River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-10-23
The Nude in Art.
Appleton's journal.

1t must be remembered that while
artists, and possibly art critics, are COM
petent judges of all purely artistic mat
tiers, are final authority as to the draw
ing, the composition, the ehioroscuYo,
the texture, and the tone of any paint
ing, they are even less competent than
laymen to pronounce upon It's moral eff
fects. In all art features artists are ex-
perts; but in effects upon morals they
| are not experts-they are even partial,
one-sided judges, their personal inter-
ests being largely concerned in the YER
dict. The true experts as to the morals
of work of art are students of morals,
! those persons who make study of the
mind, of the natural tendencies of emo
ton and passion, of the laws of ethics.
These are the only persons who can be
accepted as authority in any question
of morals. This fact needs to be en-
forced, inasmuch as great mental con-
fusion exists i'll regard thereto. 1t is
continually assumed that the opinions
of artists and critics of art are authori-
tative as to the ethics of art because
they are authorities as to the teciques OF
art. This is singular mistake. Mr..
Pages opinion of the execution of
Titian's "Venus" is entitled to very
great respect; but Mr.. Pages opinions
as to the moral effect of Titian's "Ve-
nus" is worth very little by the side of
DR.. Crosby's opinion on that subject,
just as DR.. Crosby's opinion as to the
color and drawing of any performance
is of no authority whatever. This dis
tinction has not, we believe, been point
ed out, and yet it Is very clear one.
People, being dependent upon certain
authorities for instruction in the princi-
pies of art, have come to believe that
their domain extends to the morals of
art. What, we have to ask, is the OPP
inion of experts in the matter? What
do moralists say about the influence of
nude art in morals Now, there are
two classes of moralists that are almost
unanimous in their judgement. First,
there is the whole body of the people,
who, without special training, have yet
the instincts that come of moral cult
ure; second, there is the whole body of
teachers of ethics, the specialists who
make the study of right and wrong the
business of their llves-and these two
classes are nearly Of one mind as to the
propriety of nudity in art. The instinct
of modesty, for instance, is very power
full in women ofall classes and grades,
and we may be sure that the mothers,
wives and sisters of men are here nearly
of one miud-altogether of one mind, if
we except the few who, being artists or
connected with artists, or otherwise un-
der the influence of the art-theories of
the day, have forced down their instincts
and brought themselves, by series of
sophistries, to think things which il
their heart OF hearts they do not believe.
If the instincts of modesty are not so
powerful in men as in women, they are
still very general, and until reasoned
away by artistic sophistries, are sure
to be shocked at these displays in art
which in real life are never permitted.
The natural instincts of men and wo-
men are thus in accord with the dedue-
tons of moralists.