New-York tribune., 1901-08-25
AMERICAN ART ABROAD.
IT'S STATUS DISCUSSED BY
GEORGE BOUGHTON. R. A.
.-,,sr1F AN AMERICAN, HE SAYS THE
cu1EF DIFFICULTY OF AMERICAN
PAINTERS Is TO LIVE UP TO
THEIR HIGH REPUTATION.
London, August 13.

,.,.r Years The American Artist-with
=. .,,ll brand on him-has come much 10 the
-. ~ art in England. Indeed, one might
-. ssv again, Since the days or Benjamin
-. second president OF the Royal Academy
s,.,r,sr in Ordinary 10 His Majesty" etc; Cop
= smart and Newton. there has scarcely been
~, ,rben the American artists-rnore or less
...,,,,y connected with II occasionally-did not
oi'.s -. rssnectably land even respecte- and ap-
Is.,sadl among their English confreres in art.
80 -hev showed the English artists Of their
IN n paint the battles of their own
y. t-b some regard for truth Of costumes
'' --o,,nsings West was the first artist in
$50 who discarded the Roman toga and
- classic properties when he painted the
- % modern battles or events. II Is on
- ,bat Sir Joshua Reynolds came 10 see
-n..,s first important innovation in the New
= s-e,.-ion and sat before Il IN q long and
u-,lirr silence which finally he broke by
-Sl, assuring West that he had won the day
-s.- xss the dawn chat broke from western
- far 2 change. and its light has followed
-ornd rhe globe ever since.
co,tsv and stuart managed 10 avoid the
-.,oSssnds OF classcism that had enguiec so
- NJ their time. And some OF Cop4ey 5
sa,.i. subjects. The Siege Of Gibraltar The
:. g Helier's and Death OF Major
:. that epoch and kind and as modern
.ns treatment as Il painted IN this very
:, realism. But they were led up 70. hy
-. meath OF General Wolfe" though they
- .,,r,ass that excellent work. In the Ma
-, cara--v in London there are several other
-. nv artists affiliated 10 il not born actual
: 4, ar,erica-Leslie. Gilbert, stuart Newton
.rd De wiut generally supposed TO be Eng
,sh ~ Dutch IN those days OF the Ias'
,.,-u-v and the early days OF the present one
.r,sricsn artists who cid not go TO Rome came
= rng,ans 70 study. and often 10 practise and
set ID their tents
These few fore-words feel 70 be called for
49, came 10 the position and status Of the
--sss,+ inberitor Of the American artist II
+--o,.,5,s mast Now. 1 am led 20 suspect
--sg;ns from the present ''status'-that our
.-+,s,ic forefathers must have been rather
ss,. s,5 honest sort Otherwise our nerl-
,sgs vopld have been Of chilling hate instead of
var, affection and immense forgiveness OF
--esspr sins and acknowledgment Of any sho"a-
ble virtues In speaking OF present oay-ailo 70
q certain extent slightly past day-experiehces
and observations anent my theme. I am natu-
-srv. confined 10 that which Is more or less
personal 10 myself And as happen 40 De the
dovsu Of art pilgrims now here in England,
hone NY modest claim will carry moment or
respect To be fair and square about the claim
for seniority. / viii take leave 70 put in side
claim for the discoverer Of the gentle art OF
making enemies" II any one interested IN
American art abroad does not know who that
is he may go 10 some primary school' ror all
ne do hope that my dear old friend Of the
gentle art" viii some day write his own N1eFs
Of this matter; some day. when. like the dying
rO
give" Chaving mad them all shot'D-
Ny own earliest personal experience Of Eng
land and its art was when I was quite green
lad filed with impractical dreams and the
gospel OF Ruskin. wandered and wondered
aoout the galleries Of London, alone and un-
friended q small frail chip n mighty whirl-
pool, discouraged 70 bitter tears over the mag
nifoence Of The great masters. A few months
Of English Scotch and Irish green nature
brought me hack 10 life. and soon home again;
where, perhaps. ] should have remained and
pleased the other art impets. But unrest and
sense of void and emptiness led me abroad again
for rehlling and refreshment- After couple
o. years in France, Z took London on my way
home 70 America. with my return ticket in my
pocket But one fine day l took the west side
OF Regent-st-. instead Of the east side, and
gathered ne 10 his bosom-(really). He i'm
pored ne 10 stay and try my luck-which I
dd-after selling hack my steamer ticket and.
50 TO speak. burning my beats behind me-"
Then began a course of sheer good luck, .
plain and continuous as If il had set out 70 be
disaster.
10 follow fast and follow faster till its song
one burden bore
need not say that did not seek 10 impede
ln's onward sweep Of good luck by bad tact or
any ar Of urgently making enemies or by any
means except work-and patience. My good
Hlsn-Anlerican brought me friends y no are
H0ne ny dearest friends 10 this day In ad-
1on 70 his support. ! found Mr.. J. F. Cropsey,
eninent American artist in London. " ho took
" various leading English artists who
'7o me with every kindness. even enthusi-
- snd they mostly still living and still
80 llenos. Now. this is dwelt upon TO show
value Of the American element as a fixed
-o'e or less harbor OF refuge and support, or
ast consolation and advice abroad. A con-
al very well 20 the stranded sailor
Aeo gambler. the promoter Of shady
pSn'es that don't adhere 10 the sympathies
me foreign investor; but the stranded artist
- ST no sort Of advice as TO how 10 place"
pictures either in ''shows'' or privately
NAtiieilctsh rec Laplst IN MS Orcial ca
H' BY eint OF long continued good conduct
faoiant amiability, one may favorabIy i'm
-, uhe government representatives-and they
smile upon your efforts to have your works
"onhe without too drastic a duty 70 your
vi Trends who wish 70 keep YOU aIive) but
@S You ger 10 love and trust each other a
N@hger comes 10 Office and you have 70
49, 70 love each other all over again In
,ohs- 80 70 the fresh stranger to you. and often
h 0uues' there are new and weird rules TO
ala ana old ones 10 be unlearned-and
en-. eNnss go 70 depress and harshen ones
were II not for the feeling that there was