National Republican., 1880-06-19
Tho Art School vaention.

The Washington Art school, which has been
steadily and successfully in progress for cou-
siderably over n year past, under the efficient
charge Of Mr.. Glare Messer, closes to-day for
the season. 1t will reopen in October with
promise Of accomplishing greater results than
it has done in the past. This school has
slowly but surely proceeded onward TO success,
The attendance all along has been good, and
has steadily increased from the beginning.
Mr.. Messer, who is not at all of an enthusiastic
disposition, says he is perfectly satisfied with
tho progress IL has made, and feels much en-
couraged for future results
The classes up to this time have been occu.
pied with the study Of form, both antique and
life. The work has been Of a very serious aud
solid character, tho main object being TO inn
part ready and correct expression of form.
There was never any work for show. As an
evidence of the good results attained by tho
school, it may be pertinent to say that many
of the students on their first admission knew
absolutely nothing about art, but had an idea
that It was u pretty ACCOMPLISHMENT 10 bo
learned, as crochetting, for example. Some Of
tho students matriculated with the purpose of
learning in few easy lessons how to decorate
china and to copy old pictures. They did
not fancy for moment that there
was any serious hard work about 1t either OF
hand or of brain. They speedily discovered
their mistake and for fear of discarding their
ideas of studying art they bent TO it resoutely
and now are among the most earnest aud
promising of the classes. Mr.. Nesser has
never painted any rose-colOred pictures about
an art career. On the contrary, be has labored
to impress upon the minds of all the students
the fact that the road to success or to satisfac-
tion lies through tho hardest, most fatiguing
work, aud while many of them have at times
felt discouraged at the difficulties that beset
them, Mr.. Messer has the satisfaction of know
ing that they all persevered, steadily ovcrcom-
nd
cipline of character which always comes from
resolutc persistence in the attainment of an
object that can only be attained through hard
and prolonged labor.
The life class for gentlemen closed some
little while since. Up to this time there has
been no life class for ladies, simply because
Mr.. MesScr did not deem ii necessary in the
progress Of the work. Upon the reopening OF
the school in October there will probably be
formed life class for ladies. Certainly there
will be started class in painting for the
study of technique in still life. A few of the
students hitherto have been encouraged in
the study of colors, but the main and, in fact
the only object Of the school up to this point
has been the attainment of correct expression
OF form. Sufficient advancement in this
requisite has been made to justify the careful
and practical superintendent in extending
the instruction 10 colOring. As in the case of
form study, the drill in technique will bc
thorough and severe. Mr.. Messcr believes in
the doctrine Of making haste slowly. To re-
peat, the progress of the school has been salts
factory from its commencement, and there is
good promise for it in the next season. In
the past there have been MS many as forty
81 udents in attendance at one time Tho
school has never been advertised, nor have
any efforts been made to cyalt il in public
estimation by devices foreign to its work.
The director has preferred to rely upon tho
intrinsic merit of that work, believing that
the success which genuine worth would COM
mand was better in the long run than any
ophemeral ecldt produced by other means.
The result seems to prove the wisdom of his
views. The Washington Art school has ut
length so far conquered its difficulties AS to
be now upon n solid bass. There is hope
that in the next season the life class will pay
its own way. Hitherto the life class has been
carried along at the expense Of other branches.
The struggle has been severe it will crafty
every lover of art in Washington to be assured
that it seems ut last to be successful. Tho
District can and should feel proud of its art
school. Hitherto there has not been an ex.
hibiton of work at the school. This was in
pursuance of the plan that there should be no
work for mere show but for the work S sake
alone. 1t is now thought probable that IN
the future there will be periodical exhibitions
at the schoOl-rOoms. This idea however, has
not yet been fully digested or determined.
Everything will be rigidly subordinatcd to
tho good Of the classes and to their advance
ment in the mysteries Of their calling.