The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-27


time this reaches the eyes Of the
newspaper readers on the other side Of
the pond the great question which is
vexing the English art world will have
been settled namely, the selection of
a president of the Royal academy to
fill the place made vacant by the re-
cent death of Sir John MilIais, who
had occupied the post of great honor
scarcely six months.
It will be the second time this year
that the members of the Royal acad-
envy will be called upon to elect a presi-
dent-an unprecedented case. Lord
Leighton, the seventh president, died
only on Jan. % last, and Millais died
last month. The new president will be
the ninth in the history of the acad-
envy, Sir Joshua Reynolds being the
first.
Many things enter into the selection
of a president of the Royal academy
which to Americans may seem out Of
place. The artistic capabilities of the
man, for instance, are not of so much
Importance as his standing at court.
If he should happen to merit the dis
approba ton of the queen, or of any
of her immediate circle, he at once
becomes impossible. Millais would
have been elected president eighteen
years ago, when Sir Francis Grant
died, but for the displeasure of the
queen. Millais had married the Iii
vorced wife of John Ruskn, and in
consequence was not persona grata at
court. Time had seemingly toned down
the offense in the eyes of the queen.
for she made no objection to his cleo
ton upon the death of Lord Leighton.
AN OPEN QUESTION.
There was not the excitement over
the new presidency when Leighton
died that there is today, as it was then
generally accented on all sides that
Millais was entitled to the place. But
now it is quite q different matter.
There are at least half dozen artists
of the first rank who are regarded by
themselves and their respective follow
ers as candidates for the high honor.
But the objections against one and all
of them ere numerous.
In the first place, the president must
not only be a commanding figure in
art circles and a faYorite with the
queen, but he must be a social power.
He must be familiar with the intrica-
eies of the best society. to grac efully
dispense the Inequalities of the acad-
enlicians. Moreover, he must be a
man Of wealth and able to enter ON an
ella borate scale. He must be conser-
vative in his artistic feelings and 1eal-
ously guard against the admission of
To deal innovations. Eccentric char
acters Exc Whistler, no matter how
great their merit, must be frowned
upon, otherwise it would be regarded
as jeopardizing the whole august struc-
ture of the academy.
The men who seem to stand fore
most among the candidates for the
presidency are Laurenz Alma-Ta dena,
Hubert Herkomer. William Ouilter Or
chardson, Marcus Stone. Edward J.
Povnter, Valentine Cameron Prinsep
and Sir Edward Burne-Jones Five
years ago the latter was Gle ssedl IN the
Whistler group of eccentrics, but Of
change. although 1t Is doubtful if Sir
Edward is potent enough to reach the
presidency.
ALMA-TADEMA's CHANCES
IF the matter were to be decided
simply on the unvarnished question of
merit, Alma-Tt5 dema would beyond
doubt secure the honor. There is one
thing which stands in his way how
/ ever. and that is his foreign birth.
If the English people are liberal
enough to ignore this. his chances will
be better than any of the others.
Alma-Tadema was born in Friesland
in 1896 and is consequently at the ripe
/ age of 60 years In everything but mis-
/ birth he is English, and this will
! doubtless carry some weight. He be-
J came a nsturalizedF Englishnnan in
/ 1873, and his wife is an English wo-
man. She was Laura Epps, and as an
artist and novelist has won extensive
/ fame.
The London home of Alma Tadfama
: is one Of the centres Of the European
art world. Both he and his wife go
extensively into society, and their own
entertainments are of magnificent
order On this score, and It is m i'm
portant one, as has been pointef out.
he would be an acceptable leader of
the Acadernicians.
+ ArtissicaIly. he is considered to he the
premier of the London art world. Re
received his art education in Antwerp
and Amsterdam. and & Il member O.
the Royal academies of Munich, Berlin,
Stockholm. Vienna and Madrid His
best known paintings are repres snta-
tions of neurological scenes. ard in
this particular work he is pre-trninent.
BURNE-JONES NOT POPULAR.
/ Sir Edward BuTre-Jones is not a
popular artist with the public at large,
and while his merit il CT the g, aap-
tional kind. his chances Of attaining
the high honor are no. regarded &C
very great. He is the leading KIP, L.
ent of the romantic school. He hcT
marked facility Of expression and Lis