associations among others,
Mrs. David Lane, Mrs. w. 7. Blodgett, Mrs.
Richard NJ. Hunt, Mrs j. w. Pinchot, Mrs.
A. b. stone, Mrs. Gen. Barlow. and Mrs. j. II.
Choate.
There can be no doubt that this society and
their salesrooms will be of inestimable advan-
tage to women throughout the country, whether
they only contribute an occasional article or
make the pursuit Of Art n means of livelihood.
The managers, however, will find one or two
difficulties in their way. Their first care should
be to induce artists already known and of
high rcpute to contribute, in order to
attract customers; and, secondly to guard
against too dogma tic adherence to this
school or that in their own decisions on work.
All human beings are liable to err, even the
lady chairman of committee on pottery or
cnrfnins esneciallY if she cannot free her