New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-19
NO TARIFF ON ART WORKS.
VIEWS OF A VETERAN DEALER.

NR. sCHAUs FAvoRs TOTAL ABoLilioN UT
rrs--RRAsoSs FOR THE CHANGE
Among those who are interested In revision
Of the tariff that will not inJure the lhousoioe Va
tbe country is William Schaus. who until recently
xns a retired member OF the weI-Rno"h hiin
which was the pioneer in the sale OF WORKS oi ar'
IN New-York After forty-fve years deVotlon 10
Che importation and sale OF art WORKS MT ochaus
has retired from all active participation in trade
liz in,oros, however in art, and the future that
Is before it in this country, is increased now that
ho hos the leisure to devote himself entirely to
the subject.
As the greatest of all educators, he considers
that any check on its influence is an obstacle to
the best development of the country, and the
present high tariff on the works OF European
artists he regards restriction on the growth
of real art throug hOut the United States Mr..
Schaus has prepared petition which he has pre-
sented to the Members of Congress with the hope
Of aiding the appeal, or at any rate the
reduction OF the present tariff on paintings and
THE argument against the tariff on art said
Mr. Schaus few evenings ago when discussing
this subject at his home, is not open to the OBJ
jeotions which apply to the tariff on manufactures
and the numerous home industries. Art Is not u
monopoly and cannot be from its very nature. III
is directed entirely by individual taste and genius
and its growth is stimulated by comparison anu
association with it's own KIND IL REQUIRES IRE Ire
Protectionists in what relates to manufactures are
advocates of no tariff whatever on art
AMERICAN ARTISTS AGAINST MON DUTIES.
"What is the feeling among American ar'ls's
on this question ?" Mr.. Scbaus was asked.
1T is almost unanimous to-day against the
present art tariff. The purpose of the tariff was
70 protect our own artists against foreign works
of art, but you will find few artists now
who will not admit that the effect has been hurt
full. Art sales have not increased under the 80
l.fnIx. Nv hn Antn
Congress in 1888 On the contrary, there has
been a marked decrease in sales. Since the tarh
WAS imposed the sales at the Academy have not
equalled by $4,000 those of the three years
previous. The tariff does not prevent individual
purchases of the works of great painters abroad
but it acts ms bar preventing the examples of
the best artists from reaching this country where
they can he seen and studied by our artists
viii not low tariff benefit directly and al
mcs1 Ne eh' at ali Iores opens this country more
widely to them, but the benefit is fully as much
with ourselves. Every great painting or piece
centive as well as an examine to the art we have
at home. In my visit to Europe last summer l
was able, being free from all trade engagements,
to visit and observe the relations between Ameri-
can and European students in the great art gal
leries there, as never have been able to before
All the great galleries In France Germany and
Italy are thrown open freely to. Americans, and
the best known artists are usually ready to give
advice gratuitousy when called upon. Hun
dreds OF American students thrOnC the galleries.
and none feel more lxeenlv than they the reproach
east on their native country when they are asked:
How is il. when give you voluntarily all the
advantages which come from our collections,
that your country puts such cost on our work
to bar us ont p What reply can be made to such
questions? Our artists get the same benefit as
their own. yet our Government selhshly gets what
1t can and shuts out those who aided US"
NO PARALLEL WITH MANUFACTURES.
at is different with our home manufactures We
don't need to go to Europe TO learn. We have
everything here, and in many things we lead
European manufactures; but in art we have
everything 10 learn. and we can only learn good
art through the best examples know that
when the tariff was first imposed there was such
indignation in many of the great art centres
abroad that it was at first proposed to close all
advantages to Americans. Better counses pre-
vailed and it was recognized that one wrong
does not Justify another
What tariff would YOU consider Just !?
believe that there should be no tarn what
ever on art works. The country would profit
by the measure in a short time, l am sure. The
pictures that ere brought here would not inter
fere with American work al home. Our land
scapes are not painted by their artists: we have
subjects and methods of our own. Many dealers
ard artists however, believe that low tarln 81
10 per cent or Of SO or $50, on all works Woui1
be better than no tariff This they clam, would
keen out of markets the cheap ana TRASHY
works Of European factories. There may De
something in that. i shall feel satisfied II Con
gress will go so far as to make such revision
% L. tiVo laNr