Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-31
QUAKER CITY ART FEATURES.

Academy of Fine Arts is rather an imposing
structure, and the site it occupies is one of
the very best in the Quaker City. Philadel-
phia is in no sense Il show-off town. The
unbroken regularity of its narrow streets
and red brick houses grows extremely weari-
some: but as one goes up the Academy steps
and looks out the fine sweep of North Broad
street. and then southwark toward the pub
lie buildings, one can almost cheat ones self
into believing that this is gay, delightful
| foreign city. Enter the Academy, however,
and the illusion is promptly dispelled.
In the first place, no European town
could, or would, tolerate in its chief
art gallery such combination of want
! of taste and crudity of color as we
find in the interior decoration of our
Academy Then the marbles, bronzes, casts
and relieis which first catch the eye are all
reproductions, of course, and, with n few
notable exceptions, there is but little to in
tereSt one in the permanent collection of
paintings. The Academy was founded &c
years ago. Since then it has dragged on a
slow and placid existence, content to stand
still, and not really expecting many WIS.,
itors within its sacred precincts. To be sure
it is crowded on Thursday afternoons, for
then the Germania Orchestra discourses
sweet music at the head of the staircase,
and consequently, the steps and corridors
nothing better than to spend an hour or two
in this warm, luxurious spot, munching
sugaHplums to the accompaniment of Bee
thoveh's Fifth symphony.
The Old Academy Pulling Itself Together.
But a year ago the institution
pulled itself together and, by
special effort succeeded in securing
for its annual exhibition a really
remarkable collection of paintings, and one
which met with the success it deserved,
thereby showing that slow, old Philadel-
pllia is by no means entirely bind to the
interests of art. Thomas Hovenden's very
strong work, Breaking Home Ties" at
once found purchaser, in spite of the fact
that So, 600 was the sum he asked; and several
fine pictures were added to the permanent
collection, a marine by W. T. Richards,
Alexander Harrison's effective and uncon-
ventional "La Vague" and "Hailing the
Ferry" by Ridgway Knight. This last
named work was bought by Mr.. Converse
and presented TO the Academy. lt Is well
known to all Americans from the fact of its
having been one of the most successful
paintings bv our artists at the Paris Expo
stion. 1t is a beautiful picture, but not
strong in execution.
In fact nothing was wanting to the success
OF last winters exhibition; it even secured
an advertisement of the most taking nature,
and one which was quite unexpected by the
in the interests of morality, published
paper condemning the public display of
nude paintings. They were willing to admit
that such studies might be necessary to an
artist. but having been done, they should be
consigned to the darkest corner of his
studio, and not Haunted in the faces of
bluShing American youth. So the produc-
tions OF Messrs. Alexander Harrison and
KENYON Cox were unsparingly condemned;
and as an immediate result, the receipts at
the Academy door were greater the next
day than at any other time during the sea-
son.
Some Recent Pictures Added.
Without entering into discussion of
the moral side OF this question, 1 may say
that the publication of such an article was
productive of good in that it called attention
to art. 1t awoke an interest in some of the
problems which all artists must consider.
Also it attracted to the Academy-from the
unworthy motive of curiosity, to be sure
many persons who otherwise would never
have gone, but who may have received
cultivating influence from this one visit,
and who will certainly go again.
l cannot leave this subject without speak
ing of a few more of The pictures in the
permanent collection, which alone would
fully repay one for an hour or two given up
to the Academy. There is the fine protrait
of Madame Modjeska, by Carolus Duran,
and Forgotten" by Alexander Struys,
strong and striking work. 1t shows a young
girl dressed in black, and seated in high
backed chair by an open window. Her sad
face, dropping head, and the listless fall of
the arms convey the meaning of the picture
in a remarkable manner: the simplicity and
richness of color as well as the command OF
expression. are truly admirable. In com.
seems weak and merely pretty.
Charles H. Davis picture, "The
Brook is very valuable addition to the
gallery 1t is a twilight effect, a slow stream
wandering through level fields and lost in
the hills and mists beyond The atmosphere
is trpe, the ensemble fine in tone, poetic and
well painted; the foreground alone is lack
ing in solidity.
Perhaps the most important picture to
students is the much discussed, much
abused bal Masque,' by Charles Hermans.
This, too, had been condemned as being an i'm
perfect subject, and one not suited to the gaze
of youths and maidens; but doubt if the
artist considered this as he toiled over
his huge and clouded canvas.
The name describes the pic ture-a scene
of mad revelry in an opera house-but one
must see it to appreciate the wealth of color,
the marvellous composition, accuracy of
and acute observation it must have re-
Quired to execute so difficult a
work In contemplating these points one,
is not offended by the signifcation of the
phase OF life it may have its value. Whether
art and literature should show things as
they are, or only as they ought to be, is too
profound a question to be discussed at
present.
Exhibiting the Clarke Collection.
Just now there is an exhibition going on
at the Academy which is of great interest
aside from the merit of the pictures, because
it represents the work of almost all of our
American artists. Mr.. Thomas B. Clarke,
the liberal art patron of New York, has sent
over his collection of American pictures to
be exhibited here until the 2Sth of Novem-
Der He is one OF those rare individuals who
buy pictures because they like them, not
because OF the name BY which they are
signed. Therefore his collection is,
believe, unique in the United States. There
are two hundred and seven pictures repre-
senting one hundred and twenty one artists
the variety is great. The
pictures, for the most part,are small, adapted
to a parlor rather than to an exhibition gal
lery. As a whole this collection is not
impressive, and it is only fair to say that
many of the well-known artists have done
much better work than that which Mr.
Cle 1l,e has seen fit tO OurclaSe Still rhera