New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-26
A MEANS OF ART CULTURE.
REPRODUCTIONS ON AN ELABORArH
SCALE OF ETHIOPIAN MASTERPIECES

SCALE OF EUROPEAN MASTERflbCh'''
Consul General Mason, Of Berlin, has made
report giving a description OF an association
organized in Berlin some years ago Tor mo
purpose Of applying a new process or coloreo
photogravure to the reproduction Of the master
pieces in the royal galleries Of Europe The
educational character OF the work, MT Mason
thinks. makes it worthy Of notice The report
reads as follows:
II will doubtless interest the friends OF es-
thetic Gu ure in America to know that socIey
in Berlin, known as the Nereinlgung der Nuns
freunde fur die amtlichen Pubucatonth ust
K1nicIichen National Gallerie Ctnion OF Frleh1S
Of Art for the Official Publication or the hoyai
National Galleries. which is organized uHIci
charter issued by the Prussan Ministry or Wor-
ship and Education, is about TO send ueie tt
Ia our country for the purpose OF ESTABLISHING
a branch Office in the United states AS itS
name implies, the society is the Venice LOT us
tributing among the educational and rehSlous
institutions Of Germany and the people III gen.
eral fac-simile copies in coors or the graz
masterpieces and famous paintings in the roSd,
galleries in Europe, thus planting the seeus u
art education in the minds OF the rising gem
Grafton and fostering among the lhleiISc"'
classes n cultivated taste for wholesome art
The popularity which the society enjoys mere
and the su ccess which has crowned It's e1OrS
must be accredited to the artistic standard OK
its productions which rise far above the mean
ingless black and white prints cheap chloii,oa.
photogravures etc. that flood the German arr
market. This superiority is due, in the nam;
to the peculiar process owned ana eHpIo!eu
by the society In its reproductions process
which in due course. il intends TO transplant 70
the United States II differs in its method from
any heretofore employed. inasnuch as IL eha-
bles the reproducing artists not only 10 create
true facsimiles Of the original in every outline.
by means Of photography and steel etching, Dut
also to produce the depth OF colornS ana the
peculiaritics Of manner OF each master Dy d
sDpcial employment OF the coors called hello
A. .Ftfa inc 10
work Of the artists.
THE methods employed by the society for the
distribution Of its productions among the euu-
cationa and religious institutions Oh the Cou'A
try and the pcJDle at large are unique
It obtained at the start list OF patrons Who'
I'm consideration of certain annual Contributors,
caused the society TO distribute a number OF
the works among the educational institutions
OF the country, Thi, list Of patrons gradually
grew headed by the Emperor and Empress OF
GERMANY who are followed by many or NC
members Of other royal and pripcey famllieS
in Europe until il has reached an agSregals
membership Of more than sixteen thousand
These patrons gradually INTRODUCED Ihe 81
cietys productions into the homes oi SUDAN
officers teachers civic employees. and people IN
the humber walks OF life, who, however. be-
fore becoming entitled to the privilege OF re-
ceiving such art reproductions, had to sign me
society's roll OF membership and thus become
active agents in the missionary work
Keeping it's educational tendencies contlnu,
alIy in mind the society has always exercised
the greatest care in the choice Of subjects for
reproduction. 1t has made selections from the
| great classical and modern religious painters
Rafael Murillo. Guido REM, Paolo NeroneSe
being among the former. and Hoffman, FLOCK
horst Gerhardt. and others, among the latter:
II has also endeavOred TO foster the love or
home and country by giving reproductions from
famous masters which represent scenes from
history and il will adhere TO like polcy IN the
conduct OF its American branch. Each year a
number OF subjects from the history OF the hiteu
States these subjects TO be chosen by an
American Advisory Board. will be selected for
reproduction. the originals to be painted ~
American artists. QeutZes famous canvas
| washington Crossing the Delaware. Is already
on the stocks in the society's atellers 10 open
| the American series) These American hlstori-
COL naintinps will be placed on exhibition both
| in the United States and In Europe, ana goIo
| medals will be awarded by the society 10 NOSE
/ American artists whose works are chosen Tor
/ renroduciion American landscapes and marine
! views viii also be included in this line, and IL
! Is proposed in time. TO erect suitable buHdihg
in one of the principal cities Of the Union when
| is TO serve the purposes OF an artistic Workshop
! for the American branch Of the society