The morning call., 1892-05-08
BY THE WAY.
Being a RamblGf'S Observations Oh Things
in General
Pictures and Buyers COlOrs in Pho
togrspby- Sauces and soaps-Yates
Darlington.
written for The MORNING CALL.

The San Francisco Art Association has
olosed what is termed its spring exhibit
fion hut if results are measured by sales it
might be well 10 consider whether the title
shou)d not be changed to some baptismal
nbrase equally distinctive and euphonious,
but less associated with vitality and hope.
Art has to struggle for q living very severely
in San Francisco. Yet it lives, but mainly
ca assistance from outside. Artists who do
not sell picture here often find purchasers
in the Eastern States, and in short trust to
the East and not to the 0ccdent. There
were over 100 pictures in this exhibition and
a number which were offered for exhibition
were rejected by he committee Of selection,
no doubt for wise reasons, such as limits of
space and the future reputation of the
artists. Those admitted ran the gauntlet of
prize competition in addition, and the
art-enthused public bought two pictures
Only twol That was the visible extent Of
public appreciation except as otherwise ex-
pressed by the payment Of % cents for ad-
mission.
Fine pictures which would suit fine houses
in San Francisco are somehow bought else
where and acquire a high value when
brought here, and reflect a correspond
lUkIl SQDcilbI kdS bC III ITCH Huoo6oouAos IL
is very discouraeing that local art should be
crushed By disdain and indifference, but
whatever the cause the fact must be ac-
cepted. Apparently people Of wealth, and
therefore people of taste, may lead happy
life without pictures, good or bad. To many,
indeed, pictures are only ornaments, a
species of furniture devised to make walls
handsome, and fulfilling that lofty purpose
chiefly by the ernatenesS OF the frame.
But even among eonnoisseurs, who pur-
chase for the sentiment of the painting and
not for the gold-leaf framing. thought is
often given to value hereafter in the auction
room. a rising man is worshiped, and his
worship increases If he does not linger too
long in life and spoil the dealers specula-
tons by too much industry. There are
always a number of men who 90 on acQuiT-
ing the works Of a particular artist with no
higher motive than to sell their treasures at
an advantage when the artist dies or gives
up his toll. This is a commercial fashion Of
encouraging art, but the artist cannot COM
plain. He is doubtless ehsgTined when his
patron sells at half the price ne paid, but he
is lustiGably elated when the purchase
money is multiplied 10 times. and very fat
tering things of uDimpeachaOle veracity are
said abOut the genius OF the painter. What
the artist cannot bear is positive indider-
ence, blank and stolid
To expect that every canvas should sell
right off as soon as painted would be su-
preme folly. The picture exhibitions of the
year are now open in Paris and London.
and very sorry tales could be told OF the
disappolntments innumerable in the artistic
world through rejection or bad hanging
1t is, however, surely gross mistake that
$4,000 were sent in this year to the Royal
Aaadan9u The IA q nhOUt
1900. and that is the usual limit of the con-
tTibutiOns. AS q matter of course about
10000 are rejected for the very sufficient
reason that there is not space on the walls
for more. But think of the Judging COM
mittee inspecting $1,000 works and rejecting