Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-20
LECTURE ON ART STUDY.
Prof. Raymond Speaks of Intellect
Ethics and Esthetics.

Declaring that the study of fine arts i'm
proves the student morally, as well intel
lectually Prof. George l.. Raymond of the
George Washington University stated last
night that the art of Japan. which combined
ethics with esthetics, has lesson for the
Americans. He indicated that such a
standard for art in this country would prove
of value.
Prof. Raymond was speaking at the public
library under the auspices of the National
Society of the Fine Arts. and his subject
was The Fine Arts as Related to General
Culture He was greeted by large au-
dience.
Prof Raymond first took up the effect of
the fine arts on the intellect. In the course
of his presentation of this part of the adj
dress ne developed the idea that the es-
sence of art is the presentation of vivid pic
lures. The successful poet presents vivid
pictures to the reader. And so 1t Is in all
branches of art, sculpture, painting, music,
etc. In the first place. this image presenta-
ton in art develops the power of observa-
ton and appreciation; and. secondly, 1t In
creases the constructive powers of the in
tellect
Turning to the moral influence of art, the
speaker stated that the influence was good,
although some might not agree with this
view. While there is some criticism of the
art of Rome, Greece and other places it
must still be pointed out that the japanese
THE Japanese have so high a conception
of the distinctively intellectual and spiritual
mission of art that. as if by mutual agree
ment, they eliminate from the sphere of
representation anything not distinctly sug-
gestive and intended to have high rank.
In criticism of some modern art of this
country the speaker said:
plays that make spend hours with
people such as we never meet. or meet only
to avoid, and statues and pictures equally
Objectionable, do not represent for real
life as we know 1t and cannot appeal, there
fore, to our sympathies as art should. For
instance recall that statue of Washington
that faces the east front of the Capitol.
am not going to say that that is immoral.
1t Is too stupid to be immoral. But think
you will agree with me when l say that a
good deal that might be estheticaly objec-
tonable might be developed out of the
tendency which that statue manifests; and
what / want you to notice is that long be-
fore this tendency. could become officially
Objectionable it would become esthetically
So That statue Is not a representation of
nature as all true art is. 1t is not a repre-
with the characteristics of Washington. No
man ever saw, him In such a condition ex-
cept possibly his valet
Another similar example cited by the
speaker was that of an emblem designed for
the University Club of New York. The
idea was an altar of friendship, with two
figures on each side of 1t. Had it been
such, said the speaker, from which the
Chnaman. digging up the ruins of New
York city centuries hence, would have
gained an idea of todays tendencies in our
colleges. the emblem would have represent
ed one of the figures in a mortar board and
gown and the other dressed in a neat ath-
letic suit used today. Instead, he said, the
artist presented on the emblem two nude
figures.