New-York tribune., 1886-04-27
THE SALONS INDIGNATION.
AMERICAN ARTISTS AND THE TARIFF.
OPINIONS OF THE JURY on THE ADMISSION Oh
PAINTINGs-AMERICAN WORKS sLIGHrlNoLY
MENTIONED
lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.
Coppricht; lSsC; North AmcricIn tdJIs NetCs Co

day and on Saturday the public will be admitted
The representative of The TRIBUNE to-day called
upon NM. Bouguereau. Duran. Constant. all mem
bers of the jury which decided the fate OF the paint
ings offered for admission They all agreed that it
difficult from the hurried glance they had
given at each one OF about eight thousand paint
ngs to express opinion as to the excellence OF
any. But they also agreed that in average quality
the array of pictures surpasse that Of the Salon
last year. They united in condemniDg the Ameri-
can tariff and Benjamin Constant said frankly that
il would have an injurious effect on the judgment
respecting the works of American painters. NJ.
Turuue the Minister of Public Instruction, cN-
planned the causes of recent improvement in
French art. NJ. Bouguereau the president OF the
jury, said:
lido much about the pictures. for there
many and they passed so quickly. Sometimes
had three inmates in which to examine pictures
sometimes only half minute. As was president OF
the jury. stood facing the other members Eich pct-
placed beside ne and all could do was TO
glance down at sideways then was hurried in or ont
and another took its place Seeing eight thousand pict-
and giving each scarcely more than minutes In
specou made it impossible that few coul be i'm
pressed my memory paid no attention to the sub
ccts of pictures"
Gould Justice be done In such hasty examination ~
'Oh. yes the artist knows at g.ance whether pic-
ure good bad. II the WORK was gooi 1t was sent
in at if doubtful 1t was set aside until all were eN
Then tEose set aside were re-examncd and the
best selected"
Is favOr-m shown in the choice OF any pictures ~
"Innuence never Keeps good pictures out OF the
Salon, though it may sometimes get bal ones
in When there a choice among several poor
pictures II happens to have been painted by pup
or friend Of a member of the jury, the probabilities are
that will he chosen in preference to those by unknown
painters. Personal appeals are often made to the jury
The young student may sell his picture If 1t be admitted
to the SALON. thus be enabled to continue his studies
In the jury knowing the facts Will try hdrd
find merit to their conscience in his pct
ure. while better pictures may be excluded"
Does the American tariff pictures affect I'M jur-
ously American artists 7"
NO. GOnot think SO the tariff Is abomnable. but IT
is fault Of the American artists Americans come
Paris and teach them art "a freely "a we do our
contrymcn. and yet heavytax is put upon French
pictures ported into America The United States are
as matter OF course, chief losers by that policy.
They can never have there until they have fine pct-
urcs to study FROM Besides there Ia Nationality in
All pictures judged irrespective OF the place
whence they come"
"IIOw does it happen then, that American artlsts
do not medals, nor honorable mention T.
"Becanse their works do not deserve them. This year
not single American has sent what may call an ambi-
tou- work Moscr. Bacon. Pierce. Harrison-all have
comparatively unimportant pictures Whenever An
American does work deserving of honorable mention.
.
How does this years Salon compare in merit with
that OF last year !"
at is better than the average 1t grows better every
year"
In reply to questions about the effect of the Amer
lean tariff on American applicants for admission 10
the salon, Carolus Duran said
It will have no effect The tariff is detestable but
the Salon will not attempt to avenge France on Amer-
can artists education in art at the
Tcnfe fgfa
ds Beaur Ay other schools of Paris. and then
compete for medals the French salon. II Is shame
this is Levied but it would not be right to blame
the artists for what is done by people having interest
in art
what is your opinion of the Salon this yeari"
al think is better than last year. but can hardly
tell about till the pictures hung. scarcely
remember anything saw while sitting on the Jury OF
Admission There so many pictures presented that
the examination was necessarily hurried"
"Was full Justice done to all pictures !"
ayes; requires merely glance for the artist to see
whether pic ure good bad. Bat when he wishes
study the method the details OF the subject IT re-
quires This the jury does not attempt"
BENJAMIN Constants studio Is in a little winding
passage amid houses of appearance almost
souallid aud the contrast between the poverty
without and the luxurance within is striking. NJ.
Constant looks the practlca, business man
rather than the artist. lie, too, was a member OF
largest picture exhibited Is Constants own. He
said
"Ths years Salon is the fnestfor ten, yes perhaps
for fifteen years grows better every year. but the
Improvement on this occasion is striking not only In
the merit OF special works in the general average
There no comparison between the quality Of
the work and that done before the estab sh
ment OF the Republic"
''You think then. that the form OF the National Gov
ernment has considerable influence OF artl"
! "It certainly has. Under the Republic, noblemen
have power get their works in nor To get
those OF their friends admission to the Salon Each
artist equal chance with all the others and every
one OF them knows that merit and not arisOcrac in
Guence is required, and they work with feryor and
earnestness"
"Have times affected the prosperity OF artists in
! the last yeari'
Not at all. Incapable artists have been driven into
other business. but that Is no loss. don't think any
good artist felt the hard times In art in every
thing else the survival OF the fttestis the rule"
"In figure pictures At least, there Is great variety In
ths Salon this year OF course in s life there is more
or less monoOny there fruits. flowers, old Kettles
crockery and drapery but otherwise there endless
variety"
american tariff Well, It may prejudice the jury
somewhat, but much You know the French people
become very angry all at once; then after their
first anger is past, they forget all about the
matter When the tariff was first laid upon the pictures
OF foreign by the American Congress- artists here
were incenseG and it almost impossible TO get
American picture admitted to the Salon. II admitted, IT
almost always badly hung and 1t secured even
honorable mention. The tax foolish and detestab.e
but where's the use In publishing American artists for
the doinCs of American politicians do not think that
the tariff will have much effect awards this year for
last year even the German awarded medals so |
think there is hope for the American. II he does good
work There should be no politics IN art"
Speaking of his work in the salon, Constant
SAID he expected to take first medal since he had
been awarded a second medal last year. He men
toned two portraits by CabaDel as AIN )ng the best
works in this Salon, and the " Battle by Night by
\ p,o,ais ~ nossessing extraordinary merit Gus