The San Francisco call., 1908-11-29

Francisco today and well known al an
authority on all matters pertaining to
art; William L MARBLE. a landscape
artist; Benjamin p. Avery OF the Bulle-
tin staff whose brother was a prOmi-
nent picture dealer and collector OF
New York: G. p. Denny. a marine
painter. and Noah BrOOkes. While these
men gave both time and money to the
encouragement of the association It
was perhaps William AlvOrd. at that
time president of the Bank of Cali
fornia and mayor Of the city. who
placed the association on the sure and
stable footing on which IT stands to-
day. Through his efforts the sum OF
$4,000 was placed in the treasury 50
or so Of his friends cOnsenting to be-
come life members This put the asso-
citation we'll on the road to permanence
and stability. One thousand dollars OF
this money was spent i'm purchasing
casts, statues and various parapher-
malta, in which ludiciOus selection was
exercised. so that the California school
of Design was, from the start. the best
equipped school in America, not even
excepting the Philadelphia academy.
This equipment Included an admirable
collection of plaster casts OF the orig
inal marbles Of the Louvre and other
famous galleries OF Paris. and 10 Pietro
Nezzara. a noted sculptor and one of
the early members and ardent friends
OF the association. belongs the honor
OF having obtained these casts.
Mezzara had an artist brother in
Paris and through him a formal applf-
scation was made to Count de RemesaI,
then minister of education in Parts. FOR
casts of antique marbles in the possess
sion Of the French government suitable
for the establishing OF school of art
in San Francisco. The following cOur-
teOus reply was received.
That in consideration of the large
amount of money subscribed for the
sick and wounded in the German
Franco war. the French government
would consider itself hOnOred II the
casts should be accepted as a gift.
So IN those old days the art lover or
student lingering in the galleries OF
the association. and noting anew the
ravishing beauty OF the Venus or the
exquisite Hghtness and elegance OF
the dancing faun or the noble and
classic lines of the Germanicus. knew
with what modern name TO associate
them. and every artist cherished doubt
less the name Of the man who had
brought these wondrOus studies from
across seas to edify and uplift tOiling
art IN San Francisco.
What a gala day II was when the
first exhibition of the young art asso-
citation was held, Previous to this
time the only place artists could have
their pictures on view had been in the
shops of complaisant dealers in vari-
Gus commodities who voiced the opin-
ion that 1T wouldn't hurt the windows
as they could see." and in almost any
available place that they heard Of
Now they We're to have an exhibition
solely for the purpose OF showing pic
lures 1t seemed too good to be real.
but when nearly all OF social San Fran
cisco turned out to attend the event.
making IL one of the brilliant successes
of the season. the artists chuckled aud
ibly and went about with radiant faces.
trying to communicate their elati0n to
every person in the rooms. The exhi-
bitiOn opened with a reception to the
members and invited guests az ATercSs7s-
tile library hall A painter named
Denny had the AFFAIR in charge. ard tho
seven hundred dollars he spent to make
it the success IL was caused not even
a sigh OF regret Another exhibition
followed the first 1t was Dlanne-- -
have one every year. Art was awak-
9ning. Her wings must not be furled
again. as Ions as interest. talent and
money were forthcoming. So the sec
ond exhibition took place in the same
Mercantile hall. then came a third. at a
place on Bush street known as Pacs1tc
hall; fourth went 70 Blumenburg hall
on Pine street. and the next found place
in the quarters over the old California
market where the association remained
until its great change to the elegant
and commOdiOus Mark Hopkins man
sion, where it remained for three years
or until that fateful morning in April.
1906.
Less than a year and a half after
the great fire. re-equipped and with
its staff OF directors in good working
order, complete stan of instructors
under the direction of Robert Howe
Fletcher. the institute opened the doors
of a new building to students of draw
ing. painting and sculpture Tt was NOT
long before 100 pupils We're enrolled.
and activities at the school and gall
lerfes are now nearly as great "a ha-
tore the disaster.