National Republican., 1880-10-04
ARTATIJiE CAPITAL.
Tho Washington Art school aud the Acnd-
euy of Fine Arts.

Tho Washington Art school aud the Acnd-
emy of Fine Arts.
The Washington art school, under the d.
roction Of Mr.. Clare Messer, commences its
autumn session this week amid favorable con-
ditions and In tho cclat of assured sucocss.
Taking into consideration the difficulties re-
moved In the past, the obstacles surmounted.
tho genuine progress made IN tho right dircc-
tion, it may be added, brilliant success. There
W as tlmo when The Washington art school
was an oXperim ent, whose results were
shrouded In uncertainties. 1t had no backing
but tho quiet, persistent resolution OF
Its founder aud tho few artists and
friends of art who saw the necessity
for its maintenance, and believed that tho dif.
fuse and the latent art spirit in the capital
might be focused, so to speak, 10 lis support.
And animated by these convictions, an pro-
fOundly impressed with the Importance, the
utility, the beauty of the enterprise they
backed, it's founders laborcd earnestly, quietly,
rcsolutcly, and labOrcd successfully. The
Washington art school is no longer an oxpori-
ment. The session which opons this week will
be marked by tho introduction of new oppor.
tunities for advancement in the technicalities
of art that, hitherto, have not for obvious
reasons been afforded the student. Lifo
and technique classes, tho former certainly
the latter If found necessary, Will be formed.
natural, whether realistic or ideaiistic, is tho
spirit peryading the different schools Of art in
the present age, so tho teaching in this
school at least will be In strict accordance
with the demands of that spirit. Tho genuine
progress mado in tho past by students OF this
school Is a guarantee that the future standard
of excellence will bo steadily advanced. There
will he no steps backward And tho ability
or the energy Of the student will be the only
restraint, subject TO sound judgment ou the
part of tho teaching, to his onward course.
1t may bo added hore that tho earnest, pa
tient aud successful efforts of the Washington
art school In its struggles hitherto commend
It TO the generous cOuntenanGe aud active
sympathies of all liberalminded members OF
the community.
In her proposed academy of fine arts Mrs.
Imogene Robinson MOrlel contemplates a
lofty and comprehensive system OF art educa-
ton, which, IL successfully placed, will reflect
as much credit upon herself as it will confer
honor and benefit upon the country. Herself
a pupil Of the great Couture and fully trained
by that famous mister, this lady hA distin-
guiShed herself by the performance of works
which lcllow.artists uuhcsitatingly admit 10
exhibit both brilliant genius aud sovoro cul-
ture. To establish in this country an imslitu-
tion that will be to American art aud to
American artists and students what tho
Paris academy is to France, is the
object Of Mrs. Morrell. A university of art.
50 to speak, whose curriculum will he AS tech
nical MS that of any college, but which shall
embrace art In all its ralnfcatiOus, which
shall teach this science with its practical ap.
pliCation OF art rs we'll as cultivnts tho
theory of painting is the range of her idea.
Believing that there Is u science as well rs an
art, so to speak, Of tho tiue arts,
Mrs. Morrcl would havo tho student ~
profoundly versed in the principles uf the
former as sho would have him adept in tho
tcuhnicalities Of the latter. The undertaking
Is vas. enc, but the lady briugs
genius, enthusiasm aud executive abil-
ity TO its support, aud sho viii NOT
fail to receive the encouragement Of
all frioud5 OF art, An enterprise however.
which is national in its character comnonds
itself to national sympathy, ard II is to bs
hoped that It's fllfiment will not b. allowed
to languish or br retarded for tho Lack OF bat
material support so necessary to the practical
realization of all idoa5 having so Wide scope
and range. Tho academy Of hna arts is now
ready TO begin its work, au,l the oucOugagcmont
it has already received, besides being cheering
TO its founder, renders II probable that rs II
advances its prospects Of ultimate reali uion
will become brighter and better Till complete
md triumphant success DO assured