New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-02
ART NEWS AND COMMENTS
TIE WEEK IN ART CIRCLES.

THE PROPOSED ART coNGREss-NoTEs OF TH1
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WOOD ENGRAVING
Circulars have been issued by the "New.YosS
Committee on Organization OF the Art Congress Of
the United siafos.s These circulars set forth q
plan for ali "ar congress- which was proposed
by Mr. A. B. Tumurc, in The Art Age somel
thing has been said Of this plan before, and the
circulars furnish the supplementary information nseds
full for societies which may desire to Join in the arc
congress proposed for the autumn. Tho congress-
VIII be composed OF delegates from the active arf
associations ard schools empowered to discuss and
act upon the following and kindred subjects: As
education systems OF competitions prizes and aussds,
legislation exhibitions, the relation Of art to ins
dustry, annual national exhibitions Of the fine artG
and OF art applied 10 industry, and various sub
divisions Of these general topics.
Ths purpose OF this art congress is 10 bnns
together annually for the promotion OF the art dee
throughout the United States representatives II 70
accredited associations Of pssnters, scapors sseAt
tects, engravers, cchers, designers and art arsanG
that they will know r1ore of one another and
their work. which is Intcrch sngeabe snd now safers
from ignorance Of what Is doing In each special fehi
10 bring distant parts Of the country into commuai
cation. and TO emphasize the positive, but itih
understood, advancement which American AT hss
nnade IN all directions
The circular Informs Fl" art associations that esh
Is entitled TO delegate for each hundred members
or fraction thereof The associations are asfsd
whether they win send delegates 10 this congress-
~ ~ is held this year Al Chicago, and whether thsy
will contribute to a prize fund for . national eS-
hibitlon In 1890. Any letters are 10 be addressee
10 the Nov. York Committee on Organization OF
the Art Congress OF the United States" General Post
Office, New-York Among the members OF this COM
fnittee are Mossrs. J. @. Brown snd Thomas Moran
Of tho National Academy; Henry Farrer OF the wstrr
ID kA I'm nnn
Club; Mrs. c. c. Hunt % the Society OF Decorative
Art: Nessrs. A d, Turnurc, W. II. Russell, And
H. H. Hardsneergh, OF the Architectural League Ne
Eastman johnson, OF the Union League Club An
Committee; Mr. Henry Msrquand. OF tho FREE Ar
League. and Mr. Thomas D. Clarke. OF the Athletis
Club Art Committee.
II with be seen that this plan IS set forth repre'
sents laudable purpose. Scientists hold conven-
lions and the interchange OF IDEAS and reading OF
papcrs In the various sections ere understood U %
productive of much beRcht III fact, general con-
ventions OF one kind or another are common IN tas
Professions and In business, and 1t may be argued
with An excellent showing Of reason that 81 would b
safe 10 predict the instant success OF congress 90
general convention Of those practically interested ID
ART The practical Quest!on Is whether so compfot
bcnsive a plan may not fall Of IT'S own weight, and
this question may be left for time TO answer
Tho third week Of the Society Of American Artists
has beeu as 'uncventful us predecessors. Tho
attendance has been Insignificant, and there Is the
usual report OF no buyers So far rs public Interest,"
& concerned the exhibition Is practically a failure
At the Prize Fund" exhibition few pictures hays
hce, s,d hut tho summer dulness has already begun
Tho aovcIopIpert OF original wood engraving which
In, bcon frequently noted In this journal Is to be
described by some OF the engavcrs IN the Augass
number OF The Century magazine. The success Of
,r,srx Kingsley and French in this field has already
become familiar to tho pubic The best American
engraver have felt desire for expression which has
not been satisfied By the reprodaef'cn
NJ the work Of others Nothing could
DO moro admirable than the perception, hh
and delicate feeling shown In the best American ans
cravings and one might hesitate TO assign secondSx
placa 10 such extraordinary reproductive WORK a.
for example, Mr.. Cole has done In his engrsvnss Oh
the earlier hallsn masters. But the ensraysEs hsss
folt that their host work was always regarded a.
subordnnte. Tho admirable portfolio published IN
behalf Of the Society OF American Wood Engravers rept
resented successful effort to appeal dtreety 70 10
public, and the success OF these reproductive p'@'es
presented for the sake OF tho engraving has un'
doubtedly encouraged engarers 10 UNDERTAKE oHglhA
work and independent publication Of engraving ms
lnroads Of applied photography have furnished thess
artists another rcason for self assertion IL icasns
to be seen whether wood ensraviuss can be success
ullly published separately like etehings, but Messr
Kingsley and French have shown some deightra
examples Of original engravings published mdepena'
entIy short time since Tho Tribune Quotoo ths
comments OF Tho ST. James's Gazette upon soms
engravinES by Mr.. French. One Of them has ssnes
been published IN the June number Of "scribners
Magazine" but the print gives poor idoa OF ING
dClcsey, subtle graduations and nne stmosphers
quality Of the proof This was engraved nom stuuL
made by Mr.. French IN the meadows OF tho os4
RAs, country, part OF NewJcrsey which aoounas
N Inviting pictorial possibilities. The Suoee'
broad me adow brook with low trees clustered on hs
loft and the broad low field with grasses ana no"e's
on tho right, subject composed With great 'ecr
aud presented In ali engraving Of most densnu~
quality.
The Council ut the Royal Academy have %ooS
pounds 10 expend this year uodcr the terms OF Va
Chanirey bequest. The original bequeSt was IaV~
pounds: the interest to DO enjoyed for ho BY lay
Chan,rey and on her death 70 revert 20 the Aeaaem
10 80 yearly expended on such completed Sofm =
the Council might select should horc not BE- snW
thing deemed worthy OF purchase the Interest We
70 be allowed 20 accumulate, but not fer longer
per4od than ave years, u is owing 10 sccumulauoas
that the Academy hes 80 largo sum 20 expena
this year Tho Council thus far has purchased '~o
paintings and an example Of sculpture. Tho mofs
important OF the two pictures Is Mr. Herhoners
= Chspe, Of The Charterhoasc,' picture recalling ms
Last Muster" and also suggesting che touching ds'
scrtpton Of Colonel Noweoale In the historic chapel
Various opinions arc expressed regarding this poa1
but tho verdict has been usually favorable. IIs
price paid was $500 pounds. Tho other Cnanuvy
purchases arc Mr.. Aurnonieps Sheep washing