New-York tribune., 1899-12-03
H. R. BUTLER ON ART UNION
PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN FINE ARTS
SOCIETY THINKS THE TIME NOT
YET RIPE FOR THE PROJECT.

Regarding the proposed union Of all the art So
cetes OF this city in organization and the plan
lot hodlhS representative exhibition OF painting
sculpture and architecture in Madison Square Gar
den' Howard Russell Butler president OF the Amer
lean Fine Arts Society. said yesterday to Tribune
reporter:
! am deeply IN sympathy with the idea OF bring
ing the art organizations of this city together at
centre proyided 1t is done on practical lines.
spring of 1889, when proposed the erection Of the
zine Arts Building. in which six Of the prominent
plan discussed in The Tribune yesterday and to-day
mas, believe, double aim. First. to hold gen
eral eral exhibition Of American art in Madison Square
Garden, and, second TO establish a home on
grand scale for all art societies.
A plan for general exhibition I'm Madison Square
Garden was proposed in 1891 representative com
eXhlbiuon and the plan was finally abandoned be-
cause OF the unsuableness OF the place and the
immense expense estimated AT 10000 OF preparing
Ine nan ana conducting the exhibition. do not
say that II cannot be done. II it Is done 1t must
invitation TO artists There are a large number OF
arr societies In the city. OF which exhibit
are invited to submit works. and in which appear
all classes Of art production. would mean the aban-
the usual exhibitions Of these seven societies
stands to reason that there would not be enough
can hardly agree with the views OF George
Keister when he says In The Tribune that instead
Of multiplicity Of art societies we should have
one society, and that the different classes OF art
workers should be represented within the mother
At time 1. too. regretted the large number OF
better acquainted with their internal interests |
found that all these societies had right live.
Iney have sprung up Of good stock; but IN un-
mined men, who believe In the principles OF their
art, and who have bound themselves together 10
hght their way. Such has been the spirit OF our
art societies since the foundation OF the National
Academy in 1896 to the foundation Of the Sculpture
Society in 1888 As a consequence, they have deyel-
oped great esprit de corps. and there Is jealous
guarding Of the independence and OF the traditions
OF each society II requires very little study 10
that all this is good that it is bearing fruit
and elevating the standard of art In every dlrec-
ton and that II would be folly jeopardize the
would surely result from Mr. Keister's plan. !
should oppose any general exhibition which was
not brought about by cooperation on the part OF
all the existing societies.
The other object Of the present movement Is, l
understand the establishment Of great, perma-
nent home for all art societies. This was the
OF Design, In 1885 TO buy the ten lots then for sale,
az loining the Fine Arts Building. in West Fifty
under plan OF cooperation, all the art societies
OF the city. The promoters OF this plan dld not
contemplate great, elaborate building. Their OBJ
jet rather TO test the principle or co-opera-
tiCn. ~
II seemed to be a great opportunity for the Ma,
tional Academy. In seeking new nome i had
Arts for this city without losing It's own identiy,
The founding OF such an Academy by uniting tne
forces of the city at some centre IS. IN my
opinion. far more important than the ouhdlnS, OF,
great art palace. The time has not come TO build
the palace for modern art which Newly ork Will
ultimately need. We have neither the art TO ny
II, nor the organization. representng the alieu
arts TO administer Il. Besides. Newly ork Is the
most difficult city In the world IN which 10 ma
central site II is doubtful whether Thirty-fourth-
St or even Forty-second-st marks the best local.
first prove their ability TO cooperate When they
have done that the palace will be forthcoming.