The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-18
pecial CORRESPONDENCE of the Star.

oNOOhhA4Nt Az 1--WE ASs
] have been much interested in an ar
ticle which recently appeared in the
STAR, under the caption of "The Art
Museum" For me personally, art,
Theoretically as well as practically, has
great fascination, and it was therefore
with genuine pleasure that | learned
through the judiciously treated article
In question of Cincinnati's high esti-
mate of the value of department of
human activity which, when considered
in all its ramifcations, contributes, per-
haps, more than any other to the devel-
opment of the best and loftiest instincts
of which the soul is susceptible, except
ing only those instincts which tend
toward the Creator, and which are known
as the religious instincts. And when We
consider the close relations existing be-
tween the aesthetic and religious emo
tions, and how largely art enters into
religion as an aid to devotion, we may
we'll say that there is no department of
human activity which art may not pene-
trate with its golden beams, gliding, mel
lowing, clarifying. Cincinnati is, there
fore, taking wise step in fostering the
art instinct, whether that instinct tends
toward mere utility or takes the nobler
form which blossoms forth in pictures,
statues and temples. And / am glad to
see the STAR devoting so much space to
the subject-an evidence of wisdom and
appreciation that l should rejoice to see
in many other journals throughout the
United States.
Just at the present moment we are en-
tering upon the second week of our Art
Exhibition, and that you may judge of
the progress Brooklyn has made in the
same road upon which you of Cincinnati
have so bravely set out, Ipropose to take
you in Imagination through our beauti-
full art building in Montague street, in
Producing you to some of the most pre-
cious of its treasures, though first, how
ever. painting for you as graphically as
] can the spectacle of beauty and fashion
presented there on reception night.
The sky is overcast but the air is not
chilly, and from the attire of the crowd
passing toward Montague street one
might almost fancy the month October
instead of November. Carriages are
passing, and when we turn from Court
street into Montague we find long line
of distinguishing equipages drawn up
on the left hand side of the way, each
waiting its turn to discharge its richly
attired occupants at the entrance to the
exhibition.
In moment more we are at the stage
end of that grandly massive building,
the Academy of Music The building
is sseveral hundred feet long, and through
every one of its numberless windows the
light is streaming, while from within
steal out upon the night breezes the
sweet strains of distant music. Finally
we come to the entrance, and, if we are
only an ordinary member of the Art
Association, we enter here; if, however,
we are Director, we continue on fifty
or more feet until we reach the steps
leading to the magnificent temple that
seme of our most cultured and wealthy
citizens have reared as monument of
art. But let us follow the throg enter
ing through the Academy of Music
doors.
First a great lobby confronts us;
through this we pass, then through swing
ing doors into the inner lobby, where the
ladies find their cloak and dressing-rooms,
with servants in attendance to help them
divest themselves of their wraps. But
being Of the male persuasion, we pass up
several flights of stairs to the gentlemen's
hat rooms where, having relieved our
selves of oyercoat, hat and umbrella, had
our Swallow taiP' brushed, and our shoes
polished, we are in readiness to go on the
floor. If we have lady, we descend to
the second lobby, and await her appear
ance. If not, we descend to the second
floor, turn to the left, and find ourselves
in the Assembly Rooms of the Academy
of Music. At once we are in the midst
of dense crowd. Elegant toilets are
about us in endless profusion, and we are
almost afraid to move lest we tread on
silk or velvet, or brush rudely against
some beautiful diamond-encircled arm.
But we quickly find that the crowd is
moving methodically around the sides of
the room, and are not long in discerning
the cause in the paintings that line the
walls. Here on our right is humorous
painting by Ludwig Blume, the promis-
ing pupil Of the great Kaulbach, Of Mu-
mich, who died few years ago. Then
come porcelain plaques decorated by
John NJ. Falconer and others; then rich
collection of water colors, a number of
them grouped under festuon of Grape,
in memory of the deceased artist, John
w. Hill, and others (water colors) the
work of A. F. Bellows, John Faulkner
(R. H. Az, IF. Cropsey, James D. Smil-
lie, ]. Wells Champney, E. G. Dibdin and
others; then come delightful etchings
from the New York Etching Club and
John NJ Falconer, William Hepburn and
others, and then over a hundred oil
paintings possessing claims to merit, but
with one or two exceptions Of little in
terest except locally. Passing through a
small room containing few busts and
some specimens il" black and white, we
suddenly emerge into the Art Gallery
proper, for we have stepped from the
Academy Of Music into the Art Build.