, 1882-06-23
Can Francisco Art Association.

most practical method Of encourage
ment @ is the purchase of good works
mot M necessarily large or pretentious),
and the dissemination Of them
throughout the community as educa-
tnrs The presence of one original
work of merit in home eclipses by
""omnarison, whatever there is with
less merit The great number of
naople consider orr iginal pictures
Entirely beyond their reach, and too
eIpensive to be thought of, and, at
tbe same time, spend as much on
rash and frames as would be re-
nnired to purchase a few good works
qTbich would better fill the place. A
nlan is being discussed by the new
Management of the Art Association,
which is intended to practically ac-
complish these objects, and which is
substantially as follows:
1t is proposed to take one-half of
,he income of the Association for
dues and initiation fees and devote
i to the purchase of pictures from
The local artist members, and to dis
tribute them gratuitously among all
the members. A maximum price to
he paid for any work will be agreed
on Prior to each distribution the
artists will be requested to submit
nictures unframed, which they will
be willing to sell to the Association
Tor the maximum price or less, which
will be placed on exhibition for a
month. A committee of business men
will have the matter of distribution in
charge, and the pictures will be dis
posed of by lot, this being for various
reasons the most practical method.
The first member drawn may take
his choice of all on exhibition, the
second his choice of the remaining,
and so on down. The Art Associa-
ton will pay for those selected only,
the others being withdrawn. Just
how many times unsolicited pictures
may be presented is question for
future determination.
The benefits arising from this plan
are many. There will be practical
popular criticism of pictures demon
strated in the choice by members.
The exhibitions will cause compari-
son and competition, which are in
centives to careful work. Each
member of the Association will have
a possible prospective interest in
every picture of every recurring ex-
hibition, and his examination will be
Of an Interested character. Twenty
or more pictures each month going
out among people who are not now
picture buyers will be missionaries OF
art to the entire visiting circle of each
family possessing them; discussion
as to merit will ensue, artists and
their pictures become known, and
art will become the fashion, which is
necessary to its success. The artists,
with the incentive of demand, will
be more liable to work, and honest
work is necessary to progress. Com
petition will inspire that work, and the
accidental superior production will
be held in higher estimation in the
minds of those who are able to pay
we'll forwhat pleases them.
The remaining half of the income
from the sources named will be de
voted to the maintenance of different
branches for the instruction and en-
joyment of art.
Mr.. Charles Crocker intends build
ing on his Post-street property, stu
ated midway between Kearny and
Dupont, an Art Building. The Art
Association will occupy the upper
part with several exhibition rooms,
large and small, large school room
for studies from casts, rooms for
teaching drawing from fiat studies,
wood carving, modelling, water and
oil-color painting, drawing from life,
and possibly architectural and me-
chanical drawing as well. The Asso-
citation will also occupy the sunny
front of one of the lower stories as a
reading-room, with retiring rooms on
either side. In this reading-room it
is proposed to have on file, in depart
ments of nationality, every illus
trated periodical of merit published
in the world, at least half Of which
We never see in existing reading
rooms. These illustrated works will
include all branches-general, fashion,
engineering, architectural, political,
humorous, and in fact all to compose
complete collection Of the pictorial
art preservative, suchas there Is not
elsewhere in the world
Two whole floors of the building
will be devoted to studios for artists,
and planned after the most approved
method, with superior north and east
exposures, which will be above every
reflection. The artists occupying
these will be enabled to hold weekly
receptions, when the public will be
invited to freely inspect the work on
the easels; and with large, swift
running elevators, every part will be
easily accessible.
The building will also contain a
music hall 10 II. by 80 It. by 45 It.
IN hight, with a seating capacity of
one thousand, furnished and finished
with q view to securing the best