The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-02-17
ART At AONE IND ABROAD
The Views of an Art Student Of
Experience.
ORIGINALITY OF AMERICANS
just as Good Instruction at Home
as Abroad. A Foundation Should
be Well Laid. European
Travel and Study Will
Broaden Conception.

Editor Norfolk Virginian:
Ii is often asked why so many
students go abroad to study art ami
what are the renl advantages abroad
as compared with those at home
The student who prepares to an
swer these questions for himself by
going to Paris 10 study art, in the
first place finds himself free, to q
degree he had scarcely hoped for, to
devote his time exclusively TO art.
He discovers that haven for artists
known as the Latin Quarter. inhab
lied nearly altogether by art ard
college students absorbed in their
work. There the artists have social
life among themselves or not, Just as
they choose, coming and gong NJ
they will, maybe living III the shab.
best apartments, practicing the
strlctest economy, but with their y
sition unaffected thereby. and tue
phrase keeping up appearances
altogether without n meaning, He
soon learns the meaning of "art as
mosphere." While
THE STUDY OF MUSIC AND ART
is only lately being introduced into
the public schools IN this country.
where every child can study them,
the countries Of Southern Europr
have centuries OF art culture behind
them until it has become a part of
their very mental atmosphere: n
culture acquired not only in the
schools, but taught by masterpieces
IN every street and public building.
Even the nneducated, us we under.
stand that word, are excellent
Judges OF art. An Italian boy is
better art critic than the average
man of culture in America.
The clvlllzing and enightenine
influences of this universal art edn
cation very quickly impress them.
selves upon the American; he soon
understands what his French art
teacher meant by his unqualified
statement that the Americans were
barbarians. True. he only needs to
look at another side Of French life to
return the compliment and regain
his self-satisfaction. Americans re
membering their wonderful history
and aware Of how far
THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS
in organization, government snd in.
vention; in religion and morality
surpass those of the French are
likely to take it for granted that
they are altogether superior peo.
pie; that their country has the whole
advantage of France. They seldom
reflect that educators have show
three lines of development for the
human race. and have left it nm
settled whether one line is more Inn
Portant than the others-the pursut
OF knowledge scientifically, best
illustrated i'll the Germans: of con.
duct on the side of righteousness
seen In the English, and the cnltIvo'
ton OF the sense of beauty and fit.
ness, particularly as it affects
social life and manners, best ,llns
frated by what the French have
achleved IN their civilization. Oh
serving how far they have advance
on this last line of development. the
American artist understands how his
country could ever have been called
par parons and grasps the full mean
ing OF 'art atmosphere" This. To-
gether with the perfect freedom ir
dlsposlng of his time which oould
not be gotten at nome even in Nav
York, are the advantages of studv
ing ert abroad. On the other hani
the advantages of studying art n,
nome are many and important.
In THE ART SCHOOLS IN PARIS.
often teacher gives no NOR,
IMAM an hour to sixty pupils. an
shat no oftener than twice week
ne very, very rarely takes IN,
brush or charcoal in bis hand bn'
merely fingers q momen Mt and hi,
terribly discouraging criticisms ar,
ms mort frequent. He is more tbs,
hkely to trans6x the student VIII
BONG remark like. uEra.a 81