The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-21
NUDITY SHOWS.
Eminent Opinions and Suggestions on Pre-
vailing Art Topic in England.

Eminent Opinions and Suggestions ON a Pre-
vailing Art Topic in England.
Pail Mall Gazette.
am more disguised thar can find words to
express at the pruriency of the prudes who are
writing to the Times to complain of the mmor-
atty" forsooth, of some of the most admirable
pictures of the year. The universal indignation
excited among all right-thinking men and wom-
en- by the protests of British Matron," as
we'll as the admirable letter of can English
Girl" encourage me to believe thatthe propitious
moment has arrived for announcing project
which have long cherished, and which l am
sure needs only to be mooted to receive the most
enthusiastic support OF all true lovers OF the di
vine art of Apelles and of Titan.
propose to open an exhibition in the vicin-
ity of the Academy and the Grosvenor, in which
the art-loving public will be permitted to see,
mot through glass darby" and not even as
painter, the perfect representation of that most
beautiful object In nature, the hiiman form in
all its native loneliness, unadorned. Instead Of
displaying copies, / shall exhibit the originals,
to inspect which at present it is necessary to
make at least some pretense of studying with
view to follow the artistic profession.
propose to exhibit Andromeda in real life,
chained with real chains to a real rock; Hypatia,
Invested of the last vestige Of her raiment, will
be seen clinging to the great cross Aphrodite
will rise once more beautifully alive from the
sea foam; ATLANTA will once more run her race
and all the lovely women and radiant goddesses
of classic lore will be presented in the most char
acteristic attitudes, to fill the minds of toll
ing myriads with visions of beauty and sugges-
tons of the highest art. None of my originals
will be dressed more than Mr.. Poynter's Diadu-
mene but all will be true to life-true to nature,
and therefore true to art. Nor will l confine
myself to studies in the nude to one sex. Nor
only heroines and goddesses, but all the classic
heroes and demigods, will pass before the eyes Of
the spectator nor will spoil the contour Of the
limbs of the Drawny Hercules by so much rs the
skin of the Nem@an lion.
Nor will ] heed the clamor Of 'the feeble and
prurient Of both sexes" who would, as the Sat-
urday Review so truly says, ''have had to sneak
bushing around Paradise"
These ignorant and uncultured persons must
have forgotten Charles Kingsey's words about
his untutored repugnance to the pictures of
naked women in Dulwich gallery:
II have learnt to view these things differently
now, thank God. have learnt that to the pure
oil things are pure. l have learnt the meaning
of the great saying--the foundation of all art as
we'll as of all modesty and Of all love-which
tells US how the man and his wife were both
naked and not ashamed"
Why those who object to my gallery must
regard the Fall as very fortunate event. With
out the fall there would have been no clothes
I am quite sure however, that, despite these
puritanical protests my art gallery would be the
most popular in London THOROUGH