The Opelousas courier., 1899-08-05
ART IN AMERICA
~rowth That Promises to Make TIL
Country the "Louvre of Nations.n

~ HnAo Hi
Country the "Louvre of Nations
II does not seem to be commonly
realized that America-that is, the
United States-is on the way to be.
come the Louvre Of the nations, re.
marks a writer in the Nineteenth Cen.
fury From year to year the public
galleries have been enriched with
masterpieces of all the modern schools
and by purchase, beauest, or gift,
many valuable and some great pic
lures by the older italian, Flemish,
and Spanish masters have been added
t the already imposing store of ma
tional art wealth.
In New York prominently, but
also in Boston, Washington, Phila-
delphia, and in other large cities from
New Orleans in the south to Chicago
in the north, and from Baltimore in
the east to San Francisco in the west,
there is now so numerous, and. in the
main, SO distinguished a congregation
OF pictures, of all schools and periods,
that the day is not only at hand, but
has arrived, when the native student
OF art no longer needs to go abroad in
order to learn she tidal reach and
high-water markAin this or that ma
tons achievemeH, in this or that
schools accomplishment, in this OF
that individual pflnter's work. In
time, and probably before long, the
great ~desideratum will be attained
the atmosphere wherein the creative
Imagination is sustained and nour-
ished. At present the most brilliant
American painters must follow the
trade flag of art, and that banner
1aunts nowhere steadily but in Paris
and London.
There are now in America more
training schools, more opportunities
for instruction, more chances for the
individual young painter to arrive at
self-knowledge than were enjoyed of
old by the eager youth of Flanders, of
France, Of Spain, ever of Italy. But
the essential is still wanting, without
which all these advantages are merely
as stars among the branches. There
is no atmosphere of art in America at
large.
In the great majority of towns
throughout the States there is no at
mosphere at all. But every few years
the radical influences at work are
transmitting these conditions, and
though neither Boston, nor Washing
ton, nor even New York are yet art
centres in any way comparable to Lon
don, or Paris, or Munich, the time is
not far distant when the inevitable
must happen.
In actual respect of art treasures
the great cities of the States are al
ready beyond our own provincial cities
and towns, among which only Liver
pool and Glasgow stand out pre-
eminent.
New York, naturally, has become
the art metropolis of the States. AL
ready the art wealth of this great city
is almost incalculable. Boston comes
next, then Washington. But notwith-
standing the general idea to the con-
trary, the finest private collections are
not in New York. There is no pri-
vate collection in New York OR Boston
or Washington to compare for a mo-
ment with that of Mr.. W. T. Walters
at Baltimore. OF all the ''homes of
to be e g in America, Mr.. Wal
ters' is pre-eminently ''the House
Within the last ten years the Metro
Museum of art in New York
has become the most interesting of
all national art collections.
Europe Buying Our Musical Instruments.
Till a few years ago more than half
of the musical instruments used in |
this country were imported. Now we
are exporting more musical instru-
by fifty per cent. than we i'm
port.
Our exports of musical instruments
asst year amounted to 81, $3.50, S67,
1920, 094 for the imports. Or
cams were the chief item, represent
a total invoice value of $742, 963.
New York contributed most of these
-9058-valued at $511, 931. The
Kingdom bought 1882 of
hem at a cost of $443, 9s9. The
shipped abroad numbered 9S7,
aalus at 1892, IA. New York sent
lway 429 of them for $3s, 56s. Cham
plain, N. Y, was the nearest compel
tor, but a long way behind at that,
With 81 pianos, worth $22, 756. Can
ida was the largest customer, taking
1875 pianos, or n a day for the entire
year, the value being $ss, 1871. Eng
and took 1874 at $31, 1859, and Ger
many At at $9515. The fact that Bel
yium paid only 1865 for twelve pianos,
while France paid 1880 for ten, does
lot necessarily mean that the Belgians
Ire closer BUYERS, but the Frenchman
wants the best in the market on which
pound out his musical temper.
Sew York Press.
Quite q Family.
The Young Siamese princes are hay-