New-York tribune., 1886-04-28
AMERICAN ARTISTS SPEAK
PROGRESS OF THEIR WORK IN FRANCE
INTERVIEWS WITH GERONE AND OTHER PAINTER,
-FFFFCfs OF ANRHIChV T.RrPP
fBY rhnfY
C0pwtcti 1886, North Hnertcan labl1 y,,sco

ican tlrifI and asserted that rch Americans will
buy foreign works Of art regardless of the tsritf
He also declared that the tarii only iuinred A,oeri
can artists for they were compelled 10 come 70
rance TO study good art Me.ssonier re-
fused to talk on art topics, saying that be was too
old TO give an opinion. Alexander Harrison An
American artist in Paris, writes 20 The TRIBUNE
representative that the tariff Il Only prctext for
squeezing strangers III France. especially Ameri.
cans. The opinions of Miss Boggs and Henry Bacon
are gwen. Following is the talk with GerOmo
nave not seen this years Salon. IT'S many years
nee gave mp my duties as Juror. There has been a
change Ia art durhg years. SO easy to
say whether tho cnange has been for the better or
worse.'
"Do you think the influence OF Manet and his fol-
lowers Qt the Impresslonist school Sill arr
81 do not consider Name, painter by any
means aud do not think lis alone had great
innuence. He only OF several painters OF the
same kind certainly the talented under present
conditions OF society Fame does not always come to
the man who does the best work. There 10 much
moderately good work done that only artist who
pants eccentric. sensational attracts attention.
while the painter who goes working hon stly and
| simply gets little reward"
To what do you attribute the present excellence Ia
techniquep
"Tis to several causes, chief Of which earnest
study in art schools"
lis itdue TO superior management In the EcDe Ma.
hon0te des Beaur 1rtsr
Not at all GJyernnent has nothing TO DO with the
school except to hnd money It has 10 influence
the students Photography has hal great effect np)n
art particularly in enabling artists to study details Of
nature more closely. Instantaneous photography IA
valuable TO the artist who how to IA AXE OF
without copyingit He studies 1t foundation for
his picture 1t especially useful for the OF
action Of birds their nj Sht animals Ia moton
uen the artist in travelling secure hundreds II
photographs OF foliage architecture aud scenes that
would take too long To sketch The photograph gives
MIN all the details Unfortunately. th, very fact
what influences artists OF to-day 10 too much Into the
mere copying OF and ignore Imaginative AMI
atiye work. But then technique aud masinatoa In
rise and fall In OF ike the waves II tho
Technique is top OF the wave to-day, 1t viii
ttmorrow be Superseded Oy anotner Hood OF sentiment
and that again Oy technique. They merely aiisrIate'
In regard to the American tariff on paintings OF
tOTeg artists GerOme said:
IL will not interfere with the treatment Of American
urtisCs exhibiting III the sa.on. Tney viii Dc trea Cd
just their works merit. French arlsts take per-
sOnal interest IN great many American artists. nave
brought out number of them myself and want them 10
succeed There several Anericans-too many OF
them recall who have much talent The ain
Is foolish. but 'Ls useless 10 say more about
IT, Twill not interfere with the sale Of
pictures however, for they luxures bought oy the
rich only, and If a rich American wants picture ho
will buy II It does nave to 80 per cent tarh
4 tarlt hurt DAD artists, Dut IL VIA lre
good ones If twould drive out OF art few huahred
students 1t would be Deueht for there are TOO many
students In the held who Will never De ADe TO
make living. Some OF tnem must abandon art or
s,arve, aud the they do one or the other VIII
bo the better for IT'S bad policy, however, for
America " art she ought to encourage artists
Al home and as artists be where they hnd COOL
art II the keeps OF AmericAIt hlrs Aneri-
can art only and foreign, for tncn the American
student here to study hue pictures Alter he
gets nere he stays. There are many good American
artists but they In Europe and they Will md is
to live here until America secures SOod "orAs
home"
AIeissonier's studio il in large new building at
the RonIavard Mainsharbes and Rue Fnrtuny, op
pose the hotel occupied by Sarah Bernhardt Till
il was seized by creditors 1t was no easy Job to
Obtain an interview with MeIsoOnIer, but 1t was
elected through the kindness of hls son. When
asked his opinion on modern art he shook his head,
saying:
"Ihave no opinion about art know nothing about
It. an art critic"
"How do y)u think art OF to-day compares Win that
OF a score years agot'
"Oh. no, no. Idon't want to express an opinion
about my brother artists"
"Do you exhibit any thing in the Salon this yearl"
"No. atn too old for aud know nothing about
art whether II Is progressing or retrosradins"
Saying which he returned to his work, for though
too old to express Opinions. he Is not too old to
paint He Is the only great French artist able 10
speak English. Alexander 4Iarrison, the Well
known American Artist IN Paris. wrote to INK
tribune representative the following statement
regarding the foregoing topics:
The French have always squeezed strangers in tho
Salon and tho passage " the Am rlcAn Congress OF
80 per cent tar law them the pretexttaey desired
for squeezing tighter For Two Oh thiee years OeIore tho
Tax Was imposed the American show OF pictarss was
brilliant aud uurewardei The French had IN addition
TO their patriotic fear OF the rise Of
strong American school which would deprive them OK
their ucst market The repeal Of tue law to day would
do much 20 modify their treatment or Americans, bur
could mend state OF things altogether. rhere
have always been mcmDcrs or the jury In minority
who have fought for good art irrespective OF
nationality but they have been opposed by strong
Clique still existing who swear no American
snail have a medal till the tariff law Is
ealed The fight among the jury has at times almost
come 10 blows There ths year, perhaps, less incIl-
nation than formerly hold the Paris-Amercan artist
individually responsible for the tariff Many medals
would have to be gwen Americans however H. orderto
landing aud tins not to be hoped foE
looks AZ though shah ali be placed this year Last
year vi tno bes places IN The sAoa were gwen
Americans who thore to favor aritrepeh by max
ing brilliant examples. They passed uuie" "aried. Tho
Er,nchmau entertain the idea that the American artist
issc himself political power As to tho present state
u ART can only say there rule for great men who
are phenomenal, aud Corot Aud MiIiet were such Tue
French OF art seems to have advanced u all us
branches Tue amount OF talented work produced
avery wear Is surprise even artists Really great
work Ike really great men Is rare oi course LSoor
ssyns machinory providing quickly for material w'hUs
leaves ger OF energy aud talent Tor the arts
than has beeu ever before. Hence tner eAsuhS
and increasing Importance Hence the NetSstih'y''a
t,e art of to-day aud the difficulty OF CLASSIFY ns IL
lance Also the critics Where it finally tends
no one say"
Miss Boggs, one of Geromos best pupils, winner
Of one of the twenty-five thousand-dolar prizes At
New-lork last year. SAID
.wLa. Is known ~ La granite print"e Is deais far