Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-01


board of trustees. no one of whom. &C
cording to its charter can be an official
Of the United States The French Acad
envy in Rome was established and is sup
ported by the state. So also are the
Spanish and British academies. But so
far as the world at large is concerned,
there is no difference between these and
the American Academy-each represents
art in its own nation. Now, art in
America is young, very young, and at the
same time very inexperienced, as com
pared to the art of Greece or Rome, or
even Spain or Holland. and there is some
thing courageous In its effort and deter
mination to take its place in the greatest
OF all arenas with the other nations OF
the world. This at once makes it's APP
peal to national pride.
To great many people the American
Academy in Rome has for a number o.
years been a great idea. something which
called for applause and which promised
fruition, but that was all; and to not Il
few that is all IL still Is. The principal
office of the American Academy in Rome
is In Washington, in the Octagon, owned
by the American Institute of Architects,
but II Is a long way from Washington to
Rome. 1t is not strange therefore, that
ones knowledge of the academy is
rather vague, and ones pride in it pro-
portionateiy modest But let the in
quirer be suddenly transported to Rome.
let him see there on the Janiculum hill,
the highest in Rome, in the most imposing
Of all positions. the new building of the
American Academy. and let him go into
the studios of the students, and he VIII
realize that the American Academy in
Rome Is something very tangible and very
worthy.
For a number of years the home of the
American Academy has been the Villa
Mirafiore, which was purchased and
given to the academy by Mr.. Walters of
Baltimore. one of its founders and truss
tees. This villa, while not imposing is
most pleasantly situated In a property OF
six acres in extent in an excellent resi-
dental section just outside OF Rome,
about q mile beyond the Porta Pia on
the Via Nomentano. The appearance is
that of fine country house of about
forty years ago. comnlodious, homelike
and yet not pretentious Studios have
been added at the rear and elsewhere
in the grounds, which are extremely at
tractive. But the academy has outgrown
this home, and is soon to he sold-pos
sihlS, II Is rumorcd, to the United States
as an embassy.
The academy's new home, which is now
nearing completion, is In directly the OPP
poSite direction, In neither SO fashionable
nor accessible a quarter. but on a site
which Is most commanding. From its
entrance and balconies Rome can be seen
as at the beholoer's feet, and hey ond the
eye can sweep across the Campagna to
the mountains. 1t is one of the great
views of the world, and IL ii does not
overawe II should inspire. The Spanish
academy is nearby, the French academy
faces from another hilltop across. the
city.
The land on which the building stands.
as well as two small adjacent villas. was
the gift OF the late Pierpont Morgan.
president, at the time of his death. of
the academy's board of trustees. The
plans for the new building were made
under his direction and suggestion. They
are comprehensive and distinctive. On the
ground floor are studios for the sculp-
tors. library and dining hall; on the sec
ond foor are studios for the painters.
and on the third floor rooms for the
students or archaeology and architecture
The building is planned with an entrance
court, in which is fountain and an inner
court surrounded by cloister. In this