New-York tribune., 1900-12-09
AMERICAN ART PRAISED.
EUROPEAN CRITICS SAY PARIS EXPOSE.
TION EXHIBIT is EVIDENCE OF AN
UNTRANIMELLED NATIONAL ART.

John B. CauldweH. United States Director OF Fine
Arts of the Paris Exposition of 1890 arrived yes
terday on the steamship Deutschland. Of the Ham
burg-Amercan Line. At the Hotel Manhattan Mr.
Caudwe1 told Tribune reporter that he was
more than satisfied with the impression that
American artists made upon foreign critics II had
brought about urgent requests to secure examples
Of many well known painters Of New-YorS and
Boston for the important annual exhibitions this
year in ST. Petersburg. Berlin and Vienna. At
dinner given the day before Mr.. Cauldwel sailed.
by the Chief OF the Fine Arts Department to the
Art Commissioners OF the different nations. the
Austro-H Hungarian and the Norwegian Commis-
siOnera expressed themselves to him most enthu-
siastically regarding exFsbit which they
Qualiiedy considered the BEST excepting that Of
France itself and hoped that IN future they would
have opportunity of seeing in Europe more OF
the work painted on this side The Americans took
more awards in painting than any other nation
except France, and IN proportion to the size Of
their exhibit as compared with that OF France.
their ratio was greater. Mr.. Cauldwel said the
American fine arts exhibit the Paris Exposition
attracted very general attention. and was COM
mented upon most favOrably, only by the
French, but the German Austrian and italian crit
les, some OF whom expressed astonishment at the
progress made by the painters and sculptors OF
the United States in the last decade. There was
shown special interest in the canvases OF Ameri-
can artists residing at home. and ii was conceded
that their work presented ndisputable evidence or
ths development or a strong, wholesome anu IN
trammeled National art.
On the day before Mr. Cauldwen left Paris NJ
Leysues. Minister of Fine Arts for France. accom-
panied by NJ. Benedite the conservatism Of the
Luxembourg. visited the American section. NJ
Leygues bought for his private collection pictures
Dy Z. e. Curran, Charles w. Eaton Homer Lee
and Sergeant Kendall and expressed the wish that
several OF the most characteristic Of American
painters could De represented in the NatOnal eSa-
lery at the Luxembourg. VI. Benedte who had al
ready purchased pictures from the American
artists residing in Paris. indicated a strong desire
to get some representative works of the i'm
prtant painters In America. He expressed great
.tdmiratOn for the works OF Winslow Homer, Ben
Foster, Alden Weir and Mr.. Benson. Of Boston. and
requested Mr.. Cauldwell to see If he could secure
examples OF each of the two former artists for the
collection now in Paris.
He was most complimentary in regard to the
works OF four American painters. now dead
Inness, Wyant, Homer Martin. and Eichelherger-
ana said he greatly desired the Luxembourg mighI
possess examples Of some of those distinguished
men.
I'm sculpture" continued Mr. CauldweH I'VE
made the most conspicuous and important display
outside of France. I secured for exhibit prom
nent positions both within and without the Grand
cured several works. and Dallin's splendid statue
of The Medicine Man has been acquired for the
pieces OF sculpture mostly small and the highest
award bronze medal Our present cOllec-
ton embraces something like seventy pieces some
or colossal size and We have been awarded tnIeo
Grand Prix. four gold and five silver medals, be-
sides numerous lesser awards. A very consider
the Pan-American Exposition at BuffalO Our
architectural exhibit drew large and interested
crowds. who were thunderstruck at the altitude Oh
In regard TO decorations which the French Gov
ernment Is likely to bestOw on American artists
probably confer the Legion OF Honor upon tew
or our artists, but the announcements were n9t
month. The American art exhibit will be shipped
home on the cruiser Prairie