The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-08
AN ARTISTS INDIGNATION,
THOMAS MORAN'S PICTURE EXCLUDED
BY A HANGING COMMITIEE.
Some Trouble In the society OF American
Artists-Wnr Among the Young Feiiows-
Pictures Withdrawn from the Exhibition.


Tho news that picture offered by the
well-known American painter. Thomas Moran.
for tho second exhibition OF the Society OF Amer
lean Artists had boon thrown out by the Hang
ing Committee. spread rapidly among tho
artists OF the city yesterday. The Hanging Com
mittee OF the society consists OF Homer Martin.
J. Alden Weir. and VIM. NJ. Chase. all young
fellows" while Mr.. Thomas Moran cannot bo
ranked as an - old fellow" for he Is only AZ
years OF age. lie was born In Bolton. Lanca-
shire, England and came to this country
when only years old. He was appronticed TO
an enRraver at 16. but became a landscape
painter at 10. although he never studied undor
any master. From 1861 to 1866 no studied
much in England. Franco. Italy and Switzor-
land. under various artists-among others Tur-
nor, the great English marine painter. About
1871 he accompanied an exploring expedition
to tho Yellowstone River. and on his return
painted THE Grand Canon OF the Yellow
stone" on canvas by 12 feet He subse-
quently visited many parts OF the West. includ-
ing the valley OF tho Yosemite and the cahons
on the Colorado River collecting studios. and in
1878 painted " The Chasm Of tho Colorado"
mate to his Grand Canon OF the Yellow
stone" These two paintings. which were
bought by Congress for $4,000. were the first
landscapes over purchased by the Government.
Among his other works are Balboa Discover
ing tho Pacific" Salvador Rosa Skotching
Banditi." "Childe Roland" Autumn on the
Wissahickon." Tho wilds OF Lake Su-
wopGs %as wrrs Trs'R Gods FS First storm TSn
LanS LSTs'SS and s9bc s eSso soTp1ITis S InsS
lence,,-nll. painted before 1871. His pictures
have been for many years prominent in Ameri-
years Younger. has acquired some celebrity as
painter OF animal and marine subjects. and
third brother. Edward. is also noted princi-
pally Hs marine painter. -
HIS latest work was largo picture OF Tho
| Nations Receiving Bartholdls Statue Of Lib
| orty.' Tho SCENE was laid In New York llar-
bor. and the picture contained a view OF the
statue surrounded by tho vessels OF different
| nations at the instant Of grand JeI de JOE.
| Mr. Thomas Moran's reputation has been that
| OF one OF the most original and strong OF the
| young American painters and he is ranked by
| many ms ono OF the leading landscape painters,
while in certain departments ot II he is placed
at the head. He has been a pugnacious opp2.
| presence among tho young fellows" Is an in
dication that he sympath2ed with their move;
| mont. Some Of the latter. however. have held
| that he WAS mn imitator. and painted sometimes
| like Dia2 and sometimes like the prominent
| expononts OF tho Munich school.
| But. compared with Mr. Moran. the Hanging
| Committee are held to be comparatively un-
known They hive number OF their own pic.
| lures in the exhibition now in progress Mt
therefore challenged. criticism OF themselves
| by other artists. Mr.. Chase has been for short
| time Professor In the Art Students League.
He has placed in the exhibition four pictures
| Church" -" In Bapiistery Of ST. MARKS" and a
| Portrait OF Mr., Frank Duyencck.' >, Mr. j.
has ssr m he nE 9 three sae hGaS@s pdres
| =" Interior 81 n Carpenter shop" study Of a
Head" and In the Park" Mr.. Homer Mar
toe. placed in the exhibition four OF his own
pictures. all . on the line" VIZ: The summer
study on Racquettc Lake" and Evening on
| ~ ~
were two in number; one was large Canvas A.
