The morning news., 1899-03-07

Telfair Academy's collection of paintings.
During my recent visit to Washington I
had again the pleasure TO enjoy these
splendid examples of old English por-
traituTe when a guest at his house. I
did not fail on this occasion to refresh
his memory of the favorable impression
the Telfair Academy had made on him
when here some years ago. While look
ing at his pictures he pointed to the
Ship of the Desert and said, will
you accept it as a donation?" Il would
not give it to you if did not think it
worthy of acceptance" 1 gladly accepted
it. The picture is now in the gallery.
1t is fine In color. The picturesquely ca
parisoned camel swaying with the leis-
urely poised Arab on its back is well re-
lieved from the heated atmosphere of the
desert as background. 1t is worthy ad-
dition to the Telfair collection.
Mr. johnson has sent another small
painting by French artist He says in
his note to me, Il hope to see 1t on the
walls of your academy when next l visit
Savannah" Ii is particularly gratifying
to receive donations at a time when, at
least, in this direction, the academy is
resting on its oars in welcome anticipa
ton that its debt will soon be thing of
the past and again in the position to pur-
chase works of art with its own re-
sources, as the will of Miss Telfair di-
rects, after the expenses for the care
of the building and supervision of the
institution have been met. In this way
only can the continued interest in the
academy be kept alive, and the front
rank among art centers which 1t has
hitherto held be retained
My work this winter so far has been
mainly directed toward the preservation
of the paintings in the large gallery,
oh,
skis strong and realistic picture, Dis
pute of Russian Mountaineers," was in
danger of complete destruction from the
cracking of the paint If 1t had not been
arrested by the removal of the varnish
which it received when at the Exposition
Universelle, at Paris in 1889, where
bought 1t. The picture was painted in
1885, and too fresh to be vanished. II
Is well known that painting will crack
if vanished before 1t has had time to
harden l have removed the varnish, filled
in all cracks and restored 1t to its original
strength and beauty. There are others
which required the same attention, which
l have also restored.
The collection of casts, with the excep-
ton of the LAGOON group and a few of
the large statues, which 1 hope to treat
this winter, is now in the best possible
condition. The finish which the casts
have received at my hand, a most ardu-
Gus labor, will prevent the dust adhering
10 them as much as it did when in their
rough and unfinished state.
Removing the old roadbed in President
street and replacing 1t with ebert, on the
south side of the academy has done
away with much of the black dust which
is constantly whirled against the building
and find its way to the interior.
If the same is done on the north side,
1aec than Ona-ba1f
width of President street. and, therefore,
at very small expense the freshness and
attractiveness of the works of art would
suffer still less. 1t is unfortunate that It
should have remained so long in IFS pres
ent condition.
In conclusion, / desire to state that I
have submitted to the board of managers
a proposition to go to Europe, TO visit
Egypt, Greece and Italy, for the purpose
of painting preliminary studies for five
large pictures, about seventeen feet long
each to be placed In the panels of the
frieze designed by me in the plan and
construction of the annex for that pur-
pose in the Hail of Casts, of places in
those countries which are associated with
the sculptures therein exposed and the
originals were either produced or what
has been preserved of them found
and to-day appeal 10 us in their classic
beauty and perfection of style, not sur
passed by modern genius, and attest i'm
solitary magnlfcence the power of the
masters that made them 1t is our priv
ilege to preserve and extend their fame.
Museums generally have large colec-
tions of Egyptian and Assyran, as well as
Greek sculptures, either originals or re-
productions or both. The Telfair Acad-
emy so far has only the latter, and to
bring in view the evolution of plastic art
from its earlier form to its highest devel-
opment, ] would advise to add casts of a
rev of the specimens Of the former L cOuIu
have them made while abroad Re
productions OF objects nodded direct from
the originals of Greek, Renaissance and
Gothic architecture should also be-ac.
qured. They are of great advantage in
educating the eye as weil-as the mind in
so important an art. The cast of these
is small in comparison with results obtain
ed from such an education. To paint the
necessary studies for the fine paintings re-
qures about seven months.
have Offered to devote my
time gratuitously TO this undertaking n
the academy reimburse me the travelling
expenses thereby incurred whenever il is
In a condition 10 do so.
Carl L. Brandt, N. A.,