The sun., 1910-06-12
NEE YOUK'S NEGLECT OF ART
). CARROLL BECkWITH on THE
CONDITIONS HRRE.
aa the I'VE ~ Ma ESpatFtAtlea Ne Ne
gFets the Indifference shpwn 10 the
Native sehssl u American Painters
-Progress Here IN Architecture.

/ J. Carroll BeckWith. after practisini
his profession a. a portrait painter II
/ New York for thirty-tWo years. viii sal
for Naples on June "A and establish
permanent studio In Rome. Regarding
art conditions in New York Mr.. Beckwitl
said yesterday:
/ 1t may bs unEracious 10 say that oui
cultivated people Of means. those who
have it within their power 10 beoom'
patrona Of the arts. a title which through
out Europe today 10 considered one oi
honor and distinction. have hem singu'
larIy Indifferent TO the native school OF
American painters during the last thirty
FIVE or forty years.
There have nsen in this time a handful
Of Gentlemen who have fostered our
native school. hut the number n 20 small
when one oonaidsrs the enormous wealth
and great individual fortunes that tt q
scarcely worth mentioning.
The Society Of American Artists made
its mark 90 the art history Of our country
and 70 my regret Il was finally merged
into the National Academy Of Design,
whore t lost that energy and spontaneity
which made IL q force in tho art world.
The National Academy 10 now the one
great ART institution OF America. uniting
a. Il does among its aoademicians and
associates the names of most Of our best
sculptors. painters and architects. Il is
nov struggling AgaElst q public which
aeems sinGularly Indifferent. and its
efforts during the last twenty years 70
obtain either from the city or from some
enlightened benafA0tor suitable quarters
where Il might display the works Of tho
American artist properly have met with
aiRnal failure. Through my long period
Of service on its council. my service for
Ave yeaFp ~ la secretary, aside from my
experiences a. chairman Of the ways and
means COMMITTEES. I car speak with some
knoWledge OF the situation.
III 10 not surprising. therefore. that I
Ike many Of my confreres. desire sur-
rnrndinRs which may be more conducive
10 artistic inspiration. I 90 not think
I will End in Europe - much talent, as
much intsiliEsnt energy 81 surrounde
me here In men Of my profession.
There are painters here whose sauala
do not exist abroad In landsoape W
have men % great knowledFe and ex-
traOrdinaFy emotional expression on car
vas. Our painting Of the figure IN aenre
work "a Of superlative excellence ard =
brillancy 0l vibrating color which / a.
not think has been surpassed In any nariod
OF the hest Frenoh arr.
Our decorative men are Of a very high
order, and tho recent great public huiif-
inGs which have had mural and soulut,5r.I
decorations ~ part of their embellahIhent
are not exoeiled by any Of the modem
buildings Of EUROPE. IN portFaiiuTW We
have q crowd Of able men. q Il. tbers-
fore. Disappointing N reallEe that with
all this great flower n production. of A.
tingiIished ahility, the patronage sWd
suppors ol our naiive rainier iaan Huni1e5
That our people will awake 10 a r.si.
ration Oi this at an early mumant /.
my belief. as ao INTELLIGENT a usr~gn -
The modern American cannot ooaelu,,a
With one lobe Of his apprsciativs brain
-Ons of ths mast anoouraainr ar,i.,i.
hero haa baan tho h~oWsS
of our architeCture. oummernini hnii3.
ne n - longer an ugly ahsll l0r hO,laed
c9tnnodities. bus u growing n rha ire
1l neantI. Our aruhitecta no longer
lacFiloo thoir deal1 and thaiF drulriS al
structure 10 ne pure question Of an9ncial
interest ~ the Investment 1hav 80
la1erled t1emaelves. and thev have rsgs
ln hnpfsralon both on Ne indiviahial