| by feet a Srene in Florida" tho other was
arXut m nY = lgonss, %o99 in'tIo, enara n',,,r
| The small one tho c. nmittec accepted. and
| placed on ne me, but mo large one tho scene
| ~ was not worthy oi a plnce ON the line, and
| concluded To- rcturn Il to Mr.. Moran rather than
| rick public offence or inIurc It's sale by hang
Mr Moran visited the exhibition yesterday
| unaware of the futc OF his large picture. and
| wa- surprised that it was not hung. He found
| some oi the Hanging Committee. ana indie-
| turc WINS unjust lie refused IN permit his pic
'uro. which ihcy had ac'rptdi To rgnain
| IN the exhibition. and Withdrew II in
| nigh dudgron. declaring thnt ha would resign
| his membership and cuthis picture ont ot the
| irume II u WAS not taken down. Some ~ hls
| and Wordsworth Thompson withdrew th 'ir pic
| tures. They protested that tho treatment ~
| Mr. Moran was unjust; that he was not one Of
the old fellows, tut Wa really a Young TEL
| low" and his picture was strong picture.
| lhe committee We're. however, nhln nous
and firm. Thev maintained that Mr.. Moran :
large picture was not up 10 the highest standard
Of the society that II was not worthy "a, repre-
picture, which they had given place OF honor.
They said they had not placed aU their
s BY Re se to Oi give IS
nence 10 the best work Of the society that they
we're not appointed 10 give any other judgment
than their own, but were perfectly willing 10
submit their judgment to the decision OF thoir
The society Of American Artists consists Of
| twenty-six members, mostly young men with
ideas of art widely differing from those that
| prevail nt present among the academicians.
some OF the members, are however members
Of the Academy. either ASSOCIATE ~, or active
Mordsworth Thompson. Thomas Moran. Chas
II. Miller Il. swain Clifford. Vice
s'GgS SSrso o2@an T6e Su secro
tary Of the society is Francis Lathrop
and the Treasurer. Frederick Dielman; They
| Academy exhibition that aroused n good deal OF
opposition among the young men, who ielt that
the Academy had not tho right spirit to dc
what ought to be- done iOr tn" promotion Of art
Ing themselves with the Academy. determined
to start the Association Of American Artists
not AS an opposition to the Academy, nut for tht
hurp9se OF hTlnGng before 5ne bubhr ,Nilf Wnh
10y the Academy. and what, in their opinion
was unJustly excluded Walter Shiraw, N,
Mich in 1870 and remained there eight years
His first picture in tho Academy. The SherI
| NNthFllk IN IuNuIlut hltIh'hh u kp'h nNhi N
attention. In fact. 1t was 50 good thai
hints were given that Mr.. Shiriaw must have
had assistance. When, however, he took
studio in tho city. md painted portrait Of him
self and The Bather," which attracted epua
notice in the next exhibition OF the Academy
he was erected member; But he sym
pathiz,d with the young fellows" and gath
cred enough about him 10 start the Society %
American Artists who now present ht Kurt
Gallery 1877 pictures. which they claim are bet
ter oxponrnts OF tho most advanced idea,
| Of American art than can be found a
| the Academy exhibitions. The younger artists
| even those who belonged to the Academy ~
we'll as those who could not get in, are cnthus
astic in their praise OF the new departure. an
) aver that now there is n liyo institution tia
| will bc fair exponent of American art, nm,
. not like the Academy. place whore those wht
| are in are too jealous or too biEotcd to perml
Y rising genius to have fair show" The'
| | hayo not limited the choice OF picture
| In tho present exhibition to the work Of the"
| own members, but have accepted whatever worl
was offered that they deemed TO be up TO the
4 | mark. Among those accepted and placed in
good position on the line il nn interior hy jane
a | Whistler whose recent contest with kuskln ii
0 the English law courts has mnde him famous
v | The Committee do net deny that they have re
! | iectcd some good pictures, but they insist lha
| they have not reiected any that are better thai
o | those they have accepted.