The sun., 1896-07-01
The Development Of American Art,

A prominent member OF the Academy Of
Design writes to us that he himself has
unhesitating confidence in the wisdom of
cultivating class relations with Columbia
University" but that he finds that dis
trust OF alliances Of any kind is strongly
rooted in the Academy" and that it must
be made plain that the Academy is to be
benefited and its autonomy in no way
threatened"
This desire to preserve the independence
Of the Academy as an association of artists
is natural and reasonable. No proposition
looking to the disturbance Of its complete
autonomy as such deserves the consdera-
tion of its members. Their present power
of governing themselves and Of electing
artists to receive tho distinction OF mem
bership with them should not be interfered
with by any outside organization in any
measure They should jealously distrust
every suggestion involving the exercise
of influence from any other body upon
their artistic judgment. II the alliance
proposed, therefore, were with another
and competing association Of art
lists, it might reasonably be opposed as
prejudicial to the necessary autonomy Of
the Academy Of Design as now organized.
1t would require dangerous concession and
compromise. But an alliance with the
great university system of Columbia would
cause no such disturbance. The Academy
would remain as it is. self f-governing In
stitution wholly free from the interference
of the other. Only it's educational forces
would be joined with the university, and as
the result Of the union there could
be developed school OF art which would
at once become famous, reflect honor on
both, and bring substantial gain to both,
but chiefly to the artists.
The gain to the Academy would be in
many ways. II 1t undertook to buy land
and put up suitable. building for It's uses,
the money it obtained from the sale of its
old property would be exhausted in that
did not have to borrow a large additional
sum. A wholly desirable site alone would
cost all that the Academy has accumulated.
BY the proposed alliance 1t could get the
site free; and the great interest and the
sanguine hopes such union would provoke
could be relied upon to induce the contribu-
ton of the cost of the building by men and
women desirous of promoting American art.
Thus 1t would obtain Its building without
intrenching upon its present funds. In say
ing this, of course, we assume that the
trustees of Columbia would give the use OF
the land for the perpetual occupancy of the
Academy.
The fund would thus remain as an en-
dowment for the Academy, forever reliev-
ing 1t from the danger Of pecuniary distress,
and. with the large appropriations already
made by Columbia for its school Of archi-
lecture. would provide for the mainte-
nance Of joint and comprehensive art
school on a scale comparable to the
Beaux Arts of Paris, 80 famous the world
over. Meantime the Academy as an asso-
citation of artists would remain In the full
and undisturbed exercise of its existing
functions. Its endowment fund would be
under absolutely secure trusteeship under
which its diversion for any other purpose
than that stipulated would be impossible.
The Academy of Design, with unchanged
name, would thus stand at the head OF
American art, and command worldwide
consideration as the foremost and most
potent influence In developing art and ar