The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-13
MERCER SUCCEEDS SCREVEN.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY ELECTS Of
FICERs AND RECEIVES REPORTS.

Capt. II. c. Cunningham Second
Vice President-Interestin Report
ON the Condition of the TeIfair
Academy From the Pen of Director
Brandt-He May Go Abroad to
Study and Paint in Academy's In
terests - SavannahIans' Reading
Made Up in Part of 10 Per Cent.
Novels and Per Cent. Religion.
The annual meeting of the Georgia His
torcal Society was held at Hodgson Hall
last night. First Vice President Col
George A. Mercer, who was afterward
elected president, presided at the mseting
The business transacted was of more than
usual interest and Importance.
Director Carl l.. Brandt of the Telfair
Academy of Arts and Sciences submitted
his report to the meeting. 1t was char
acterlzed by Director Brandts usual evil
dences of devotion-unselfsh devotion-to
the interests and well-being of the Society,
and was well received.
In my report, at our last annual meet
ing" said Director Brandt, Il made
to the society the proposition 10
visit Italy, Greece and Egypt to paint
in those countries preliminary studies for
FIVE large pictures of places, where the
original statues from which our plaster
casts have been reproduced, were, either
created, or, what is left of them to US,
found, the pictures to be placed in the
five panels, about seventeen feet long,
each in the hall of statuary. These
panels are a scheme in the general design
of the hall for such decorations. That
such decorations will produce an artistic
background and add greatly to the inter
of 10 I
Will doubt. / made this proposition with
the condition, that the academy reimburse
the travelling expenses necessary for such
trip. when it is in the position to do so,
bur not until the academyis debt to the
estate of the late Gen. Henry R. jackson
had been paid
at came recently to my notice that Il
has been understood that the inoLey was
10 be provided for before 1 went abroad.
/ presume the reason that no action has
been taken in this matter is that The acad-
envy is at present not in the position 10
furnish such means. now renew the
offer as 1t is above stated, while I have
the energy and strength to undertake so
arduous and extended tour. To do this
work viii consume about seven or eight
months, which time l wil give freely.
1.-THE works of art now in the possession
of the academy are in good condition"
said the director, so far as personal care,
supervision and direction can make them,
but on account of the unfavoTabie locality
of the academy building, it is incumbcred
upon the society to pay special attention
to its outward surroundings In view of
this fact, / called the attention OF the
board of managers to the bad condition. in
which State street, on the north side of
Che building, has been allowed TO remain,
and hoped that efforts would have been
made by The city authorities to pave this
very small part of the street. either with
shell or ebert, as was done on President
street. south of the building, some years
ago This would reduce the evil, 50 detri-
mental to its contents. The black dust
rising from the coal cinders with which
the street has been flied in and frIfn ime
to time repaired, penetrates 10 The :nifr-
Tor and Injuries the works of art very Sc
riously
The director also made some ret ON
meudations as to the repairing and re-
painting of the academy.
A new work of art has been added this
year to the academy's collection. An ex-
tremely good copy of the celebrated paint
ing by Rubens, The Descent From the
Cross" in the Antwerp Cathedral paint
ed sby f. A. Philips, a portrait painter
of this country, we'll remember by many
artists to-day The work has already
been described in the Morning News. Dr.
j. p. Screven of Savannah purchased it
about fifty years ago, while in Europe.
AT the death Of DIR. ScreveR it became the
property of Mrs. Sarah Ada (Screvem
Henderson, pursuant to the will of her
father, before her death, in 1897 she ex-
pressed the desire that the picture should
be given to the Telfair Academy of Arts
and Science In the division of her es-
tate it became the property of her son,
Mr.. Marion H. Henderson. who fully APP
preciated his mothers desire in this mat
ter, rendered it as a gift to the academy.
Director Brandt was requested by the pres
ident of the Historical Society TO inspect
the picture which he did last summer,
at the residence of Mr.. Henderson, at Etiz-
abeth, n. j., and in his report to the
board of managers advised that it be ac-
copied.
1T was, however, in a lamentable con-
dition." said Mr.. Brandt. II have had Il
refined with new canvass and have I'M
dertaken to retouch it myself, and am now
occupied with this work 1t will be
paced, when completed, in the Telfair
room, a suitable companion-plece and III
harmony with the old paintings left by
Miss Telfair, the majority of them also
old copies from old masters. The pic
ture is a very acceptable acquisition. IL
conveys in a high degree the rich color
ing and powerful drawing of The great
Flemish painter, and as ii is nigh TO an
impossibility to obtain an original by this
justly celebrated master the academy may
be congratulated to possess so good a copy
d'oevre.
Il feel that it is my duty as director of
the academy" said MIR. Brandt, ito again
point out the favorable opportunity which
will be presented a the coming Int erna- (
tional Exposition 10 be held in Paris this
year for the purchase of pictures, espe-
cially suitable for public galleries. Large
pictures, not easily placed in private
houses, are always found at such exhi-
billions, some of them painted by rising
young artists which prove in later years
to be their best efforts in their life. such
pictures are generally sold at very rea-
sonable prices, particularly IL bought for
public galleries l have often made this
statement in your hearing. Their names
as yet little known to the art world their
works are judged and bought on their
own merit and not as many picture by
well known artists for the name.
The larger number Of the paintings in
the Telfar Gallery were purchased by
me at such expositions. Some of them