Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-15
Especial correspondence.)

ONION, Jan. D. ism I tnero any
American art?" Aren't there
any American artists?" Those
are questions that occasionally
hurt an Americans feelings on the con-
tinent, especially if he happens to be
visiting an international picture ex-
hlbition.
In response, he points proudly to the
Whistlers, Sargents, Abbeys. and Pen
neIls, which may perhaps be included
in the exhibition. either under the head
of '.Britioh art" else In n depart
ment devoted to the odds and ends that
come from countries not important
enough to have buildings or depart
ments of their own The humbled visi-
tor explains as best he can that the
world is indebted to the United States
for all these famous artists, who. be-
cause they happen to live on this Side
of the ocean. know the importance to
themselves and to their country OF
being represented at these international
art shows. He tries to make it clear
that there really are n lot of fine artists
at home and that we could make big
exhibit II we should take the trouble.
But he never makes much headway
against European scepticism.
At the recent international exhibition
in Venice q number of Joseph PennelpS
New York and Pittsburg etchings were
bought by the city for the municipal
art gallery, which already has several
examples of Whistlers work, and to
Mr.. Pennell therefore, the writer went
for a solution of this mysterious back
wardness of most American painters,
etchers and sculptors in coming for
ward and doing themselves and their
country due credit.
JOSEPH PENNELL AT HOME.
Mr. and Mrs. Pcnnell are at home IN
an ideal place for such an artist-author
pair-at the top OF n four story build
ing close to Adelpbi Terrace, just
around the corner from George Ber-
nard Shaws house and from the Saw
age club. 1t IS only a. block from the
roaring Strand-yet In that one block
you travel back a century and q half to
the very heart of the district where
some of the most characteristic archi-
tectural work of the Adam brothers
can be seen, and where the very street
names testify of them. for you go down
Adam street to get to Robert street,
named after the elder Of the two broth
ers, and thence to the Adelphi. which.
AS the Greek word for brothers, was
named after both of them 1t is N
Adelphi Terrace House In Robert street
that the Pennells live, in room nat
on the top floor of an Adam house COM
manding a glorious view up and down
the Thames. 1t was this view doubtless
that fascinated J. NJ Barrie. a single
man again after his unhappy domestic
experience, and he Is now settling down
to a new life in the flat below the
Pennells.
The artist was in his big studio. ex-
nctly as You sec him in the accompany
ing photograph which shows the press
\ on which he printed the etchlngs repro
duced here by his kind permission. he
was greatly Interested in this subject
of making a larger showing for Amer
ican art in Europe, and plunged into
the subject at once.
AT home" he said. ''we don't take
half enough interest in these exhibl-
tions, either on patriotic grounds OF on
the grounds of personal benefit For
example. next year n great internation-
al exhibition opens In Brussels. An In
vitatlon has been sent to the United
States but it appears that our govern
ment will have no part in 1t, although
England and all the other European
countries are TO be represented official
ly. I have had q personal invitation Il
exhibit and doubtless other American
artists have. too. but as there is nC
American section we must be so scat
tered about as to make no representa-
tive showing for American art
DIFFERENT IN ENGLAND.
In England the discovery wa
made n few years ago that 1t Is as i'm
portant to look after artists as IL 1
10 look after any other producer. IN
board of trade organized separat
department, the exhibitions branch
end appointed q permanent commis
n hat
properly and officially represented Il
every international exhibition. In tn
department of art the government col
lects the pictures and pays at icas
some Of the expenses to make the bes
possible showing. appoints commits
loncr. grants money and sees tina
the best possible collection Is got TO
gether. The result IS that British ar
today is known all over Europe an
the principal British artists are known
too and make surprising number 9
sales to public galleries and priVa'