New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-13
ARCHITECTURE IN THE ACADEMY.
WILL Fl. LOWS CRITICISM OF THE FAILURE TO


WILL Fl. Lows CRITICISM OF THE FAILURE TO
RECOGNIZE IT PROPERLY UPHELD
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir Your article in The Tribune of yesterday
headed site Question Not Yet Settled" must have
been read-apart from the simple question Of site
with interest by members Of the Academy OF De-
sign and Of the American Institute OF Architects.
also. doubtless, by many connoisseurs and laymen.
The well-known painter. VIII H. Low. Is therein
quoted as referring to the failure hitherto OF the
Academy to give suitable recognition to that one OF
the fine arts (which. In all history. has been the
FIRST to exist-archltecture He Is certainly correct
In that statement 1t Is true that In old times the
walls Of the Academys exhibition rooms-or at
least easily measurable proportion of their hall
way-were open to such renderings Of their work as
architects chose to submit. and the hanging COM
mittees chose to pass and perhaps 1t was the fault
Of the architects themselves that the display they
made was generally quite meagre. A little more
enterprise on their part might have produced larger
results This was before the profession exhibited on
its own account. first through the medium OF the
New-York branch OF the American Institute on
Architects and aferward through that OF the Archi-
tectural League OF New-York. a local art society
which. by uniting under an architectural title vari-
Gus representatives OF the decorative arts sub
s.diary to architecture in It's high and ultimate
sense. has done very appreciable work toward the
education OF the public In all OF them.
But granting the indebtedness OF the architects to
the Academy this OF its walls for their little
shows, Mr.. Low probably thinks that the ~ A d.
has evertheess. not sufficiently discharged the
functions IL set out to fulfil, and which are GER
tanly involved In the assumption CT the title of an
Academy of Design. 1t has 1t is true had on paper
a department OF architecture. though ! dare say
some of its fellows and associates not given 10 the
reading Of dry constitutions and bylaws, do not
know it has had that But It does not. Ike Its
prototypes and It's contemporary sister societies In
Europe include architectural practitioners on Its
roll Of professional membership; and. falling such
association its claim to represent the four arts OF
design Is not we'll founded.
Mr. Lows remarks have special and personal
interest for me. inasmuch as twenty-seven years
ago the American Institute OF Architects published
a monograph Of mine Architectural and other
Art Societies" etc.. offering suggestions for the
proper administration Of a really. and not simply
nominal. National architectural brotherhood. In
which wide. p. 29) used these words:
Leaving the scuptors and engravers to take care
score National Academclans Of the four Arts of
Design how many architects they have among them
are In practice only a sectional and not National
body; and II they have too little Of the pure amor
too little culture outside OF their speciality draw
the line themselves between architecture proper and
It's o. and M nna o he
would il not at least have been quite safe well
fessional then honorary welcome TO their Fellow
townsman. the architect OF Trinity Church
Perhaps being younger than am now. did not
sufficiently take into account the probability that
the seeming offshness or half-heartedness OF the
artist painters may have proceeded not nearly 80
much from their own TOO little culture. outside Of
their specially" or from professional inhospitallty.
from the real supposed necessity Of the admin
istra.ors Of a trust largely dependent on public
patronage recognizing, through their methods the
artistic status quo Of the communicate that time
quite incapable. except In its most cultivated circles,
OF separating In its estimate OF exterior things, the
trade Of building from the art OF architecture.
1t Is therefore. peculiar qualification 20 me. and
doubtless 1t will give satisfaction to many others.
observe, after the lapse of more than quar-
ter Of century since called attention to the sub
ject that distinguished artist and Acade
mician VIII II. Low should give what may
perhaps be considered semi-ofcial expression TO
existing feeling in the administration of the Acad
envy. II may lead TO the remedy Of omission that
has endured too long. and without which rem
edy-no matter how much credit and regard the
" A. d. deserves for what It has accomplished In
behalf OF field OF the fine artists claim 10
represent the accepted four arts OF design IS not
really justified A. J. BLOOk
New-York July :. 1896