The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-25
MAGAZINES OF THE MONTH.

writer in the February Magazine of Art
has this to say on the subject of American taste
in art: 1T is notorious that American taste in
painting at the present time favors strongly
the French school that the markets are simply
flooded with French art. good and bad-the lat
ter predominating. Indeed, until l took up my
residence in America. I never knew where the
sweepings of the Partisan studios event.
ually congregated." This writer, who, as
may be supposed is an Englishman, has various
theories to account for this apparent. and, as he
regards it, ill-judeed preference, but ascrlbes it
chiefly to the habit of Americans of depending
on the judgment of others in such matters. '.In
nv opinion, hs says. there are very few private
American buyers who sincerely care for this
class of art, and if they bought on their own
Judgment they would make better choice and
q better bargain; but they give themselves
credit land very unjustlyl for knowing nothing
about painting, and buy what they are told to
buy what is in the fashion," Although nh
tive painters complain bitterly OF this state Of
affairs injustice to themselves the English
man charges them with being somewhat to
blame in the matter. inasmuch they pursue
their studies In Paris and become perme ated
with French ideas in art and naturally influence
their felow-country men in the same direction.
Richard Heath continues his interesting studies
in English costume the current chapter dealing
with the .'sack.r The patterns of this garment
worn in the eighteenth century will be stud
led with curiosity by feminine readers. since the
present fashions tend to reproduce the costumes
of that period An entertaining article in this
number is "Irish Types and Traits, by Kate
lyman, the illustrations, excellent as they are,
being subordinate to the literary merit Some
of the wood engravings in this issue are I'M
usually we'll executed. The frontispiece is a
Goupil photogravure from a French painting of
Virginia" the scene representing the body of
the maiden it lay upon the shore after the ship
wreck Cassell & Co., New York.
While writer in one English art magazine
laments the popularity of French art in Amer
lea, the editor of another oddly enough follows
tho same lead, the burden of the latter COM
plant. however. being that Englishmen them
selves do not patronize home talent The Feb
ruary Art Journal says:
ssWho ever heard of a foreigner buying a
British picturea Where on the continent can
we find a single collection of the works of the
SCHOOL, In the Louvre one is quite startled when
comes across the three four Coustables
which alone represent our country's art in the
French na.io nas gallery But the Englishman
pays his ga, 600 at Chrstie's for q Rosa Bon
heur. or bis f100 in one of the
many foreign picture shops which abound
in the streets of London for worthless
specimen of the Dusseldorf school, without q
thought entering his head that had he
spent his money upon a British picture he
would probably have got quite good moneys
worth and certainly would have benefited one
of his countrymen VINO very much needed il. No;
patriot ism il certainly slumberine; is this TO
be wondered at when we find even at the head
trey Request sirainineits provisions and purchas-
ing French American picture"
The reason given for this state OF things Is the
ignorance of the public concerning the work OF
the best English artists, and this ignorance. 10
is argued. Is due to the attitude Of the painters
themselves, toward etching and engraving, this
work being regarded unworthy of their at
tention. As consequences of this idea. the
home and foreign public which has not
access to the originals cannot become acquain ted
with their merit through reproduction. Con-
tributions to thu issue .'Soms French His-
toric Dogs" Textile Fabrics at the South Ken
sineton Museum" Notes Japan and It's Art
Wares" .'Edouardo Dalbono;n tine Seine . .
Painting Ground" .sOur German Competitors"
and THE Nuns Town by the Water.s All pro-