The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-14
THE INFLUENCE
OF TRUE ART.
It EIeyateS and Refnes All Who
Study II,
ONES MENTAL SPECTAClES,
VIII Determine Whether the Artist
Has Made a Painting Offensive 70
Ones Tastes and ideas OF
Propricty.
ONES MENTAL SPECTACLtS,

no eNNlllflNM OH Fl AiN NHAA ihtAANNNNn Nt
this city has caused a great deal OF dis
c%ussion. pro and con, as 20 whether it IS
proper for exhibitions OF this kin to be
permitted. and some exceedingly sensitive
people have expressed themselves as
being shocked at It,.
Now, exhibitions OF this character IN
this country are comparatively new, for
ours is a comparatively new country. In
the old World. where they have immense
galleries. and where art and the appre-
citation of it IS considered one Of the
branches Of an education. parents take
. their children daily or weekly 20 see the
grand poems in marble and the beautiful
paintings OF both the ancient and modern
masters and point out their beauties and
artistic worth, and they soon cultivate a
desire for ant. For that reason the Euro
Deln IS much farther advanced I'm these
matters than the people OF the New
World. They contemplate the very
highest type of art. They learn TO appre-
ciato 10 and understand it and TO view II
from the proper standpoint.
ANATOMICAILY CORRECT.
II is a fact. that 81 it were not for the
life model there would Doe no such thins
qs approximate perfection I'm either
sculn-uro or painting as the artist would
NOT be able to- make his figure anatomi-
cafy correct without this model TO work
from. lie could not get Che proper loca-
ton OF the joints and muscles. a paint
irg or statue. unless made so by the
artist. is not essentially offensive 10 any
properly directed mind. T. depends upon
the mental spoctacles through which a. is
viewed. God made the figure OF woman
beautiful. The female figure was His
browning effort and when He finished
His l8bors Of creation, Tie LETT this legacy
of loneliness to the world. Yet there
are some people of such a nature, that
they see vulear'ty sd real art. There
was. some years ago in Omaha, NeDY a
woman who tried 90 get the city Council
90 pass an ordinance prohibiting the eN-
hition OF certain paintings or sculpture
within the city limits. Before they had
time TO draw mp the ordinance she ran
off with "a colored hickman. The ordl-
nance was never passed.
II is time that people learn 20 look
at "a work OF ART and to love and admire
it for what it is. Vice Ike virtue may
be the result OF education Any human
soul. by habitually making itself CONVEX
SAINT with coarse things may. in Tine.
become so degenerate as 20 see nothing
but bad in anything, and vice versa.
Hence Pope says.
"Vice is q monster Of so frghtful micn,
AS 20 De hated needs hut % Doe seen.
Yet seen too oft familiar with her face.
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.
REAL ART IS REFINING.
Now. is there anything moro beautiful
than the image OF God en- which man
was made? Can amy one who has not
a corrupt mind see anything vulgar ~
Praxitcles' beautiful Venus dc Medicl!
Is there anything vulgar In the "Greei
Slaye2' To is needless 90 recount tn'
many marveilousiy superb representa-
tions OF the human figure by great artists
The ancients were not afraid of true art
10 caused none OF them Co so into hys
tcrical commissions They saw il in oi
and stone. and bowed own before 1
with their characteristic alteration o
whatever was artisticaily beautiful. The
loved art for itself. and dld not feag tha
it would degrade. but rather elevat
them. morally and Intellectually.
Pictures often seen Bon cigar-st0rc win
doos or upon b|lll-boards. may Dee obiec
I tionahle. because they possess n0 artist
merit and are gotten up Tor vulgar dis
plav. but "a Venus by o. great master
should not be $50 condemned. Art I'm it
supreme expression. should exclude dc
graded ideas. n We do NOT know ho'
TO view g. 90 is time we learned Art an
music have done more t0 ciNlii2o and Do
fine the world than % other Know.
forces. and if you go 20 a country whor
neither are appreciated you VIII un
Yourself among UlrBarians. Alas 10
those who cannot like the banishcd Duk
In the forest of Alden. rs fold by shakes
pear- I'm cas- You Like lf'; See Tongue
IN trees. books in running brooks. ser
mons IN stones. and good in everything
T.. LINCOLN.