New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-15

no. abroad he is thoroughly lueh.ineu
hs rrr,ish art and social nfe' ana un'l ms
win ~ IN Boston has seldom sent pictures
F,nihltion in America.
iol = thor American artists VINO nave SET
~" -, ~ work in London are Mr. shannon
tea .hbev Mr. Boughton. Mr. Mcclure hafhl
NJ -, Mark Fisher Mr.. shannon and
"" ,hhev are among the leading He'i'oeis Va
NY 49, Academy and contribute brilliant
he my .,,pal exhibitions. Mr.. Boughton
WON Poval Academician Of high rank he
Is sNO Lehman nv birth. although his early
a" 80 snent m Albany. and his art work
yea Sor,,n in America. At An international ex-
vas 49, ,r,e the incoming one at the Worlds
mo'".r 80 artists would naturally send their
"a" - the British section and not 10
pane section since they are now ident-
"a with English art
neD = tho American artists who have taken
..-,anert residence abroad without In any
W rcrouncing their nationality are w !.
-. { : Pearce. A Harrison. J. q. Mel
p"' gorge Hitchcock. F. a. Bridgman. wal
Wv" ,,.r,,ven ". GAY J. L. Stewart. Julian
7 lord Weeks II. s Bisbing. j. W. Al
so- and II Johnson. They are members or
-,is Society Of American Artists. and are
u" much 10 maintain the reputation OF Amer
W. -. abroad They will exhibit pictures al
- por,s Exposition in the American section II
u" h.~a In Munich are c. Mari, O. Peck
o. r~r3ch and other American artists. There
-" ,.o many Younger American artists VINO
~ -.o-vinq industriously abroad and display
- - talent All these men are sensitive
Ne ,,s,. are reproached for being disloyal to
w. country and Indifferent to the interests OF
.-,oar art have often heard their indig-
-, n-otests against what they regard as uh-
n- - ,-,,,c,sn1 and treatment at home. At the
=, .vci-ing controversy would like to pre-
-, their case as they state H.
THE COMPLAINTS OF ARTISTS
assert that their works are Disseminated
-. nv brother artists at home whenever
-. ssna them 10 American shows. that their
.,.,-ss are badly hung and that II is useless
.t.ro N compete for prizes. They give as an
n,..-o,ion the rejection Of Mr.. Mechers's pict-
-. ~rhe Sermon" by the Society OF American
,.,,,s for n frivolous reason. and add that sew
49,, =, the prlzes in New-York are only open 10
.,s.s living in America They alege that
.~,-,s-, ts rampant in Boston, and that Amer
-, artists living abroad invariably suffer from
A. Pittsburg they seemed at first TO have
a. ,raa-rnent since the management was not
.,,-ollsd by fellow-artists: vet when Mr. Mel
As-s won second prize II was taken away on
a. ground that his picture did not fulfil the re-
onreuoents subsequently the jury was made
-, n. seven artists from the United States and
,ro --o-, Europe and while Mr.. Shannon has
h.sn awarded prize American competitors re-
,sins abroad have been virtually excluded.
Tho artists whose statements am quoting ad-
nit that they have had better treatment in Chi
eago and Philadelphia than in other American
cities In Chicago their pictures are always
well hung and they are encouraged to send
,hsir work 70 the exhibitions. In Philadelphia
N Abbey Mr. shannon and Mr. Alexander
have won prizes and until 1897 the American
artists living abroad had no cause for COM
plslnt one or TWO prizes coming TO them every
wear They assert that within two years there
has been change Of method AT Philadelphia
which has been prejudicial 10 their interests
Nevertheless they now have over sixty pictures
on exhibition in Philadelphia and nearly as
many In Pftsburg and elsewhere They con-
sder useless 10 send their pictures 10 New
York for exhibition, on account of what they
consider unfair discrimination.
lam well aware Of the answer which will he
made n this statement Of grievances. II viii
be urged that these artists are only Americans
by the accident OF birth. that they live abroad
and choose foreign subjects and that they only
claim citizenship in the United States when II Is
10 their pecuniary advantage TO do so. II will
also be contended that American artists living
IN their country and finding their subjects there
are entitled 70 be considered the real representa-
tves OF National art and should have superior
treatment 70 men who are virtually foreigners
In their lives and tastes. Without entering into
controversy which is familiar 10 American
readers, content myself with laying stress upon
single point which impresses every American
living abroad.
These American painters have rendered an i'm
portant service 70 their country by work Of
high order Of excellence At the international
exposition % 1889 twelve medals. including two
honor and four sold medals were awarded 10
American artists living in Europe. Men like
Whistler Sargent Dannat. Melchers. Gay Har-
rion. Weeks. Hitchcock Alexander Tanner
Walden and Mari are represented either in the
luxembourg or at the other great galleries in
Berlin Munich Dresden and Brussels. and many
ethem a. more than one treasury Of high art
hey have won medal after medal and decora-
tons without number by the artistic excellence
O. their work These men are not 70 be idly re-
Preached for lack OF patriotic instinct and Amer
nan feeling when they have impaired honor. dis
tnction and prestige 10 American art. With
~" COnsp4clOus exceptions tney nave MOI sepd-
'ated themselves officially from American art by
joining foreign academies and associations. In
stead u being treated as disloyal Americans
Who are ashamed OF their native country and
only find 81 convenient to have good market
Oehind them they should be honored at home
sno treated with impartiality and justice as
men o. DISTINCTION who are serving their coun-
ny vel and helping 70 make American art Illus
taous IN F