New-York tribune., 1901-04-21
AN ART SOCIETY TO QUIT
THE MUNICIPAL LIKELY TO DISSOLVE
SOON.
LACK OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR ITS OBJECTS
SAID TO BE THE CHIEF REASON
FOR THE STEP.

The Municipal Art Society will probably cease
TO be soon after its annual meeting. which will
be held at o'clock the evening of April %
at the Fine Arts Building. in West Fiftysev-
enth-st. At meeting OF the board of directors
of the society held about a week ago. a COM
mittee appointed to present report to the
society. In this report the committee will rec
ommend the dissolution OF the society. and give
it's reasons for the proposed step. Such action
Will be suggested chiefly because nearly all the
members of the organization are weary of hold
ing competitions for designs for beautifying pub
lie places and buildings in this city, and being
unable to carry out their plans. The lack of
success in the effort. of the organization to
tinue to achieve its aims is said to be due to
lack OF public support. When the society was
organized IL was thought that it would awaken
considerable popular enthusiasm, and maintain
II not increase. the interest Of the people in the
work OF the organization. Since its formation
however. the work it set out to do has been
done mostly by artists, for few persons not ar
lists evinced any desire to become active in
the society or to help 1t along
There are also othe- things which have some
what narrowed the field OF usefulness of the
ganizaton. One of them is that there are now
several organizat tions whose objects almost
similar TO those of the society. and another is
the small interest taken in the competitions of
the society by artists The artists began to lose
interest in the competitions when the successful
designs were never executed.
The society was formed in 1893. and incor-
porated in 1898 Its object is TO provide ade
quate sculptural and pictorial decorations for
the public buildings and parks, and to promote
in every way possible the beautfying of city
streets and public places. Charles T. Barney.
who is the president Of the Municipal Art Com
mission is the president of the society; Kenyon
Cox is the first vice president. Edward Hamil-
ton Bell is secretary and Thomas Tryon is
treasurer The committee appointed by the
board of directors TO present report recon-
mendng the dissolution of the society at the
annual meeting is Kenyon Cox Frank Jones
and Edward Hamilton Bell.
Since it's formation the society has succeeded
in completing one decoration. 1t is the five
allegoricaI paintings in the Criminal Courts
Building The paintings are by Edward Sim
mons The central figure represents Justice and
the others represent The Fates and Liberty.
Equality and Fraternity. 1t took the society
three years to complete, that decoration, and
the cost was paid out of the sum received
dues from the members. The society also helped
to erect the Richard NJ. Hunt memorial along
the wall of Central Park. opposite the Lenox
Library Building of which Mr.. Hunt the
architect. The memorial was drawn by Daniel
c. French and Bruce Price. All the art societies
of the city were interested in the erection of
this memorial. The society also held compe-
tition for design for bronze Flagstaff base to
stand in front of the City Hall. design was
accepted but the flagstaff base has not yet been
built
Kenyon Cox was at his home, No 20
West Fifty -fifth-st., last night by Tribune re-
porter. to whom he said:
The society has had its uses. 1t has done
great deal of good work. Its work has resulted
in architects and others insisting on the decora-
ton by paintings and sculptures of public and
other buildings in this city II has also aroused
persons interested in art works in other places
own. Somehow these societies have been more
successful in carrying out their objects than the
one of which am member. Why this is so
l do not really know. 1t may be that the other
account of being IN smaller cities than the
here Here practically lost sight of.
The public Of this city is taken up with so many
things that 1t has paid little attention to what
societies in this city have also engaged in the
work that undertook since our organization
was formed
society has devolved upon its members. who
have never been more at any time. near
I can recall, than four hundred We ought to
have had at least thousand or two thou
sand members. If such had been the case we
buildings and other places The members have
grown tired of holding competitions and award
ing prizes the successful competitors, and
then not being In position to undertake the
work planned. Even the artists who took part
in the competitions have grown weary.
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