The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-18
THE "AmERIcAx ART GALLERY"


The most interesting experiment that has
been made In the matter OF bringing local art to
the attention Of the public and one In which all
our leading artists are actively concerned. Is
the establishment OF the American Art Gallery
in the kurtz building. East Twenty-third
street. MIR. L. Moore. an art dealer who has
given his attention 20 the works Of American
artists with some prominence and success dur
ing several years has associated with himself
Mr.. james +. Sutton and has undertaken TO
supply place OF public exhibition for Amerl-
can artists which shall be- permanently at their
service and which shall AFFORD them a degree OF
protection and an opportunity OF display which
the dealers have never been able to give Them
and which the different exhibitions only occa-
sionally OFFER
Artists do not commonly hold the regular art
dealers in high esteem. because they devote all
their attention to selling foreign pictures. Very
little allowance il made for the fact that art
dealers are mostly human and inspired rather
by notions OF commercial expediency than ar
tstc patriotism and they are accordingly
roundly abused as parasites who choke of and
discourage struggling native genius. The
dealers bear this treatment with more or less
resignation. but there is undoubtedly not lit
tie to be said in behalf OF the artists. who have
not had proper opportunities for displaying
aid OF business experience and shrewd-
ness In directing public attention to
them. and getting their full vnlue for
them. Art dealers who have sold American
pictures have rarely given any fair proper
ton Of the price obtained to the artist. In a
great majority Of instances there has been
much TO discourage and annoy men who have en-
deavored to reach market through the dealers.
The spring and fall exhibitions are inadequate.
and il will probably have been observed that
artists are apt 10 send to such places their least
marketable work. n consequence OF which is
that the pictures they really do sell have to go
through the hands Of the dealers. who generally
make from fifty to one hundred per cent profit
by the transaction.
1t ia designed that in the new American Art
Gallery they shall find a remedy for their
troubles, and that they have had faith In 1t. and
confidence in its general plan and manage
ment. Is shown by the fact that the display OF
pictures with which it opens is by far the finest
Of its kind that has yet been seen in New York.
Some thirty artists. including all tho best men,
contributed each a picture 10 Mr.. Moore Ms a
personal investment in the enterprise. sort OF
subscription, In return for which each receives
the right OF free admission. and Of giving recep-
tons 10 the public or TO personal friends when
he desires TO exhibit picture that he regards
not adopted this plan arc equally free TO
exhibit. subject to the ordinary regulations
and the current price Of admission. There are
al present about l4O pictures in the gallery. but
they do not include any OF the contributions
Just mentioned. They are among the strongest
and most important works that tho artists who
painted them have ever produced. and they are.
with few exceptions. much better pictures than
represent the same men on the walls OF the
Academy. They are the property Of the artists
and so remain until sold from the gallery. the
compensation Of the management OF which is
derived from some fixed commission which the
artist can very well afford TO pay. and which is
a much more tolerAble impost than he has
heretofore had to put UP with.
One might naturally suppose that such nm en-
terprise would fail. and that however likely it
might be TO inure to tho benefit Of the artists.
they would not support II. or. II they did. itwould
be In a half-hearted fashion and by sending in to
the gallery their more indifferent work. Ordi-
narily that would be Just like them; for no other
class is so little given to showing ordinary com
merca sagacity or community Of enterprise. or
is so distrustiu and careless in its business re-
latons with tho public. However. like many
other things in American art OF late. this enter
prise has turned out more happily; the artists
have foregono their usual habit and have taken
holu ol IL III ""IH'a'' anu moro cheerlul en-
couraging. and generally creditabe exhibition
than that now in the Kurtz building has not
been seen here. Tho commercial aspect OF an
undertaking like the American Art Gallery one
would not ordinarily be- deeply concerned with
but the experiment is one OF real Importance
and II properly encouraged and conducted-as
there is now promise that II will belt may be
the means OF exertinR very potent and Bone
fetal influence on local art
In addition to the general conditions Just in
dlcGted. it is intended to offer each season TWO
prizes Of $3.50 each, for the best landscape and
the best figure picture produced. One OF these
prizes will be given by the management; the
other will DO contributed by subscription. Mt a
fixed sum. on the part Of tho artists. The choice
will probably be determined By ballot among
the artists who exhibit