Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-01-01
AMONG copNsrs AND srupENTs.
A Visit to IA Corooran Gallery Of Art
Criticisms and Remarks.

A Visit to the Corooran Gallery Of Art
Criticisms and Remarks.
There is really no place in Washington
where the tourist can more delightfully."-
while away an hour or 80 than in the Cor
coran gallery Of art, especially on the
@pay-days," lor then the crowd is never
unpleasantly large and the copyists and
students are at work.
1t is a habit to underrate copyists-tO
account them only "the drudges Of art"-
that their work is mechanical, soulless.
On the contrary, the successful copyist
must have the quickest and the most
sensitive appreciation experience and
not only talent, but the most versatile tai
ent. Except the design Of the picture, it
strikes me that that there are so few great
designs, considering the number Of pict-
ures and the noble histories the world
offers-the copyist must be a. skilled In
the use of his brush as any other artist.
This week he may have an order to paint
from u masterpiece of the smooth style
and next week from an exaggeration Of
the broad school.
MAKING THE CoPYIsT JEALOUS.
Many Of the artists downtown have.
from time to time entered the gallery very
self-conscious and superior and jesting at
the "bare idea" Of their copying and max
ing the poor copyist jealous by naming
some princely sun to be paid them for go
humbling their talents. These. Wanted
artists have been further humbled by find
ing that it was with great difficulty they
could make their work satisfy the require
ments of the board. They could paint to
their own satisfaction their crude studies
from nature" but they could not follow
the many intermediate tints and tones
and reflections that go to make up some
Of the highly finished works Of the Cor
coran gallery.
A generation or so back, owing perhaps
to fewer assistants in colors, etc, it was
supposed to require half a lifetime of
study and preparation to make al artist,
now everybody takes up painting as
they would hoUsework or sewing-no
trembling on the threshold, no awe for
for the divinity of art and its great mas
ters-they push up their sleeves and rush
in "where angels fear to tread" and,
strange us itmay seem, often successfully.
Age, no matter how advanced, seems to
offer no bar to artistic ambition.
CRITICISMS AND REMARKS.
There SCENE to be perfect harmony *
listing between the officers and workers
in the gallery, the latter-mostly ladies'
are very bright and devoted to their mode
of life, and apparently derive considerable
amusement from the criticisms and re-
marks of the visiting public. as that the
infant Christ and his mother" asked a
handsomely dressed woman of a lady
copying an East Indian interior-a girl
baby, emphatically, washing the face of a
strapping ayah.
"What is the meaning of the picture on
that vase?" asked onothcr.
"Prometheus Bound"
"Bound-er-f"
"Yes, Prometheus Bound-and that is
the vulture that feeds on his liver-and
his liver is renewed every day"
as it possible?" exclaimed the awed
listener.
II see a good deal of water, but nc
spring" said O would-be critic, looking
upon a celebrated vernal landscape.
Many Of the copyists and students arc
very pretty and make very effective pict
ures of themselves when at work. A
handsome gold medal was given last yeal
for proficiency in the black and white de-
partment, and quitea crowd are contend
ing for the one to be given the end of
this term.-Washington Cor. New York
World.