New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-25
THE CHRONICLE OF ARTS.
EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER TOPICS.
THE PARIS PRIZE AND ITS coNDITIoNs-NoIEs
FROM CIuCAGo-soME QUESTIONS
SCTIPTrRE.

Paris prize an agreeable disappOn tment 10 INC
committee having il In charge. On the eve OF te aSt
day available for the submission OF the first drawings
was seriously feared that the number Of candidates
would be rdlculously small When the competitors
came, at last, they came with rush, and, as an
nounced in The Tribune on Wednesday, drawings rom
fifty three students received. The jury is said
to have been greatly impressed by the degree OF
ability shown in these, and twenty OF the hfy-three
candidates, most encouraging proportion. were adj
Judged amply fitted for the second and final compet
ton. This will occupy about two weeks, the result
probably being made known TO the public early next
month. The worst anticipation OF the committee was
that few natve-born Americans would present them
selves, but happily this fear proved groundess In
the LIST of successful candidates there only four
which suggest that their OF foreign
birth pareHtage. The sixteen others are racy OF
the soil.
On the whole the preliminary competition goes far
TO demonstrate that American art students really
DESTROYS OF winning good education in their profes-
son despite conditions which at first sight appear
irksome Fairly considered, the terms OF the Paris
prize not extraordinarily For five years
the winner is maintained abroad by the fund 5000
per annum, a moderate but sufficient income for the
life Of study which he IS supposed to prefer, being
allowed him. In return for this he is asked to send
home yearly specimens Of his work, Endorsed by his
master and at the end of his term 10 return TO New
York and teach grntuitously for two years class
selected by his patrons The first Of these conditions
is imposed for the purpose Of keeping the trustees OF
the fund in touch with their proteGe, that they may
his progress retrogressOn and in the event Of
latter proving decided, spur him TO renewed
effort by threatening to withdraw his allowance
they authority to do in the last extremity
This arrangement air Of oppressive father
Illness, but it is based common-sense, and raises
preventive against the winners bringing the
prize into bad repute. our conviction is that
the 1rf1a
and capable enough TO win it will give the rls-
tees to their prerogatve. But one can
blame those gentlemen for taking precaution OF this
sort, during the first years of their experiment, ut
least. Experience may give them greater confidence
in their proteges and future competitions may see this
condition modified.
The second condition is no less arbitrary, but every
winner of the prize expects to make some return for
the benefits conferred upon him. and what better return
could he make than diffusion Of the knowledge he las
gained abroad The trustees wholly dsnerested.
Their object is the education Of each winner for his
own sake. But they look 10 the advancement Of
American art in general natural corollary to this.
In the long the winner Is expected TO help on the
cause by example alone, but the beginning his
force educational factor is doubled if ne enters
the preparatory schools this side Of the water as
teacher fresh from the finishing schools on the other
side. Then the amount Of time stipulated is very
small only twice week during the two years Of his
gratuOus service is the artist required to meet his
class. That that class should be formed without
reference to his whim surely should not trouble him.
1t is selected by the same men who awarded him his
prize and any doubt from him their capacity 10
get together promising class would be eomical In
deed objection is offered that the period OF time
during which the student subject to the trustees Of
the fund is long. Seven years, 1t is argued, I'LL
large gap in mans life Is the prize worth the sur
render Of complete independence for so long time
II fircf has cd
answer this question in the affirmative.
further question IS here raised to whether the
answer of twenty students is well advised other
grounds. The winner the Paris prize is abroad
to be formed for life. viii he be formed best by
passage through Partisan ateerl Whether all roads
travelled by the artistic pilgrim should lead 10 Paris
not discussed before, but under quite
the circumstances those created by the Paris
prize. The very name of that prize shows that IL
has settled the question In advance, and that is hardly
wise. The necessity Of foreign training in the case
Of nine Of American students is undeniable 1t
IS Just undeniable that the number Of Amer
lean students will frequently show the most diverse
preferences In their selection Of foreign masters, pref
erences which usually founded natural tastes It
is easy to say that only students who attracted by
Partisan masters will compete for the Paris prize.
That IS simply TO declare the aim Of the prize TO be
narrower than we believe intended by the trustees.
americans who have gone abroad for artistic salvation
have found ii ofener in Paris than anywhere else, but
that is no reason why all American art Students should
be sent there until the end Of time. 1t would be
absurd TO undervaue the lessons which French masters
are teaching TO consider as anything but ad-
mrable the discipline in the schools. Yet must not
be forgotten that the French school, being tricky TO
a degree encourages imtativeness than does any
other school Of the day We have lately been assured
By all Engish writer that IN France the mitatveness
Of our painters is taken evidence of the pliabity
Of American talent. This IS soothing but specious.
The American artist must be developed abroad, not
manufactured there pliabity helps him in the former
case but it is fatally useful in the latter. He must
study with his master much under him, II lie Is
come back anything but weak copy Of a stronger
man. This is impossible without perfect sympathy
between master and pupil and it is quite conceivable
that many a prlze-winner would be led by bis sym
pathies to Rome Munich the Hague. 1t Is possible
that this view may induce the trustees Of the Paris
prize to give their benehciarles frecr play in the
choice OF masters, in later competitions. Such step
would certainly foster individuality as much, If not
more, than the present system.
The catalogue Of the Splitter Collection, the most
monumental work OF its kind ever published. even in
Paris the city OF ambitious art books has just reached
another stage on the long road which it must travel
before reaching completion. Mr. J. W. Bouton has
received the third volume. 1t deals with iewelry,
incrusted metal glass paintings glass vessels, stained
glass windows, gems, ring. faiences Flemish and Ger
ware, cutlery, and sculpture in wood ana stone
The volume which Is In folio contains sixty
full page plates, Of which many IN colofs,
and innumerable sketches in the text. The
notices are written by Nm. Alfred Darrell, Emile
Molinier, Edouard GARNER Edmond Bonnaifo, Arthur
Pabst, Henry dAemasne. The general editor
is VI. Emile Molinler The proposal to bring the
splitter Collection to America for exhibition at the
Worlds Fair makes the appearance of each nstalment
Of the catalogue AZ event Of significance to every art
patron here.
The announcement that the Verestchagin sale had
been postponed owing TO the illness Of the artist has
been withdrawn by the American Art Association. The
sale will be begun originally expected on November
L. and will be continued through two or three days.
Of Chlcagn is ahn 70 hoId