The Washington herald., 1908-04-04
AMERICAN SCULPTURE
By FREDERIC ]. HASKTN.

Beginning to-day. there viii be held in
Baltimore. for twenty-one days. an exhi-
bition Of sculpture under the auspices
Of the National Sculpture Society. II
viii be the first exhibition OF It's kind
ever held outside OF New York. and is 20
be the forerunner OF others which viii
| later be given IN other leading cities and
educational centers Of the country It's
purpose is 10 stimulate interest in the
plastic arts on the part Of the public.
and TO try 10 arouse IL 10 a better appre-
citation OF the handlwork OF the artist
with the mallet and chisel. The decision
20 follow this method OF stimulating in
terest was arrived al by the society last
winter. and arrangements have been made
for the exhibition, OF many Of the best
examples Of the sculptors work in
America.
The National Sculpture Society Is an
interesting institution. founded for a high
purpose. As its name implies it IS ma
tional in its scope. The objects of its
founding were 20 spread the knowledge
Of good sculpture: TO foster the taste for
and encourage the production Of. ideal
sculpture for the household and museums:
TO promote the decoration Of public and
other buildings. squares. and parks with
sculpture Of a high class; 10 improve the
quality OF the sculptor's art as applied TO
industries. and provide from time 20 time
for exhibitions Of sculpture and objects
Of Industrial crt in which sculpture en-
ters- The society was formed in 1898. with
J. Q a Ward as its first president. He
IS now its honorary president 1t signal
lied its appearance in the art world by
holding two special sculpture exhibitions,
both Of which were successful and brought
the society into favorable notice at home
and abroad
When the building for the Library OF
Congress in Washington was erected. Il
was 10 this society that those in charge
looked for guidance IN the addition OF
those touches which contribute so much
toward making ii the most beautiful
building In America. A list Of those who
did this work is almost a roster Of the
professional members Of the society
There is r Hinton Perry. who made the
wonderful bronze fountain. representing
the court Of Neptune. with its conch-
blowing tritons, sea nymphs riding sea
horses. serpents, frogs. and turtles Bella
L. Pratt. another member. contributed
the sculpture over the arches 70 the three
entrances. Herbert Adams. Frederick
McMonnies ard many others contributed
celebrated designs toward making the
Library interior the vision IN polished
stone" that il is. After the work on the
Library. the society gave It's attention
to the decoration OF the Appellate Court
Building in New York. the United States
custOm-house in the same city. and many
other buildings In the United States and
Canada. One OF its greatest works was
that OF making the Dewey Arch the fin
est example of the triumphal arch Amer
lea has ever seen. sculptor members OF
the society giving their time gratuitously
II is now the directing hand in the decor
alton Of the New York Public Library.
The society also took a conspicuous part
in providing the sculptures for the Buff
falo and 81. Louis eXpositions. and its
work has been so widely approved that
many competitions for public monuments
have been judged and decided by sculp-
tors juries appointed by Il. There are
now ninety-one sculptor members Of the
society and 200 lay members The sculp-
tor members are eligible only after they
have submitted work Of sufficient merit
TO entltle them TO be ranked as first
class scUlptors.
Just now Congress is being flooded with
petitions for the removal Of the tariff
duty on art. The American Free Art
League has been sending out literature
for several years looking toward the plac-
ing Of art on the free list. To meet this
demand many bills have been introduced
In the Senate and House providing for the
admission of works of art free OF duty.
The National Institute OF Art and Let
ters has also joined In the crusade by
'reatfirming its deep conviction that the
present tariff on works OF art should be
abolished. and petitions Congress to take
it of.
Congress does not see fit 10 take such
action. The present rate Of duty on art
works is 20 per cent ad valo7em. The de-
mand for free art is not altogether unani-
nous. Some take the ground that while
art works which are intended for public
exhibition should by all means be ad-
mitted free or duty. the same rule should
not apply 10 that brought in for private
use They hold that II is only the wealthy
N''N~N N-A e-iAN.N TIC AuA1Ay VI european
canvases and European sculpture. and
that ther5 is no reason why they should
not pay the full tariff. and none why
the tariff should be removed. It is fur
ther pointed out by those who take this
view thet If there Is any justice in the
doctrine OF protection Of American labor.
it ought 10 apply 10 the sculptor and the
painter as well. It is pointed out that
many painters and sculptors here have
to so abroad before they can command
recognition. and that when they do win
recognition they are as much entitled to