The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-13
n ~
A Rapid Growth That Promises to Make
This Country the Louvre of Nntions.'

A Rapid Growth That Promises to Make
This Country the Louvre of Nations"
From The Nin.teenM Century.
1t does not seem to be commonly realized that
America-that is, the United s.ates-is on the way to
become the Louvre of the nations. From year to
year its public galleries have been enriched with
masterpieces of all the modern schools: and by pur-
chase, bequest. or gift. many valuable and some
great pictures by the older Italian, Flemish. and
Spanish masters have been added to the already i'm.
posing store of national art wealth.
In New York prominently, but also in Boston.
Washington, Philadelphia, and in other large cities
from New Orleans in the South to Chicago in the
North. andifrom Baltimore in the East to San Fran
cisco in the West. there is now so numerous, and, in
the main, so distinguished a congregation of pic
lures. of all schools and periods. that the day is not
only at hand. but has arrived, when the native stu
dent of art no longer needs to go abroad in order to
learn the tidal reach and high water mark in this or
that nations achievement, in this or that schools &C.
complishment, in this or that individual painters
work. In time, and probably before long, the q eat
desideratum will be attained-the atmosphere
wherein the creative Imagination is sustained and
nourished. At present the most brilliant American
painters must follow the trade flag OF art, and that
banner haunts nowhere steadily but in Paris and
London.
There are now in America more training schools,
more opportunities for instruction, more chances
for the individual young painter to arrive at self
knowledge than were enjoyed of old by the eager
youth of Flanders, OF France. of Spain, even of Italy.
But thu, essential is still wanting. without which all
these advantages are merely as stars among tho
branches. There is no atmosphere of art in America
at large.
In the great majority Of towns throughout the
States there is no atmosphere at all. But every few
years the radical influences at work are transmitting
these conditions, and though neither Boston, nor
Washington, nor even New York are yet art centres in
any way comparable to London, or Paris, or Munich,
the time is not far distant when the inevitable must
happen.
In actual respect of art treasures the great cities Of
the States are already beyond our own provincial
cities and towns. among which only Liverpool and
Glasgow stand out prominent.
New York, naturally. has become the art metropolis
Of the States. Already the art wealth of this great
city is almost incalculable. Boston comes next. then
Washington. But notwithstanding the general idea
to the contrary. the finest private collections are not
in New York. There is no private collection in New
York or Boston or Washington to compare for =
moment with that of Mr.. W.. L. Walters at Baltimore.
OF all the homes of art to be seen in America. Mr..
Walters's is prominently /" the House Beautiful"
Within the last ten years the Metropolitan Museum
of Art in New York has become one Of the most inter
esting Of all national art collections.