New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-31

Charles Holme. Illustrated Ito, PIP. ao4 John
Lane.
This special summer number of THE Inter-
national Studio is of the most useful pub
LEGATIONS have thus far owed to the enter
prise of the managers of that periodical The
Royal Academy is just now an object of keen
interest among observers of artistic affairs
For long time there have been rumblings OK
protest against the way in which the Chantrey
bequest has been administered by the authori-
ties at Burlington House. and only the other
day, readers have been informed. an in
quiry set on foot which it is confidently
hoped may lead to the establishment Of a new
policy in this important matter Perhaps, in
stead of the easy passage of mediocre paintings
from the current exhibitions at the Royal Acad-
envy the permanent shelter of the Tate Gall
Iery some effort may be made to add to that
collection, with the aid of Chantrey's money.
pictures really representative of what is best
in modern British art In the mean time the
interest of a fairly comprehensive and we'll IL
Illustrated account of what the Academy has
stood for in the first hundred years of its ex-
iStenCe is obvious.
1t is to be regretted that. while the editor
about it he did not bring the story down to the
present day The last elections noted in his
chronological list are those of 1851 There
could have been no serious reason for stopping
at that date and 1t would have been more effec-
tive in every sense il all the members afterward
admitted could have been represented in the
book. enabling to contrast the more WILDLY
the modern Academy with that of the years
Immediately following 1I6S. when the institution
was founded. The contrast. easily to be drawn
by any one familiar with the subject is indeed
striking. In its earlier days the Royal Academy
welcomed every artist worth welcoming. 1t can
hardly be said that the same attitude has char
act iyed tba of orr OVrD iU1a
Another point, even more serious. is clearly per-
ceived without going outside the limit in time
set by the last of these pages. We refer to the
steady deterioration of the Academy within its
first hundred years. The list of members opens
proudly with names like those of Reynolds.
Gainsborough. Cosway. John Russell. Copley.
Lawrence and Hoppner. but these were all eigh-
teenth century men. The record proceeds along
equally creditable lines for time-it embraces
the names of Turner. Raeburn and Constable
but then medocrity lifts up its stupid head and
the catalogue has practically inspiring sig
nidcance. The excellently reproduced nIustra-
tons in this volume. photOgravures color prints
and half tones. fully bear out this view of the
question. The earlier pictures shown are mostly
good; the later ones are mostly bad This fact
alone throws light on the present situation as
regards the Chantrey Request. We would have
had much more light if the work had been ex-
tended past the century mark down TO 1901
The plates. by the way. are not confined TO
paintings alone. but include suitable accompani-
ments To the different chapters into which the
brief text is divided, chapters dealing with the
origin and history of the Academy and not only
the painters. but the sCulptorS ensravers and
architects who have been enrolled under its ban
ner. y number of letters are given in facsimile
and q collection of portraits brings the book to
a close This special number is so far as it goes.
good that possibly the publisher may be en-
ccuraeed to produce another one covering the
ground he has left untouched