The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
THE ACADEMY'S NEW LIFE.
CHANCES or GREAT IMPORTANCE
TO AMERICAN ART

sign Is About to Become What Its Name
Impiios-work Of the Society of Ameri
can Artists-French Art and American
Painters--T Academy's New Building
A new era Of usefulness and dignity appears
to be- opening for the National Academy Of De
sign That marked change has como over the
spirit u the Academy very lately has been patent
to casual Observers Tho change has really hecn
q slow growth. caused by influences both within
and without the institution, hut recently b'com.
ing generally pcrccptiblc A greater change.
however the signs n the present period Of transition
prcsAgc change from an art body drc,msCribed
aud all but local. TO one Of national distinction
and importance. A new interest attaches To tn o
Academys coming exhibition, which opens with
tho new year and the augury In Of exhibitions 81
greater value, soon az movements which arc
under way among the acadcmicians and are
fayorably regarded aud may he fostercd by
artists who are not now Of the Academy, shall
have been accomplished. aud the Academy shall
have become more truly representative The
new spirit. too makes for the quicker accomplish
mcnt II the task directly ahead ~ the academcians
the erection 81 the beautiful building planned for
their new home, either on MOrningsde Heights,
or in another situation. Their funds are nccu-
mulating, and they look with reasonable hope
Tor moro talid nccrctiuns when patrons Of art
IN this city ARE enabled 10 see that the Academy
is fulfilling the functions properly required Of
such an institution and when they learn II
the service II is rendering tn the community
Any account Of the change must include con.
sidcratiun II the Society Of American Artists
Tho mutations 81 twenty years have made the
HcadcmicianS lees conservative, and the mem
.hcrs 81 the younger body less radical In theso
years men who were most active in tho formation
a. the younger body. the FIRST existence II which
vasa protest against the Academy methods
81 tho time. have become potent element in tho
membership 81 the older institution To he SURE
some II the ncadcmicans II that time won't over
n tho new society, no, b,ng wholly in agreement
with the academic body, with the understanding
that there was to bc no cnmity between the old and
the new organizations But It Is still more re.
markahc that men of the Society VI American
Artists, t. when less than a score Of years ago
some acadcmiciHns would not speak ON the street
are now devoted 10 the Academy and work In its
interests having the high regard Of their elders
while they labor still for the recognition there of
the essential principles for which they hound
themselves together in the younger society.
In 1879 or 1880 a handful Of young men came
home from study in France and would have no
rn'icnc" with the art Of their home country but
talked French or, and cried Bastien Iepage vo-
rifcrously. The Academy would have none Of
them. The Socicty II American Artists was
the Outgrowth Of this dispute and was established
partly in Sclfdcfcncc. Wealthy ctyrns came
10 thr aid NJ the young mon and their prosperity
IL seen in the Fine Arts Euilding in Fify-sevcnih
street. where tho National Sculpture Society
md the Architectural League both representing
membership which the constitution Of The
Academy originally contemplated ~ a part Of
that hody mr." housed with them. One of the
founders NJ tho Society 81 American Artists is
now president Of the Academy. Frederic Dcl.
maj - ihcrp ~ .
came homo from Paris practically together.
Carroll Bcckwith. * chairman of the Acadcmy's
Ways aud Means Committee. which has charge
of the important work II engineering the new
building project OF ninety four Ncadcmicans
to-day thirty eight are. NJ have been. members
Of the Society Of American Artists and If the
thirty eight something like n dozen were orig
nal members al that society. No movement
commensurate with that which led Ia the pro.
motion of the Society Of American ARTISTS has
occurred in the American art world since then.
tho secession Of the Ten American Painters from
that society a couple Of years ago not rejecting
30 marked a departure. But the movement now
progressing within tho Academy may have con.
sequences greater and more enduring. II looks !
IN tho establishment Of the National Academy
Of Design on a basis ns broad as its name i'm plies
asa body Of authority derived from the member
ship Of tho ablest men in the Professions of IN.
fne arts
After having slept for twenty Ave years the
Academy seems 10 be awakening to a full r.aliza-
ton OF its proper sphere Of usefulness As has
been indicated, this is possibly due 10 the energy
and vitality which created the Society Of Amcri-
Artists, for the men who are active in nd
vancing the interests Of the Academy are in most
Instances the ones who opposed IL so success.
FULLY twenty-five years earlier, when that society
va, MAS piahhen. ~ is To be noted, however that
originally founded appear To- be Of a Trustworthy
and enduring character. Cummings Memoirs
containing an account Of the origin and ca rly
struggles OF tho institution show the Acsdemy
as representative body Of painters. scuiptors,
arc ana engTancis comprising about all
sli'uuon was drawn to include those arts and
while by engraving was understood then some,
commonly means, the provision for the inclusion
Of engrsvcrs as members Of the Academy has
scnlptors and cngravcrs should have diminished,
some TO COMPLETE extinction IN the ranks Of the
has been suggested that possibly the limitations
OF the Doges' Palace in Twcnty.thrd street were
such ina, Architecture and sculpture could no,
sSIIHtn The existence today q !he two sepnfsie
the walls Of the National Academy Of Design
The question is asked, in the discussion going
be wise for the institution in the line Of It's deve
s2msni today 10 bark back 10 the days when
~ a. WAS paced az appropriately alter the name
Of an architect or a sCiilptur, an engrayer as
after the name of II painter
The effect Of the new blood which has brgun TO
circulate in the academy was seen AZ the election
Of Dec. Is, OF che two Acadcmicians elected
one was sculptor, Herbert Adams The
other was Douglas. Volk. Both Mr. Volk and
Mr; Adams, and the three associates elected
Robert Nonnoh Of Philadelphia Louis Paul Dcs
sar and George II; Bogert-have been for many
years members Of the Society Of American Artists
Nj V9lk being at present secretary OF the society
The Society Of American Artists continues 10 |
recruit its membership from among the younger
men. Most OF the best men Of talent and ability |
~ the field Of native art who represent the aggres
s,vo 'front.' OF progress In tho Academy, 10 quote
an advncate Of that institution, being graduates |
OF The Society OF American Artists a process OF |
selection Is apparent which shows the trend Of the
movement now going on within the Academy. |
nat Is to hold the ACADEMY 10 higher plane SO |
That members Of all the other art societies NAV |
aspire 10 membership In IT, and that il NAV he |
recognized as tho leading, national representative |
end authoritative body In American art,
The hcadcmiciHns having lived through their |
period o. somnolrncc' the man Just quoted con |
nnurd, and having shaken of the shell Of tho |
duca palace, which leaves them with nice round |
sum on which 10 develop, II will be an interesting
matter 10 watch the eli NJ no