The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-07
TIE NiTIONAL ACfDEMY or DESIGN

exhibition or the present year conveys Is that OF
mcdiOcriy. There are moro pictures on view
than were eyer before seen within the building,
and moro artists names appear in the cata-
logue; but no striking work challenges the Wis
itor's attention. This s particularly true Of the
large south room. to which only tho elite of the
contributions are supposed to be admitted and
where in former years one or moro pictures.
conspicuousy good or bad. were surc TO be- al
ways surrounded by groups OF admirers. There
IL no difficulty this season in passing with case
from room to room. and person hastily max
ing the rounds might conclude that native artists
are withholding their best pictures from public
inspection. This. we are happy to say. isams-
taken view. There is plenty Of work on exhibit
ton which, II not brilliant is yet of good quail
ty and gives promise OF healthy development
landscape painting was never better repre-
scented IN this city by American painters. and 1t
is interesting to notice the innovations whichfd
lowers ofthc broad. imaginative styles Of certain
foreign masters are making upon the old-iash-
toned and formal methods pursued 10y painters
like Durand or CASTELAR, That new school.
seeking to interpret the inner life OF nature and
Indifferent to external details. Is about to arise
we are not prepared to assert; but number Of
artists already show tendency in that direction.
and may in time approach the high standard
established by the French painters. Rousseau.
Daz, or Corot. each Of whom has his disciples
In this country
We are unable to record any decided improve
ment in genre painting. so far ~ the present
exhibition is concerned. In technical qualities.
and notably in cOloring our painters doubtless
excel their predecessors Of twenty years ago.
but In respect Of design or invention they are
for the most part commonplace and pucrile,
II not actually vulgar. There arc feeble
attempts to initiate modern European work
and parodies on American domestic life
which have not even the merit OF cxagger-
ated humor; but Of genuine delineations Of
national traits or characteristics the number is
small indeed Our younger men. who have
boel.. or are still, pursuing their art education
abroad may help 10 remedy this defect. but
they paint at present chiefly foreign subjects
after foreign methods. and are not yet accli-
mated to their native soil. They will in time
doubtless exercise a wholesome influence on
American art. although now somewhat In
danger Of being injured by the iniudicious
praise Of Jealous friends. Mr.. Shiraw. and
others OF this class. should remember that they
are still Observation-Disclosures Of the schools in
which they have studied, and that with all their
admitted aptitude. they must develop n certain
degree OF originality before being recognized as
American painters. Leutze. during his whole
career In this country. scarcely varied from the
methods Of the Dusseldorf school in which he
was reared. even in illustrating American
history. Ho never got out OF the groove Of
German mannerism. The Paris or Munich
bred artists who have returned. or are about to
return. to their homes in this country would
do well to avoid his example.
Por,raturc Is not especially well represented
this year. Painters Of established reputation
barely hold thoir own and with one or two bril-
liant exceptions they seem to have no success
II il fllp ID thnf uhpfoQrnphv Inns
ssfully invaded the portrait painters field .
but. nevertheless. who are to succeed Hunting
ton. Baker. Hicks. or lie Clear Conventional
ism has apparently got the uppermost in this
branch Of ant. and we IRE at loss to discover
the coming man who shall raise il TO q higher
plane. AS respects history ancient or modern.
sacred or profane, we prefer TO say nothing.
The contributions OF the present year to this
department are scarcely deserving OF comment
or criticism.
1t il. Of course. meritorious act for friends TO
take care of each other in their old age. but one
which should be- exercised with discretion and
with SINE regard for public opinion. When we
find the academicians monopozing the choice
spaces on their walls. and assigning to able ar
lists. who do not happen to be members Of their
body, inferior places. the public have n right to
complain. This is VIGOROUSLY the fact in the
present exhibition. Superannuated men elect
cd academcians 80 or 40 years ago. and whose
nr is trlte AMI convcn,!s nal 10 a degree by an
ill-Iudged iavoritism find their works hung on
the line in the principal rooms. while younger
and better painters must rise o. the ceiling or
descend to the Aoor. We respect the desire TO
remember aud acquaintance" but We prefer
that it should not interfere with an intelligent
exhibition Of American art. Why for instance.
should really clever work by shirlaw be con-
demned 10 the small. l-lghted room formerly
assigned to the few specimens Of sculpture
which the Academy annually accepts. while a
dozen or moro bad p.turns occupy prominent
places elsewhere
In the south or principal room u the Academy
we find most Of our prominent landscapsts rep
resented. and. as rule, the best Efforts in all
departments are 10 be seen there. Inness has
two pictures Nos 49, The Morning sun" and
$50. The Rainbow" Both are painted with
breadth and yigor. and after methods which are
certainly gaining favor on this side the Atlantic
OF elaboration on finish there is scarcelya trace
but trees. SKY. rocks. and atmosphere are rem.
d"roi in the artists rough suggestive way with
considerable cffcct. The danger attending this
style is that the painter misses tn mark some
times as obviously rs he hits it ut others Thus
Mr. inness's third contribution. No. 3Sl. " The
Alter Glow il much inferior to the other two
AMI 'ely WORTHY II him. Mr.. +. +. Church
Is not frequent contributor nowadays to Acad
envy exhibitions His picture this yenr. No
473 il ntitled Evening on the Sea- an,
roy tse.iis a steamship in mid-occan, with
for'lilahlc hank Of clouds projected from the
horizon upward ON which the last rays of tn,
sun are viyilly reflected. II is painted in th'
au.-l'- hard. dry STYLE but without that FELICITY
o. touch he not unr ,qu"ntly displays. Bris
t. Near IA" Franeona Mountains NN. 5il
w. 0lumrnd itself to all lovers Of New Eng