Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-18
CURRENT ART NEWS.


RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE
ART INTEREST.
Some Valuable Collections in Rich
mond. Charleston, Chicago
and New York.
The Magazine Of Art contains the follow
ing current art news:
Mr.. Richmond, in his admirable speech
at the Liverpool Congress, put the
case against the drawing of Academy stud
les in manner which, We trust will con-
vince the professors. "Can we think"
says Mr.. Richmond, "of Giotto or Michel
angelo drawing away for days without one
single motive to prompt them, but to copy
something with stump on sheet of white
paper? Can We see Sandro Botticelli los
ing his time neatly finishing a dreary
drawing of naked like-guardsman, in
order to obtain premium or medal
Emphatically we answer No!'n The
practice of finishing elaborately-shaded
drawings, which has SO long been in vogue
in England, if it does not drive art
students to despair, must almost inevitably
prevent them from acquiring any facility
IN representing the human form in action.
The stump teaches neither painting nor
drawing. If the student aspires to paint,
why can he not use the brush If he is
aiming at draughtsmanship, will not the
pencil-point enable him to obtain mastery
over line which the stump would never
give him. In fact, as Mr.. Richmond hap
PLY put it, the stump is "a kind of middle
man whom we, with all our hearts, desire
to get rid Of" Much-too much, perhaps
has been said of late about art education.
The majority of those who have written or
spoken on the subject have only advocated
vague theories or new systems, difficult of
attainment. But here is a thoroughly
practical suggestion, put as clearly and
forcible as possible. If art education, in
stead of being mechanical and monotonous,
is to encourage the student, and to develop
what skill and intelligence there is in him,
the first step in advance that should be
taken in our schools is the abolition of that
pernlcious middle-man, the stump.
HISTORICAL PORTRAITS.
The collection of historical portraits in
the Capitol at Richmond, Va, is one of
the most important in the country. The
entire history of Virginia, from the early
colonial times down to the present day, is
written in this line of pictured faces. Lord
Howard of bingham, Alexander Spots
wood, Lord De la War; and Lord Dunmore
form group of picturesque appearance
and much historical Importance. There
is an old portrait of the Lady Pocahontas,
with large ostrich feather fan and ruff.
The Governor of the State at the close of
the Revolution, Thomas Nelson, and
Speaker Warner of the House of Burgesses
hang not far from each other. Here is
portrait of Rochambeau, found in South
Africa by British officer. He sent it to
Richmond by descendant of Rochambeau
who attended the Yorktown celebration.
1t is in oil on wood. One of the leading
artists of Richmond is John T. Elder,
whose genre pictures and portraits fire.
quently lind their way north Many of
his subjects deal with the civil war period.
William Sheppard, the well-known illus
traitor, is also identified with the Rich
mond art interest.
VALUABLE GALLERY OF HISTORICAL ART.
The municipal offices at Charleston, S.
c., present the aspect of valuable gallery
of historical art Many of the great men
of the State are immortalized here on can
vas and in marble. Here is John C. Cal
houn, in G. ?. A. Healy's full-length por-
trait of him, standing in the council-cham-
Der in a dignifed oratoricaI attitude with
his hand on his breast A flill-length of
Washington, by Trumbull, Q79l) shows
the Father of his Country in buff breeches,
standing against background of blue sky
with white horse by his side. This is
one OF the most interesting portraits of
Washington in existence. A bust of Rob
ert Fulton, of New York, purchased in
France, by South Carolinan and given
to the city, is said to have been finished by
Houdon, although it is accredited to one
of his pupils, Bremond. One of S. F. B.
Morse's best portraits shows President
Monroe standing against an arch hung
with red curtains. Another valuable por-
troit is that of Andrew Jackson, by Van
derlyn.
ART IN CHICAGO.
The art interest at Chicago is rapidly
developing, and that city will presently
become formidable rival to New York as
an art center. The success of the Art In
stitute of the Verestchagin exhibition,
which closed March 3lst, proves that the
popular feeling for art is being rapidly de-
veloped. The exhibition was opened free
on Sunday afternoons. The profit from
the exhibition to the Institute was Sl4,-
600, and the attendance reached 1,000. 900
persons. The result of the success of the
exhibition has been to place the Institute
on self-supporting basis for the first time
since it was founded; 700 yearly member
ships having been added to the list.
GROUPS OF KERAMIcs.
The Union League Club of New York.
has made new departure in adding i'm
portant groups of keramics to the monthly
exhibitions of pictures. At the February
reception, side by side with an insignificant
collection of paintings, was displayed
magnificent array of ancient Chinese OK
blood jars and other smaller monochrome
pieces of great value, belonging to we'll
known collectors. At The March exhibit
tion appeared wonderful array of old
blue and white Nankin of various shapes
and varieties, hawthorn, powder blue and
numerous other famous classes Many of
the pieces were the work of the most fam
Gus potters of the Ming dynasty. The dis
play of pictures was creditable, including
Millet, Delacroix, Cain, a Henner,
Rousseau, a Dupre, a Gerome and Il small
MISSIONER of the best manner
NOTES.
The Interstate Industrial Exposition of
Chicago will open September 4th and will
continue until October 10Th. 1t will con-
sist of limited number of oil-paintings
and water-colors, by artists invited to con-
tribute. No commission will be charged
on sales. Two prizes are offered by Potter
Palmer for the best landscape or marine,
and the best figure picture, both in oils.
The competing painters must be residents
of the United States.
The showing of American art at the
Paris Exposition will not be conspicu-
ously brilliant, the New York management
of the affair having been distinguished by
numerous squabbles and collisions of pro-
fessional with lay judgment.
IRRIGATION In CALIFORNIA.