The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-07
THE NEW ART BUILDING.

Inc Ccntcnfllal exhibition came ut n
time when the aesthetic taste in America
was ready to he awakened. There were
already young men who had studied nrt in
Paris, Rome and Munich, who laughed
with scorn at what the average American
academician produced. Indeed, in 1873 a
few Of these established the Art Students
league of New York and began teaching
modern French art. Then came the exhi
bition and its effect in instructng the mil
lions that beauty for its own sake had Il
value distinct from any question Of ability.
That was II blow indeed to the old fogics
of the academy. Yet there was another
serious blow in store, but the CONSERVE
tivcs" did not recognize it even when it
had fallen.
In 1877 the Society of American Artists
was formed with eighteen members, and
they gave an exhibition. | we'll remember
how old fashioned people scoffed mt the
"young fellows" us these daring innova-
tors were called. Some OF the critics also
made merry. Bat the young fellows" did
not seem to mind either derision or merr
ment. They went steadily on. holding ex
hbitions year after year, until in the course
of time the exhibitions Of the new society
were generally considered to be OF much
more consequence than those Of the acad
envy.
Then the old organization saw that no
tice must be taken of this new and vigor
Gus rival So some of the leading mem
bers were elected to the academy, and in
some instances the new academicians left
the society. But this was by no means the
rule, and the losses were not great, nor
were they of consequence, for in it's fifteen
years of life the soccty's membership has
increased from eighteen to 49, But the
society until now has never had any per
mancnt abiding place, and the annual
exhibitions had To be held where suitable
halls could be secured. This is no longer
the case. as the society will hereafter have.
in the beautiful building in Fifty-seventh
street, near Broadway, the best art gal
leries on this continent. How to secure
such place was IL serious problem for the
young fellows" not many of whom are
millionaires But their method of solving
the problem has brought into life the most
important art organization that has ever
existed i'll the western world
The Art Students league and the So
ciety OF American Artists have always
been closely related by sympathy, and the
members Of the Architectural league Of
New York-a society composed of nll the
most prominent metropolitan architects
very naturally belonged to the same art
family. When it became a necessity for
these three societies to find permanent
homes they concluded to unite in the for
nation of another organization and found
common home. The result may be seen
in the splendid building now just finished
in Fifty-seventh street. In this the Arch.
tectural league and the Society Of Ameri-
can Artists each has u clubroom, and the
Art Students league has classrooms and
the best and most approved facilities for
the study Of art. Besides these there are
. the galleries before alluded to. These have
wall space very much larger than those
of the National academy, and as they are
5 all on the ground floor great crowds OF Wis
itors can be comfortably handled.
In forming this union each of the three
| societies preserves its corporate separate
ness, but the stockholders of the new or
ganiZation-the American Fine Arts soci
{ ety-are the members Of the three societies.
This stock of $4,000 was not nearly atle-
Quate to do what has been done. To assist
{ the undertaking there was formed Il trust
fund, to which many rich men have con
tributed This fund will be administered
, by trustees for twenty-one years. and then
twill be turned over to the society, which
is TO be presumed will by that time be
permanently and substantially endowed
The new home of this new art movement
7il be opened this week. On Dec. g the
lembers Of the press will be invited to
,ok ut the pictures i'll what is called Il
retrospective exhibition" of the Society of
american Artists; then on the next even
. i2 there Will be Il great reception in the
gllcries. 10 this reception have been in
vnd the chief men and women in New
Yek interested in art either as producers,
cries or patrons, and as there is much
cupsity to see What has been done there
is ,ry apt to he great crush. On Mon
dayDcc. 5, the exhibition will be thrown
opci to the publ, and remain open till
Chrltmas day. Eery art lover in the
land will wish tbs new undertaking
abuiiant success. ant long. prosperous
and progressive life.
JNo GGIMER SPEED.