The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-08-19
PAINTERS OF IRELAND
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EX
 HIBITIoN IN THE GUILD HALL.


 There-They are Now shown at the London Guild Hall.
 Who and where are the painters of Ireland? Most people. although con- versant with the fine arts, would find the question difficult to answer. If the query concerned the sister art of poetry. reply would be easy, for the voices of the Celtic Renaissance are heard throughout the world. They arise in the homeland, they come from Erin. and throughout the world, they stir the hearts of the children and com mand the. admiration of the cultured peoples. But where are Ireland's pain ters?
 Once upon a time Ireland was lead- CT in the arts. It was not alone the magic of her singers, but the faith and genius of those who built her churches and wrought splendid metal shrines to be placed therein; the fertile brains and cunning fingers of her designers; the dainty handiwork of those who set out ancient lore or snowy vellum, amid a regal blazoning of crimson, gold and azure. Tn these arts Ireland at one time excelled the whole of western Europe.
 Now, it is from illumination or de- sign that painting, natualIy develops; and theese arts were moving toward their perfect form when in the twelfth century, to bring and leave legacy of unrest. came the Anglo-Norman in vasion. The arts need peace and settled lie. Ere one century of that un- rest-which endures till this very day had gone by, the beautiful arts of Ire land had withered away. The develop ment of great and ancient tradition was checked, and Irish painting, such as it is, has perforce grown up as an off shot of the schools of of other nations. The Irish painters are scattered over the face of the earth. You often do not know-they often do not realize-that they have no centers, no rallying point no common tradition
 When there was question of the present Exposition at St. Louis, certain Irishmen though that this would be a favorite occasion on which to gather to. gether and show, as part Of the Irish section, collection of works by Irish painters, past and present. They were gathered together, but for various reasons never sent. However, it was not desirable that the collection should be dispersed, having been shown to the public, and 1t so happened that the Guildhall Art Gallery, belonging to the corporation of London, was vacant The vice president of the Board oi Agricultural and Technical Education in Ireland appealed to the Lord Mayor of London; and that is how the Irish pictures, originally intended for St Louis, found their way to the Guildhal in London. Further examples were contributed by various owners, and the immediate result is a highly interesting exhibition.
 What may ultimately result from this exhibition is matter which, to all Irishmen, should seem important. Nc one who sees these pictures could well deny the artistic capacity of the Irish race. And from what has just been stated it will be. evident that they have been produced under conditions which, though possibly favorable to the Individual painter, were not so to the development of the national school oi painting. In the work of ali original Irish writers of to-day something ot common race instinct, common tradi- tfons common aims, is apparent; and the organizers of this exhibition, pre- nlinent among whom is Hugh P. Lane are of the opinion that distinct schoo of painting might easily be developed.
 If this is to be brought about it is de. sirable that Ireland should possess, 1T addition to the Dublin National gallery which contains chiefly old masters, g permanent collection of modern art something akin to the Luxembourg gal. lery in Paris, where one sees not mere ly the national are, but also the work! of the great contemporary painters.
 It is from his contemporaries, busy with the same problems of expression as himself, that the student can besi learn; and if there were opportunity for him to study their works at home he would not need to seek his training abroad. And further it is very reason ably said that this gallery of Irish ant modern art would create a standard O taste, feeling of the relative impor tance of painters and thus encourag, the purchase of pictures, for people vii not purchase where they do not know
 To this gallery, if formed, many Q the most eminent artists CWhistler wa ona) have promised to contribute rep resentative example of their work t, form the nucleus of the collection Several famous collectors have prom ised pictures and some sums of money The project would cost money, obvi ously, not tithe of the amounts hay been sent by Irishmen to Ireland fo other purposes not always such as coul' so happily promote the internationa repute and intellectual development 0 her people.
 As far as six score Of the painter whose works are shown at the Guild hall are concerned, it must be said tha in gathering all these to her bosom Erin has spread her arm a little too ia and somewhat wide. There is, for ex ample, an ably painted head by Johl Singleton Copely, who was born in Bos ton in 17S7, and is commonly looke upon as the founder of American paint { ing. 4Nr
 A large marine picture shows tn work Of Clarkson Stanfield, R. A