The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-06
gBE NI1IONAL ACADEMY

numbers IN lis ffNNlNGnt ana ~ tne most
in,crcstug instructive. and encouraging dis
,my that We have had. 1t DOES not suggest
hat there is any immediate need of cnlarging
nc galleries. although the Exhibition Com
tnlticc H. uuo r-iool a. huyc rcjrct,d over four
hundred t.turrs. On the contrary. it is owl
dent that There if plenty Of room for all tho good
pictures tiUt are likely 10 be- presented for It's
atccpt nee for som" time to come and yet adj
nit ~ the JcHdcmirihns rr, serving their ira
duoual modcsy and the occupancy OF the
"lno.' THIS exhibition is tho best hung that
We have hnd Tor some time Tut there aro new
Crthclrss. IN places that in the eyes Of tho unso-
Illustrated public imply more or less merit
te,cral pictures for which the only apologize
explanation that can be offered is that they arc
~ acadcmciaus.
The title Of IN. A." covers multitude OF
tns and confrrs a right to paint and exhibit
with impunity. II Is sort Of unlimited in
diligence that aOsolvps from all the ordinary
niscomiorts of mere stupidity and ignorance
mud from e"ery other penalty. except exposure
u tho imp ...cnces OF unsympathetio criti-
t.snL However. there nrc sanguino people
who look over the present exhibition and
tccomc enthusiastic enough 10 express the
Lope that something like a sense OF patriotism
may yet be- kindled In the hosoms VI prominent
ucplomcians and cause them to refrain from
rNhi ting their own pictures or course this
Is rank optimism and implies too much Of a
blind faith in human uuture but it must be con-
lees I'd thero uld bo something lofty and in
tpt,n- in the spectacle Of an ncadcmican of a
particular rank thus immolating himself on tho
llar NJ modrsty. 1t would even mako one re-
t.cuci to the somewhat inhuman idea OF ex-
posing ono or two noted painters to the danger
~ being left Glone with their own works aud
ul,o o. dispcns INK with some of the moro dis
Unity amusing features Of the annual oxhi-
lions.
In the n'ty-fourth annual exhibition there is
n Ore picture that creates "a sensation. no
frame iu front OF which 1t is necessary to erect
hrd.liug 10 restrain a too eager crowd OF spec
liiors. rs occurs sometimes at the Royal
Academy besides. whatever tendency to
tr-.t.onn'ism there is among our artists
N present Is Of n much moro wholesome
character than that which distinguishes mod
trn English art The latter has an interest Of
M, co1r.rr. popular kind. while ours can at
lric bot limited number Of people. being a
matter % mere technical exploitation. IN clabo.
ration 90 method rs distinguished from method
n elaboration. There Is no one picture that
marks new epoch. but after looking carefully
over the Who'll" exhibition ones impression OF 1t
lsthat denotes step forward all along the line;
hat Tie work j. moro serious and thoughtful
Than horeio'orc that there is more sincerity In
hadr per appreh ms ion o. motive. a broadcrar-
isuc grasp. and more honest independence and
originality and less conventonalIsm and ser
Witty than any Academy collection has yet
disclosed. Poodle who think it necessary to
have something in such an exhibition to rhap-
Eod.z' over may have some difficulty in finding
place whore they can warrantaby pose. but
hc general effect of the pictures is cheerful
rulNruiuE. and wholesome. There are several
bathaye the old OVERWHELMINGLY but they are
in some happy way spirited into places where
they do as little harm rs possible. Even the
regular annual outrages are displayed upon
he line In a Christening fashion and in such re-
laon TO adjoining work that they are mitigatcd
md -oi,encd a. 90 their more obvious aspcrities
II Is very agreeable 70 be able e. feel In this
Way about an Academy exhibition. and every
one who has any real or heartfelt interest in the
progress OF art in America must experience "A
H-Hse ot eradication az the general impression
That is produced by this years pictures. The
course Of the Academy. too has been marked by
good sense and discretion in its method Of
meeting the issue advanced by the Society OF
American Artists. and 10 that society and the
Ideas and purposes by which it WAS actuated.
And which inspired its adhWents among artists
and its supporters among the public must be
attributed tho recent beneficial change in the
bilrlt OF the Academy. Onf N 700 APT 10 loTket
or overlook the difficulties that beset hanging
Committee. particularly when one recollects
that probably some one member OF II Is all the
Iimo absent, So that the remaining ones can
hang his own contribution with severe Impair
tiality. The work this year is in the main done
with great fairness and iberality. indeed as
fairly and literally "a is possb under acad-
envy rules and personal privileges 50 that the
customary qualification Of roundly abusing
the committee and imputing improper motives
90 its members cannot be had Failing tina, here
tofore commonly available method Of intro
Gucing the subject it is instead a graceful thing
30 congratulate the Academy upon what it has
done upon the interesting exhibition it gives
the public upon its assumption Of more dig
nlcd attitude toward art with which its re-
latious had lately grown somewhat obscure
RnG 10 express the hope that II will not stop
at It's present concessions. but will permit
itself to be encouraged to further justification Of
itself and fullment Of It's supposed purposes
and uses. Although there IL room and cause
for the Society OF American Artists and
although the general motives and spirit Of that
body ought to be sustained, yet one may be par
c0nc1 Tor suggesting that the moro the Acade-
my b, stirs itself TO crush and quite obterate
III" younger institution. the better. No one Is
much concerned at any prospe Of the Acad-
NHif = bH|'tfAlhS ia rlAiA u AtslElt buA lh'Ee
can be no doubt that the common cause will be
helped along by stirring the Academy up and
nrousing il to spirit Of downright vindictive-
Iess.
lne landscapes Of the exhibition should re-
oeyn careful attention. not only because they
sr' utrinsicay interesting, but because they
furnish very straightforward AMI convincing
evidence OF the quality Of work that can be done
a. .omr II is worth while 10 compare the
Aneri'a landscapes with some Of the more or
- exotic work exhibited, and determine tho
.lt'ye artistic value and importance Of the re-
hat- hat are attained. Tho difference Is. Of
"t.-'. mor' apparent when one examines the
i'r.i-n SUBJECTS that have been treated in New
b.. studios. and of which annually far too
i..y are produced; hut the point Of special
ST is that the work that is distin'tiycly
American comprises iy far the best that there
J. lA the exhibition. There is not much OF it,
certainly not nearly 10 much as there should
l.; nut thore L. enough 10 show very conclu.
tNalY that il is the best, As each succeed
INK exhibition brings this fact more and more
llHt4tucuty before artists and the public, we