Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-16
THE NEW ART BUILDING.

The Centennial exhibition came at a
time when the aesthetic taste in America
was ready to be awakened. There were
already young men who had studied art in
Paris, Rome and Munich, who laughed
with scorn at what the average American
academician produced. Indeed, in 1875 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 inatructing the mil
lions that beauty for It's own sake had u
value distinct from any question of ability
That was blow indeed to the old fogies
of the academy. Yet there was another
serious blow in store, but the "conserva-
tives" 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 at the
"young fellows" as these daring innova-
tors were called. Some of the critics also
made merry. But the ''young fellows" did
not seem to mind either derision or merri-
ment. They went steadily on, holding ex
hibitions 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-
emy.
Then the old organization saw that no.
tice must be taken of this new and vigor-
GUS rival. So some Of the leading men,
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 its fifteen
years of life the societys membership has
increased from eighteen to 119. But the
society until now has never had any per-
manent 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 a 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 in 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 all 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
a common home. The result may be seen
in the splendid building now just finished
in Fifty-seventh street. In this the Archi-
tectural league and the Society Of Ameri-
can Artists each has 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
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 stock holders 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 ade.
quate to do what has been done. To assist
the undertaking there was formed trust
fund, to which many rich men have con.
tributed. TLis fund will be administered
Wy uIuouSCS Aoi VWcnby-Ouc years., ttllO UneU
it will be turned over to the society, which
1t is to be presumed will by that time be
permanently and substantially endowed.
The new home of this new art movement
will be opened this week. On Dec. the
members of the press will be invited to
look at the pictures in what is called a
Retrospective exhibition" of the Society of
American Artists; then on the next even
ing there will be great reception in the
galleries To this reception have been in
vited the chief men and women in New
York interested in art either as producers,
critics or patrons, and as there is much
curiosity to see whatlhas been done there
is very apt to be great crush. On Mon
day, Dec. s, the exhibition will be thrown
open to the public and remain open till
Christmas day. Every art lover in the
land will wish this new undertaking
abundant success, and long, prosperous
and progressive life.
JNo. GILMER SPEED.