The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-27
THE TELFAIR ACADEMY.
Beauties and Purposes of Savannah's
Art Museum.


Art Museum.
Editor Morning News: During my win
ter soiourn in the south, from which 1
have just returned, spent several days in
your pleasant city, and while noting vari-
Gus improvements that had been made
since I was previously there, I was es-
pecially impressed by my visit to the Tel,
fair Academy of Arts and Sciences.
After seeing many other cities of the
south, where there is an almost total want
of art feeling or of art material it is a
most refreshing surprise to come to 5a-
vannah and to find there an art museum,
which, though small, is nevertheless 80
well arranged and so comprehensive IN
its selection. that 1t compares favorably
! with any other of equal extent in this
country or abroad. II is a varitable oasis
in the desert, and certainly reflects the
highest credit upon the public spirit Of the
| late Miss Telfair, who so generously en-
| dowed it, as well as upon the able man
| agement of Mr.. Brandt, whose intelligent
efforts and high artistic sense have
| brought it to its present perfection.
Even the exterior of the building is re-
dolent Of the atmosphere of art, with its
| classic proportions and plastic decora-
| tions; and when once you have passed the
| portal, you might almost imagine yourself
In an European museum. 1t is small, TO
be sure, and there is not much, but what
| there is, is the best of its kind and thor
oughly representative. Here are casts of
| the great masterpieces of Greek and Ro-
man sculpture; the matchless frieze of&he
Parthenon and the figures of its eastern
pediment; the great Toro Farnese the
Venus de Milo and the Apollo Belvidere,
with many other of the gods and heroes
of antiquity, looking calmly down upon
us from their pedestals, with that simple
yet majestic beauty that for twenty CEN
| turtles has stood unsurpassed.
And so with the picture gallery above. A
nobly proDoBtiOned and well lighted room.
with a lofty prze in which are four large
and effective figure panels. Mr.. Brandt,s
| own work. representing the kindred arts
OF painting, sculpture, architecture and en-
craving. There are but few pictures very
few they seem to one accustomed to the
large collections OF the northern cities, but
every one is a masterpiece, well chosen to
represent the different styles Of painting
and thus possessing great educational val
ne. What a powerful depletion of course
passion in SPONTANEOUSLY s Dispute of
Russian Peasants" what exquisite detail
and spirited action In Won Brandts battle
piece; what a wonderful study of facial
expression in Brutt's Farmers Protest."
what pathos in Hackers Relies of the
Brave;' and what dignity and grandeur in
Story's BLACK Prince! These, and sew
eral more, are really great pictures; each
tells its story and tells it well, apart from
mere cleverness Of execution.
The collection of photographs of cele-
brated paint in the European galleries
is we'll selected and well displayed, and
while affording a pleasant Renaissance
to those who have seen the originals, IL Is
,fstah a Information and
cation to those who have not. In fact, Mr..
Brandt seems everywhere to have recog-
nized the important fact that a museum Of
this class is for education rather than dis
play.
of genius, whether original or copies, with
out feeling a love for the beautiful. and
growing desire to be something better,
and to do something better II Is thus
that we are taught how sordid Is ordinary
life, and how dignifed and beautiful and
enjoyable II may be made II we can only
apply this art feeling to ordinary things
We cannot all paint or even possess pic
ture, but I'm building our homes and work
shops In designing and arranging our fur
niture our dress our streets, and our gar
dens. and a thousand details OF everyday
life, we can discriminate between the ugly
and the beautiful, and thus make life
pleasure instead Of a burden.
/ wonder II the people OF Savannah real
~ know what a treasure they possess IN
the Telfnir gallery and II they appreciate
the vast possibilities OF education and en-
joymont which are Just unfolding in ia
wen arranged collectlons2 / could not
help feeling n little discouraged. the first
forenoon that / spent there 20 notice that
/ was the only visitor. ana on no other
occasion dld see more than three or four
people in the building, and these appeared
10 be tourists rather than residents. And
my purpose in writing these lines iH 10 nu-
peal 20 your readers residents Of iayau-
nan. 10 Try 20 make more "
this opportunity ana 10 encourage
others. and especially young people, 90