The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-13

that the Is It II ready even now.
People who should know whereof they
speak in such matters say the world never
before saw such collection Of art works
under one roof.
Imagine, If you can, five acres of pictures
and statuary. Some one has taken the
trouble to calculate the distance o visitor
must walk II he would see every piece of
fine art in the great building and its two
spacious annexes, and the quotient, if I
remember right, is seven miles. This SIM
pie figure will give you a clearer idea of
the magnitude of the display than could
be obtained from any description that l
can write. The meaning Of it is that IL
one Is In love with painting and sculpture,
and means to embrace this golden oppor-
tunity to see the choicest products of the
worlds studios, he must come to this
building day after day for at least two
weeks, and work hard each day. Whoever
does this will be well repaid.
A year or two z il was the general
thought that while the Chicago fair was
to be great IN all things material-in its
buildings, its machinery, its industrial APP
pliances and products-it was not to be
rich IN the fine arts. The theory was that
America hasn't enough art of her own to
make a big show with, and foreign artists
would exhibit only sparingly. Well, the
display of foreign works is considered the
most complete that has ever been made,
while the American exhibit is a revelation
to many people who have not appreciated
the strides which the fine arts are making
In this country. Never before has there
been such a showing of American art-for
American artists have finally established
distinct school OF their own. OF course
our painters and ~sculptors initiate moro
or less one or other of the European
schools but they are gradually evading
their distinctive method. After this year
it probably will not be denied anywhere
that there il an American school of paint
ing, and one of which Americans may well
be proud.
As to the foreigners, their displays arc
truly magnificent OF course the French
do not show as many pictures and statuary
as they did ut their great exposition
four years ago. Nor are the British artists
as well represented here as they were at
Paris. But the Germans are here in
splendid form, and they were scarcely
known at all at the 1889 exposition. Several
other nations are doing better at Chicago
than they did at Paris, and with a single
exception the representatives of all
the art nations asked for more space h
could be assigned them, the exception be-
ing in the case of Mexico. Inasnuch as
the space in this Art palace Is much larger
than was ever before devoted to the same
purpose in an international exposition,
and there wal sue demand for this space
that every nation but one has found it
necessary to economize room by sending
only the best Of it's works, it follows inev-
itably that this is the greatest interna-
tional assemblage of fine arts ever known.
Foreigners rs well rs Americans are
amazed at the progress In art made in
Chicago itself. II is a fact not generally
known that Chicago Is rapidly becoming
q center Of literature and of publishing,
and Of art az well. IL has several success
ful art schools, with thousands OF students.
Just now it Is finishing, on the site of the
old exposition building, in the heart Of
city, a permanent Art palace to cost about
tzOo,OO0, and 10 be this summer a theater Of
the Worlds fair congress. The president
of this art institute ia Charles l.. Hutchin-
son, q banker and money-maker, who still
loves art and knows IL. The chairman of
It's art committee IL another business man,
J. II. Dole, an elevator owner. Though a
mere merchant he has done more than
any other man to raise the standard Of art
and public appreciation thereof in the in
terror Of America Tho hseAL pzQok Of his