New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-19
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY.
ITS PLANS AND PURPOSES WRONG.

IFS AIMS NOT WHAT TINY SHOULD BE-kACHANG-
ING THRONE FOR 4 CoUNTiNG-HoUsE STOOL
PICTURES NOT PROPERLY HUNG-ARrlsTs WHO
ARE EXCLUDED.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR In the experience of some persons, who,
like the writer have followed the exhibitions OF the Ma
onnl Academy OF Design for 20 years and oxh
bitOn among them all has been looked forward with
much Interest awaited that OF the present season Tie
general public had somehow persuaded itself that this
was TO he exceptional exhibition. Not, perhaps,
extraordinary but in which the old order
change, giving place TO new, and the ncwuess
promised some pleasure since, with all respect for the
generation OF artists that have brought the Academy
thus Tar on its be said the public ready for
fresh sensation On all sides heard talk OF the young
men from Paris and Munich. This year they were to
flower and rUmor ran that among them many in
eresting varieties brilliant CRAFTS old stock and
few species not found yet in any OF the sCedsmens
catalogue.
This il the nity-secOnd yearly Exhibition OF the
Academy and certainly IL not unreasonable 70 hope
that at the end of IT'S half century Of existence signs
of more vigorous manhood might be shown by the
institution. For it had become evident to the most
hopeful OF the aity that few Of the artists at home were
giving signs OF active life. Most of them were like
extinct volcanoes like sleeping volcanoes than vents
living fire. Some Of marked the places where
they had been working by considerable heaps OF
scOrH and rubbish thrown out, and others recent
went on smoking IN n lesurely sort OF way. Now and
then would send ont against the critics feeble squirt
OF angry fire running down the column OF newspaper,
but for the most they had ceased t. attract tourists
OF light up the landscape. There needed fresh blood
young heads and young hands the later Exhibition OF
tie Academy with the Exhibition OF the Water
Color Society Cor the present year. had made plain that
this new life il II were TO come at ALL must come from
outside
HOPES NOT FULLY REALIZED.
The hopes thus raised have been only in part fulfilled.
Most Of he Cd mo- grpd nd
their work gives to the Exhibition nearly all the value it
has for that portion Of the public that takes an active in
tcrest in Art. This much due TO the merit of
the as to the failure Of the more prominent
among the acadcnicans TO NJ 20 their own stand
ards It will he generally admitted, believe, that all
the striking pictures in the present show the
work who exhibit in the Academy for the first
time. TO this statement, Mr. Wyatt Eaton Is the only
important exception. fIc made his mark last year, and
a very decided one, by Il serious and interesting csize
subject called Revere :" but the names OF Duyencck,
shiraw, Julian Weir Low, Millct VI ynr Chase Witt,
Anna NJ. Lea, Porter and Macy, and Mrs Whitman,
almost all unknown to New-Y0rk before this present
year. Mr. Maynard had | believe "a small picture in
last years exhibition, and his l776" on this years walls
was I'm Philadelphia ~ the Centennial Exhibition,
both Miss Lea aud 5r. Porter also among the con
trbutors to the Philadelphia Art Gallery, but, rs |
have said all OF these artists nearly to
SeW-YOrll To enough ot those among ns who
watch the growth OF Art ia America with lively interest.
the names OF al these artists were, however known, and
the Tact that ey all to exhibit this year had been
generally announced In too many cases 'he ncwcom-
crs have been inaospably treated by the Hanging Com
miltce, and quality OF their work must often he
guessed at for il cannot always be well seen The Hang
ing Committee has certainly done some things for which
its individual ucnbtIs would ilnd It difficult, III their
private capacity, to give COOL excuse. IL Is not, per
haps reasonable to discuss the in which contribI
tlons have rejected but OF these ought not to
Z "a. oh if.far has moor
felt OF tate in Young scUlptof-Mr. Augustus A. Gau-
dcns-but tie publa las had small opportunity to learn
anything o the quality o his taicntd bust OF secretary
Eyarts sent to the Philadelphia Exhibition, and some
small figures designed for Tiffany * Co.. the syersmts.
and also shown Philadelphia comprising. believe,
all that he has exhibited We have 50 few mcn who have
shown any real talent sculpture 1--WE have had am
bilious stouccuttcrs in plenty and spoiled sonccutters
in peHty many IL not tine least u the good
promises held forth to the Exhibition that piece o
Mr. a. Gaglenss work was TO be there THIS was reck-
oued On with certainty for the sculptor had been cX-
prcssy invited by member o, the Hanging Committee
To send his work and he has complied. But when the
Exhibition opened Mr. \. G,udruss model not TO be
found and on inquiry it was learned it had been re-
cctcd II was thought at first that this was because tle
piece was q sketch But the reason given was, that
there was no room Meanwhile, the inarble-topped
heater in the called by courtesy the Sculpture
Room large enough have held Mr. A. Gaudenss sketch
little heads each as large an apple silly bits
OF trinng an artist should have been ashamed to
send or an Academy to accept. Mr.. ODonoYans
bust Of SIR Il Clear. OF the Hanging COMMITTEE,
had room found outside the Sculpture Room, but
inside OF outside Of IT, there was no room found or
Mr. \. Cautions! How the artist whose work mas been
thus rudcy rejected may feel have knowledge, hu
orr concern with the matter is purely selfish one; we
think only Of the wrong done 10 ourselves as members OF
the community We 20 the Academy 10 see and euJoy
what is being done by the young men OF promise: we
hear them talked Of in society in the street. IN the CLUBS
we are told they have something in the Academy;
and then we find that some small Jealousy or silly
wlnsy, among the men in power has deprived us OF
pleasure TO which We had right.
A YOUNG ARTIST UNJUSTLY TREATED.
Mr. Maynaris case is more absurd Mr. MAYNARD Is a
Young artist who has been studying in Antwerp, ana
studyin 10 somc purpose. He sent two pictures 20 thc
Exhibition Portrait of Secretary Eyarts, and l716,'
this latter "A soldier OF Revolutionary time Inc
1875" accepted and hung IN good place IN the
South Room. His Portrait OF hr EYarLS was rejected
because a member OF the Hanging Committee did not
consider il a good likeness! II is possible that
Mr. Evarts though he must nave allowed the picture 10
he sent did not himself think it good likeness, Dut
once sent in, no member oil the Hanging Committee hu
right to reject it for it, want OF resemblance Their
business is with pictures pcturesthey are not eaed
upon t. take sides on question Of like or not ke Be
sides If this element be once allowed TO enter into iuds
inent where shall one stop Why, II likeness to the
subject be necessary adult the so-caed Portrait OF MI
Parlc Godwini Why admit the socalled Portrait Of Mt
walt Whitman Why admit the so-caled PORTRAIT OF
Mr. StoughtOn! Here are three men OF individually anu
force each Of them saudng for something vital III INC
community. And We to be told that these pictures
~ which In the catalogue their attached are
admitted because they good portraits When Without
knowing the originals personally we know from the
work they have done the part they play IN the world,