Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-26
The Washington Ar. c,,h

night was made much n by all privileged to
attend, ana the cosy .;!ub rooms were found to
he quite inadequa.. ...e tn accommodate the crowd.
6y ",l,xg u-c spacious hall for the literary
TO see @..dd hear This fine hall, by the way,
ass"' RS such an admirable purpose for the uses
ot fhe Art Club in their "Sociables" that Mr.
:orcoran, who has generously given the CLUB
the present rooms, will confer great additional
benefit by allOtting this hall for its uses. The
exhibition rooms last night had goodly dis
play, including contributions by Weyl Miller.
Poole, Fisher, Browne Messer, RowZee, Turner,
MIS-. Fuller, Se1bert, Mrs. Dodge 0nd others A
panel picture by Mrs Fuller representing appl
blossoms s was greatly admired as was 81 Hover
also attracted attention as showing the rapidly
developing power Of this Dung artist. A por-
Ream Hoxte, was also much admired Lieut.
lloxie and Mrs. HoXfe have been untiring In
their exertfons to promote the interests of tn
f G9o ns ana have eeen present at
Instrumental music (pianol by Prof. King;
a report by Thomas Wilson, esq, Vice
Wolf upon art at the National Capitol, and
vocal music by Miss Edith Abel, Miss Fisher
and Miss Erni. Miss Abel, though already
known here as fine vocalist, surprised every
body by the wonderful development Of her
voice since she was last In Washington. Mr..
WIS Wilson's exposition M @ OF the progress OF the Art
tory. The organization has gained encourag-
lngly In membership and In working capacity
In January last it was determined to hold
weekly receptions on Tuesday evenings Inter-
esting and instructive lectures with recitattons,
music and social intercourse have filled up the
the music have been OF an order which would
have done credit to much more pretentious
organization. These meetings have been a
meDded that they be continued next season.
II has been decided by the club to have resident
artists compete for prize, each one to paint
picture not to exceed SO inches, all OF them to
be exhibited upon the walls of the club room,
and then to make distribution, according to
the practice heretofore; the person drawing the
prize to be entitled to make choice from the
pictures displayed. The picture Is to be worth
at least $500 and the successful artist gets the
money. The club has organized life class
consisting of about 30 members The class
holds its meetings twice week. 1t has also
been decided to purchase plaster casts for the
use of drawing class to be organized. The
classes meet in the evening to accommodate
the large number of persons who cannot pursue
such studies in the day time.
Attention was called in the report to grow
iEg and serious evil by which residents Of our
Necessity and importance OF artistic decoration. on
are Systematically and tgnOrantly deceived by
the auction sales OF pictures brought from
abroad at @ by irresponsible parties-plctqres which
really only copies done by journeymen paint
ers, hired by the day to duplicate the same
picture times without number, and then by
them at auction deceive the purchasers, who
think they are buying real when they only get
sham picture. His remarks were not intended
10 reflect upon respectfully dealers who come
here with pictures which are truly what they
are represented to be. Nor was it intended to
say anything against people purchasing poor or
signed was to protect against the importation
and sale Of pictures represented to be by emit
nent artists, which are not painted by them but
by lourneymen W hired to reproduce duplicates.
nr hy-t ioI, <I,o
sum OF from 37h cents to $3.50 each for the
canvass In concluding Mr. Wilson said that
TO accomplish the aims of the club men
these objects to be important, necessary and
laudabie. They are more for the benefit OF the
pubic than for our artists individually; to the
public, therefore, must they look for that sup
port which will enable them to carry out these
projects.
MIR. VOLTS paper was forcible presentation
OF what Is desirable and possible In the way of
especially In the line of a National Art School
at Washington. An art school endowed by
Congress would lift this nation to the foremost
ranks, elevate Its tastes, give character to its
aspirations, and in every way typify the beau
tiful and artistic in nature. and give the lie to
tne assertion that we are too material to have
Ideal tastes. Let US frown down those who by
daub and scheming lower the standard OF art.
congress has literally voted money for q ma
tioDal museum. Why not for an art school?
Why not give the amount due to the Corcoran
Nduciy ,duu tHuS lnulFectly alu Jne only art nSCl
tuition SO far existing in this city, an institution
which is but commencement. but which, il
aided, can be raised into national proportions?
The American nation, so prominent and in the
advance, must not be In the rear In the most
essential factor OF civilization, and the capital
is the center from which should radiate whole
some, refining, and cultured influence. He
urged that II Congress can endow school for
the education OF soldiers and sailors 1t can also
eDdow one for the education of artists The
time has come when we must lay broad and
deep the foundation for national art school
and gallery. The ladies and gentlemen OF the
Art Club had struggled heroically and are de-
serving OF great credit.