Evening star., 1902-08-30
A R T N o. ES.

The artistic possibilities within the scope
of the camera and the close alliance of
Photography to the fine arts have Just been
freshly demonstrated in an exhibition re-
Gently held in Copley Hall, Boston, in con-
nection with the convention of the New
England Association of Photographers.
Work by both professionals and amateurs
from all parts Of the United States and
abroad was shown, comprehending almost
every kind and variety of subject. The
English, Dutch and German sections were
considered specially interesting and char
acteristic, and two remarkable panoramic
views from Honolulu were notable. The
prints were arranged not only around the
walls, but also on projecting screens, and
no distinction was made between the work
of amateurs and professionals. Such exhi-
bitions as this, and even that of our own
local Camera Club, give emphasis to the
fact that artistic photogra phy-a term, by
the way, which ten or less years ago would
have been pronounced paradoXical-is in
deed bound to be reckoned with by the art
world in the future. The day when the
camera did the work by the touching of a
spring and its function was the mere giving
of evidence to existing facts Is past. and
while the amateur now meets the profess
Slonal on his own ground, both know that
it is the best man, not the best lens, that
tice of the photogra piers claim to artistic
recognition is evinced by the fact that the
craft is now almost universally given space
in the art magazines and frequently place
in the prominent exhibitions. That better
and even more artistic results will be at
tanned by photography in years to come is
more than probable, but that It will ever
discredit or replace the work of the painter
or craftsman Is impossible. No matter how
close the alliance. the two are forever dis
tinCt. Another popular misapprehension in
this connection is that photography is in
itself an auxiliary to art; that artists are
materially aided by the cameras accurate
eye: for in all truth the artist who is
obliged to use ii as a crutch to remedy
poor craftsmanship will, one may be sure,
never get beyond the boundary of the great
field of art. Thus art can aid in the pro
ducing OF better photographs, but photog-
raphy cannot create better art
An important movement has been set on
foot by the Fine Arts Federation of New
York for the repeating of the duty on
works of art which are over fifty years old.
The committee which was recently appoint
ed by this organization to get the matter
in shape for presentation to Congress when
next convened has, with the hope of arous-
ing the interest and soliciting the help of
the general public, issued an open letter
setting forth the reasonableness and i'm
portance of this measure, which has been
signed by many of the most prominent ar
lists, sculptors and architects of America.
Ours is the only civilized government that
taxes art, and that It should thus be classed
a luxury is a stigma on the intelligence
and culture of our legislators. AS shown
by this letter, the artists themselves. far
from desiring the protection of the tariff,
believe that their best interests demand the
unrestricted Importation of the works of
the great foreign masters. for these will
have distinct educational value, and the
sooner the masses learn the meaning of
true art the sooner will the worth Of the
home painters be appreciated. Today 1t is
generally acknowledged that the only rea-
that students cannot gain as good an
art education here as abroad is the COM
parative poverty of our galleries in the
works of the great masters. Yet 1t is the
admission Of these that the law prevents
for though, to be sure, it is the private in
dividual, not the public institution. that is
taxed, it should not be forgotten that our
galleries almost exclusively filled by
collections bequeathed by private persons
and though there some who deal in
pictures as though they We're no different
than other merchantable wares, shutting
them up for safe keeping, they are few and
far between.
This question is Of special poignancy at
present, as a number Of Americans have
lately become possessed of valuable works
of art, which, on account Of the high tariff,
they are unwilling to bring to this coun-
try, and also because the increasing keen
ness of the foreign galleries to gain for
themselves all masterpieces put on the mar
ket is making ii yearly more impossible to
ever secure them.
The Zest of the Municipal Art Society of
New York seems to be unremittent II