The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-06-01
AT THE YAKE ART SCHOOL.
Annual Address Last Evening by Professor
 John Y. Weir.


 The annual commencement address of the Yale School of Fine Arts was delivered at the Art school last evening by Prof John r. Weir, director of the school. The lecture hall was well filled with q select audience, most of those present being in evening dress, when Professor Weir and President Dwight entered at S:30 Prof. Weir began his address at once He spoke of the life works and art of AIlllet, In his opening words Prof. Weir spo.c of the annual ad- dresses of the Art school having been pre- vlously given by gentlemen not connected with the school and spoke of the appropri- ateness of having the address delivered by u member Of the faculty on this occasion, when the Wurtz prize would be awarded for the first time. He then spoke of Mill let's early life,. saying that he was born of q peasant family and early In life gave evi- dence of being an artist by nature. Prof. Weir said that the great event in French art circles In the seventeenth and eight eenth centuries was the opening of the Academy in 164S. In art the term aca- departed from the orthodox and was frown ed upon by other artists and even by the government, us ill the style of his pictures It was thought there lurked signs of dan gerous democratic spirit. Millet believed that the finest in art was the portrayal of human experience. He accorded to emo tions and sentiments of the heart first place In his art. Since he did not follow the or thodox school and follow the lead of the schoastics in his work, his pictures were for many years refused prizes. In the painting of the nude he was without peer, and followed that line of work until he one day chanced to perceive that his reputation as it then existed depended on that kind of work. He then, although very poor, re- solved to give up the nude to devote all his energies to the portrayal of nature. The recollections of his early peasant life still cung to him and he resolved to seek among the peasantry the themes for his future n country town, and began anew peasant life, taking from the life of the people with whom he lived the subjects for his paint ings. From, the customs of these people he work to sell for, 25o0 francs. a painting which recently sold for SQ0,0O0 francs.
 Because, his art repudiated the ideas so long dominant, opposition confronted him looked upon as an agitator of the masses from the character of his paintings and as such was looked upon with distrust, and yet he himself said that he had no sympa thy with the dangerous democratic agi- tators and democratic ideas of the clubs, bu. was a thorough peasant and sympa- thized with the peasants. He did not be- lieve wholly in art for arts sake. He con cluded that the suitable was the beautiful in poetry and in pictures. In later years, when he was hon0red at the salon, he re- fused to go up to Paris on the occasion. In 1870 he was appointed fourth on the list of ceived an order from the government to paint eight pieces for the Pantheon for 50,000 francs. He accepted the order, but did not live to finish the work. Before he died he asked to be buried like the peas ants, and his last wishes as to this were respected.
 After the conclusion of Prof Weir's ad- dress, which was most interesting and of which the above Is but a brief summary the prizes of the school were announced The chief prize was the William Wirt Win chester prize. President Dwight spoke of the conditions under which the prize is awarded and introduced MT. Carroll Beck with of the jury of award, who announced exhibit marked K This exhibit was that of Miss Mary Foote of Guilford. Conn., When Miss Foote was mentioned as the winner of the prize she was heartily ap- plauded by the audience. The prize coil sists of S1 300. the income for two years of q foundation of S150O0 and is awarded this year for the first time. The fellowship is intended to enable the successful comnet- itor to pass two years in study abroad
 Other prizes were announced as folovs Mir George H. Langzettel honorable men, ton for drawings from the nude. in con- petition for the Winchester prize; Miss Mil dred Jordan of New Haven, the Alice Kim ball English prize of S50; Miss Ethel WelieS Bennett of New Haven, the Ethel Chfde Walker prize: Miss Helen E. Booth of New Haven, special prize in anatomy Certifi- cates for having fulfilled the three years course In the Art school were given to May Elizabeth whlttlesey. Eleanor HubbeiI Wheeler, Harriett Anna Hitchcock. Flor ence May Lake. and Mildred Clara Jordan
 The Jury of award for the Winchester prize consisted of MT. Carroll Beckwith. Mir John H. Trachlman, and Mir. Frederick Drelman. all of whom are members of the Mutual Academy of Design