The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-15
TIE TELFAIR ACADEMY.
What Visitor Thinks of Savannah's
Collection of Pictures and Statuary.
az mrs. GENIE oRoHARD sTovALL.

BY MRS. GENIE ORCHARD sTovALL.
So immersed are we in the unitarian de-
mands of this mercensry age that we are
becoming indifferent to the higher elements
of our nature. We are losing what has
been the distinguishing characteristic of the
south, aud what has long been her tradi-
tional pride. Before the world she has
stood on an elevated plane, holding in her
| right hand culture and beauty. and in her
left hand courage and chivalry. There is
to-day an increasing tendency to bring
her down from her pinnacle, and lead her
into the grosser walks Of traffic. The prac-
tical pursuits obliterate the aesthetics of
| life, and there are very few who are willing
to cease in the mercenary march Of greed
| and gain. and linger in the arcades OF
beauty and of art. For this reason the
Americans, in comparison with other ma
tions are to great extent devoid Of the
delicate appreciation of the arts, with
which constant association alone can en-
gender.
1t was believed by the Romans that the
only way to imble their people With lofty
sentiments and high aims was to surround
them with temples and towers of grandeur,
and TO adorn the ordinary paths Of life with
pictures and statuaTy. They desired that
the atmosphere of art should permeate alike
the path of the peasant and the prince
Even to-day we see there in deserted villas
the crumbliug glories of nation dead. We
see in places. neglected for centuries, fres-
Goes that still glow upon damp, moldering
walls, and cornices and broken mosaics are
found in old halls where cattle are now
stabbed and fed. The beggar boy falls asleep
at the foot of some nameless Madonna, or
beside a broken fountain. The market
woman rests her panier of olives and
kk,s,NL 49,
ings of some artist who has passed into
silence 1t is by such constant communion
of those people with the works of beauty
that the spirit of art and of poetry mellow
their daily toll. Insensibly they absorb the
spirit Of the poet and painter. just as the
hydra lily blooms on the bosom Of the stag
nant pool, and prisons in its creamy leaves
the poison OF its miasmatic surroundings,
so we imbibe into our natures the character
| of our environments. For this reason, there
| is an ineffable charm in the face of the Ital-
| ian, and gentleness beneath the fire of his
| impetuous nature. In the depths of his
starry passionate eyes, and in his tender lips
he seems to carry the Graded art Of his
native land.
Julius II. so strongly advocated the be-
| lief that the surroundings OF people exerted
an influence for good or for evil, that he be-
came as distinguished for the encourage
| ment Of the arts as his ambition was i'm
perious and unbounded in the exercise of
sovereign power. He believed that learn
ing elevated the lower classes, and stamped
the highest value on nobility. He sur
rounded himself with men of genius, and
| had public parks and gardens beautifed by
their works. Amid these surroundings the
women worked and the children played {;
their rugged natures became softened,
and from groveling thoughts they were
raised into an ideal state.
Within the past decade America has made
rapid advancement in art The cities of
the north and west have public galleries
that are equal TO many Of those in the old
world but the south-what are we doing to
| keep up that spirit of culture which is in
herent to her peoples Alas, but little.
| We have been torn, bruised and impovr
erished, it ia true, but we are fast recuper-
ating. Vast amounts of money are in
vested in princely houses and costly fur
niture, while on the walls Of those homes we
often see gaudy chromos and cheap prints
| This evinces the low standard of art culture
| in the new SOUTH"
AS an art center the city Of Savannah
| stands pre~eminent on account of possess
ing an art academy and gallery that is I'M
equaled in the south. The building, also a
| sufficient sum OF money for its founding
was the gift of Miss Telfair, a daughter Of
one Of the historic and distinguished fami-
lies OF the state. The classic old city had
those who valued the donation,
and in Gen. Henry R. jackson, Col. George
A. Mercer, Judge Falligant, Judge
Harden and other distinguished gentlemen
were found worthy adherents and support
ers, who by their encouragement assisted in
raising the gallery to its present high stand
ard.
The first step that assured the success OF
this gallery was the selection of Mr.. Carl Ia.
| Brandt as director. To the improvement OF
this gallery he has dedicated many years of
his life with pride and devotion. This has
produced an incalculable effect upon the art
in that city, and has diffused through the
medium of his influence an increased inter-
est in art culture.
AS painter, Mr.. Brandt has few superiors.
His works display inexhaustible fertility OF
invention, wonderful depth and brilliancy
of color, and a most elaborate and polished
finishing.
AS a sculptor, he possesses grandeur
| OF conception and profound
| knowledge of form. One of
his works-"The Head of Christi liz
"alto relievo"-thae now adorns the gal
lery is alone sufficient TO Rlorify the name
of the artist. 1t is genius that is Godlike,
that can chisel from rough stone, or mold
from clay, the dew of death, the story Of
the Passion, and the Morn OF the Resurrec-
ton. This has been done in the Head OF
Christ" by Carl Brandt. So long as the