The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20
Little School Is
Successful at
the Start.
King and Queen
Attend Annual
Opening.
SoVereigns Both
Delighted at
Display.

American S-ademy was about TO be
established in Rome created some
amazemel and a good deal of criti-
cism in 1895. But the school appeared.
American School Of Architecture in
Rome" supported and started by the
architects who had conceived and
brought forth the Worlds Fair at Chi
cago and their friends. notably Mr..
NcKin. who may be styled the founder
OF the enterprise, and Tho has given
large sums toward il, and is now the
president. The architects were Joined
II 1897 by the best known American
sculptors and mural painters, so that
cut OF the modest beginning rose the
present American Academy in Rome. ."
II was small at -,rst compared with
the great academies Of France and
Spain. but il lived and prospered, wild
ened and became more influential, until
tO-6ey. after only nine years since its
inception. it stands proudly on an
equality with the institutions Of Euro
pean countries
LOCATIONS WELL CHOSEN
The French Academy esta blished by
the "Roi Soleil' is housed in the famous
Villa Me-ici, next 10 the Pincian drive.
ard having gardens quite as magnifi-
cent and celebrated; the German is on
the Tarpeian Rock. OF terrible memory.
r-T g-~-f-.%o- +7,a @o-r-- +ba C1oDsSt,
Is on The heights Of the Janiculum, hav-
ing the frowning church OF San Pietro
IN Mo1torio above II, celebrated as the
spot where St Peter suffered martyr
dom by being crucifed with his head
down; and the American is domiciled
in the Casino OF the famous Villa Ludo-
vici. inclosed by what is left Of the ex-
teEsive Ludovici gardens, which were
first known 10 history as part OF the
celebrated domain OF Sallust. where the
Romans OF the period amused them
Selves in scandalous diversions
When the building fever broke out,
just after the establishment Of Rome
as capital Of United Italy, Prince Ludo-
vici sold his magnificent villa. piece by
piece, took 10 building and ruined him
self in the process. The historic trees
were moved down like corn, but the
casino and an ample garden about it
were preserved In this historic casino,
with its associations and artistic re-
mains, the American Academy has set
tied itself The grounds are twenty
=
are about two acres in extent, the huge
old trees giving shade in summer and a
taste Of spring in winter, while they
certainly produce an atmosphere" dear
70 the artists heart The house was
built BY Ludovici. nephew Of the Pope
Of that name, in the days when nepo-
tism was a virtue. II contains many
frescOes Of value. but above all the
glorious Aurora" Of Guercino, which
runs that Of Guido Reni very close in
the mind Of art lovers. but. as usual.
II IS on ceiling and requires neck
breaking attitudes 20 see it, so much
so that many ladies whose hats are OF
fashionable largeness refuse the gym
nastics and content themselves with
looking AZ q photograph
RECOGNITION FROM KING.
The students in the academy take a
course Of study Of three years, more
with the aim to school the taste and
P observe than TO produce original work,
the course being entirely for post
graduates, that is, artists who are al
ready such and know the fundamentals
of their craft. This year, for the first
time. the academy may be said to have
received official recognition from the
authorities here, under the guidance
of H. Siddons Mowbray, the well known
New York artist
The annual exhibition Of the work of
the academy was so notable and did
such credit TO America that Embassa-
dor Meyer, who takes great interest in
the school. prayed the King to assist at
the opening. His Majesty not only
accepted the invitation promptly, but
her Majesty was also present. This. OF
course. means little to good republi-
cans. but in Rome. the home Of the
academy. it meant much-recognition
by the head Of the state. high CON-
piment 10 America and the American
colony here Thereby hangs tale). and
the placing Of the academy on an
equality with the other foreign art
institutes. The occasion was also an
important cne, for the reason that it
zzs the first time that any American