The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-03-02

| United States patterned after those Of
| England, and his views have bean more or
less discussed. It is the more interesting.
therefore, 10 note that Just at this time the
own schools not less than they are rejoicing
In their points OF vantage.
oustave Lindenthal has declared for mors
artistic beauty In the ornamental details
Of the bridges which are TO 60 mp under his
Jurisdiction and has expressed the hope
that engineers may find an opportunity
to study architecture. and architects take
time TO famillarize themselves somewhat
with engineering.
Charles NJ. Shean Is pleading for the
development Of q school OF American art
which shall make our public buildings
beautiful and educational and Homogeneous.
1t Is curious to note just at this time,
when the Cooper Institute, through the
enablement Of keenly appreciative private
m~unifcence, Is reaching out In wider fields,
that Mr.. Shean believes that II a broad
school OF American art ever is developed
1t will in all probability be through the
Cooper Union school, rather than through
the schools OF wider repute.
Mr.. Abbey's plan to follow the English
would involve the passing Of examinations
10 fix a standard for art students, much as
the public school pupils Of this country
have to pass examinations which purport
TO show that all the successful pupils are
Of one dead level; and Mr.. Abbey's OPP
ponents believe that hat would be a de-
plorable calamity IN a school for art study.
since unless there be a strong individuality
there can DO no real artist. IL would also
doubtless destroy Mr.. Shean's hope in the
Cooper Union school, for much Of the posi-
bility for development there lies In the
opportunity offered for genius or talent
to overcome environment at the same
time 1t is influenced by IL, TO profit by
study, intercourse and observation without
being hampered by restrictions enforced
for the benefit of others.
Medals, prizes and scholarships, offered
by the Government for art school students
who do the best work for industrial art
manufacture, are mentioned as the reason
for the recorded excellence Of English
design; while the greater time devoted in
the French schools To the drawing, paint
ing and modelling of the human figure Is
credited with making the, French student
so-called higher branches Of art study,
The French architect knows more about
drawing the human figure than his British
brother, for example, IL is said; and very
likely IL Mr.. Lindenthal, backed by, the
Municipal Art Society. has his way, there
may arise In the United States a class OF
architect-engineers who shall be better
equipped TO produce works or art ana
beauty for great utilitarian purposes than
either Gaul or Britisher. While from the
matchmaking tendencies of Cooper Union
or from any broad school for art study
here NAV issue the men or women who
with a broad knowledge of art, with origi-
nality, personal initiative and n nature
sensitive 10 the grand, the picturesque,
the beautiful in American history and
American life-shall make the cities beau
tiful, public works admirable and American
art in many branches what IL now IL In some
directions OF artistic activity.
In the Maoasine of Art, Mr.. James Ward,
head master OF the Macclesfeld School Of
Art. In England, has a paper, some points
Of which are embodied above, in which.
in a comparison Of English and foreign art
schools, he has this TO say OF this country:
art and art teaching are making great
progress in the United States. but, while
there are many eminent American paint
ers, sculptors and designers, It must be
said that a distinctive American school OF
decorative art and design has not yet APP
peared. The work Of the two best schools
Of art In America-the Art Students League
Of New York and the Art Institute OF Chi
caeo-is Of a high order, especially in the
drawing Of figures from the life, and in
composition of the figure and ornament.
The draughtsmanship throughout is eN-
~cellent. and the method Of treatment
strongly shows the influence Of Partisan
studios"
MIR. Ward suggests as an experiment
which would be OF great national value 10
the countries concerned, an exhibition OF
the works Of the students OF the national
art schools of England and the Continent,
TO be held once in three years in London,
Paris and Berlin. along the lines of the
exhibition OF students work at the last
Paris Exposition. That exhibition. he says,
showed the superiority of the British
schools and students, in design, at the
same time il revealed their inferiority in
drawing, painting and modelling theh human
figure.
sented in that exhibition, but Mr.. Ward
has not included New York in his sugges-
ton for international exhibitions Of school
work.
The Fine Arts Federation some time ago
appointed a committee TO study the build
ings in which art exhibitions are held in
European cities, with a view 10 gaining
knowledge as TO the best form for the build
ing which it is hoped some day to have in
New York for the joint use Of all the art
societies represented in the Federation.
A citizen who has had opportunity TO note
the course OF picture buyers in New York,
remarking upon the work of this committee
and upon hat feature Of an exhibition which
Is of some Importance TO the artists, the
selling of pictures or other works there
exhibited, said the other day that in his
opinion n great mistake would be made II
the proposed building were TO be located a
stones throw from Fifth avenue.
"Of course, those Interested in art will
20 10 see your show wherever you have 1t
within reason" he said; but how many
or how few Of those are among the large
buyers, experience must already have in
formed you. The persons who spend
large sums on pictures won't do their buy
ing of of Fifth avenue In this city. The
dealers know il. And whatever you may
think Of II, you've got TO face the fact.
| believe from the course OF picture buy
ers generally for many years past in this
city, that II your joint art building is TO
be a success IL must be built on Fifth
avenue, no matter the cost OF land. Else
these people won't find it
Echoes OF the Pan-American Exposition
al Buffalo are still TO be heard. 1t was not
" - .