Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-05
ART AND MORALS

Case Of "The Fall of Babylon"
The members of the Washington Society of
Artists have discussed with some interest the
questions raised by the recent protest against
the importation into this country Of the picture
The Fall Of Babylon" As a result letter has
oeen addressed to Secretary Foster, signed by
many artists Of the CITY, besides others inter
ested in art. The letter says:
1t becoming known 10 the undersig ned
through the newspapers, that one Josiah W
LEEDS wrote to your department alleging that
picture by NJ Rochegrosse, entitled 1.-The
rall OF Babylon" (now in transportation TO
New York city,, Is immoral and PRAYING that
Its Importation be prevented, and it further
being known that Acting Secretary OF the
Mr.. Leeds, explained that THE ques-
ton OF the admissibility of WORK Of
art is OF course. largely a matter OF private
judgment. resting with the collector OF Gus
toms for the port where such admission is at
tempted, VIC respectfully seek TO be informed
as to whether that officer is necessarily a man
OF the requisite artistic understanding to enable
him to form fair and intelligent judg-
ment In such cases? Is there any
provision of law covering this point? Ii msy
or may not be that the present collector Of the
port OF New York is an art connoisseur. and his
decision will depend upon this chance stand
ard, unless We are under a wrong impression
We therefore respectfully suggest that he be
instructed to call TO his aid two or more we'll
known artists or art critics Whose fairness the
importer cannot reasonably impugn) Tor the
purpose of taking expert opinion.
According to printed report the acting sec
rotary says: MANY paintings contained
in our public galleries are sources of
discomfort and protest to classes of spec
tators, while they are strepuously de-
Tended by other Commentators as within artis-
tic limitations; the department has to guard
against undue narrowness and severity of
Judgment as well as against license and abuse
Of privilege. This effcrt to be Just involves
cial knowledge all the more indispe nsa6le.
particularly Ia cases like the present, where
the canvas is huge and the subject complicated
If there is, in this instance. - fragrant de-
nance OF decency and Of morality" as the
acting secretary seems inclined TO believe
this fact will be the more readily and absolutely
discerned BY judges with trained comprehen-
sions. We only desire a discriminating Jury
and certainly do not seek to defend iminor-
ality.
80 far as canvassed the general opinion of in
telligent art lovers in Washington is that NJ.
Rochegrosse aimed to picture a tragic event.
historically recorded in the Bible. with all the
dramatic force of a vigorous imagination, CON-
bined with peculiarly modern Kind OF real
ism, both in conception and execution Funda-
mentally morals seem to have nothing to
do with this work; the central motif
being, 1t seems to us. the portrayal Of a great
tragedy. Secondarily, the picture has a moral.
not an immoral aspect, FOR il suggests the
thought that punishment follows vice. The
artist appears TO have chosen this scene be-
cause it allowed the exercise of what he evil
IDENTIFY considers his greatest powers on a very
large scale, viz. the tragic and imaginative.
We're the picture one of mere debauchery the
accusation against it would be sustained. but
the armed host which is bursting in on the
feasters to destroy them gives a higher and
better impulse to the work than the one seen
by Mr.. Leeds.
1t is the lack Of just such educational works
among us that accounts for the large number
of wellmeaning persons who, like Mr. Leeds,
half the time entirely misconceiye the meaning
OF the nude In art and straightway con-
denim what they wholly misunde rstand. We
as people, will gain nothing morally
by prudishness. The most innocent acts
may thus become Questionable, and as the
tendency increases we shall become more and
more bigoted and less and less worthy OF the
freedom We profess In art especially tins
Practice would be fatal, for the multitude of
Phiiistines would be shocked at first one
and then another thing until the field
womb become narrow and formal. 1t
Ii easy to misconstrue what is not
understood. and it is easier still to find those
who are longing to be scandalized. Thus
wrong motives are ascribed in art very often
and find many to insist on their truth, while
the astonished painter cannot make himself
heard, much less understood. for the din.
III any one wishes to point out the really
vicious and bad in pictorial undertakings Let
him call the attention Of the proper authorities
TO such Illustrated papers as We take the liberty
herewith to submit to you. There can hardly
be question as to their depravity, and yet in q
country like ours, striving for the purity Of the
public minds. such Disgusting moral monstrosi-
ties are displayed IN windows and even exhibited
on newsboards in front OF stores. They WELD &
lar vsster influence than could an evil picture
because they come nearer the people and are
multiplied BY the thousand. Even the circus
poster often comes to an extent at least within
this description.
In conclusion. Mr.. Secretary, we earnestly
petition that in cases where doubt arises as to
the admissability of picture Of importance
like the present one, competent expert opinion
be taken upon it.
The letter is signed by c. II. L. Macdonald.
E. C. Messer. .. s. j. Dunbar. George III
Mathews, z. F. Andrews, Marietta Minnige-
rode. Edward Clark, +. s. Barbarin, Elizabeth
Winship. Anna II. Sands, Margaret Tones, b
E. Perrie, Harvey l. Page, Mathilde Mueden,
Jos. c. Hornblower, J. r. Marshall,
Herbert r. Hess, " G. Fischer. RI
lie Grand Johnston, W. B. Chiffon. Z. w.
Lightner, W. Ii. Holmes, De Lancey w. Gill,
Wells N. Sawyer, II. Hobart Nichols. & w.
Woodward, A. N. Lothrop, L. II. Miller, s. II.
Ksuffmsnn, j. ]. Forsyth, A. McCreary, A. p.
McEiroy, John N. Barrett, Parker Mann, NJ q.
Seckendorn, Max Weyi, s. Jerome Uni, L. ID.
Leline. A q. Hestou and II. r. waltman.