The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-09

ing new avenaes OF opportun
'ty for the exhibition Of meritorious
works Of art. without antagonism TO-
ward any existing Institution" are
also showing their works to the public
free - charge. as the Institution" did.
Tho capital letter which the constitu-
ton Of the now society puts upon tho
Institution. which exists. but is not
TO he antagonized will reassure all
faithful admirers of the Academy. for
the Constitution" can bc NJ other.
Tho excessive modesty to be noted
In the term "mcritorious works Of art"
is another indication that nothing III
sensational import To the public Is
likely to he provided by the Allied
Artists. Sensation is not the object "
this young society. A mental fillip
"a the public is not so much the thing
a~ the extension cf new avenues of
opportunity for meritorious works OF
art. Modesty is an admirable attribute
for artists and II is too had IL is not
more in fashion. Everybody likes the
modest artist. but people seldom talk
about him. However. in the arts mod
esty is frequently mistaken for lack
Of ambition. The term "meritorious
works of art" by the most curious set
OF chances that this mad world ever set
in motion, is no longer a term OF COM
mendation. being scheduled low in the
list of faint praises tina. damn.
Even In an ordinary exhibition z
the National Academy. and by "ordi-
nuryP We mean one like that which
fvren1v eadcd. those critics VINO
write TO be read occupy themselves
trst with the general aspects and ten
denotes OF the show and then comment
upon such works that they feel have
most significance for the general pub
lie At the end Of their reviews these
critics. who are far kinder than they
ever get credit for being. usually add
n little list. among the other meri-
torious works present are" &c.
Now II you taxi an ordinary exhi-
bh'on of the Academy and abstract
everything that Is almost good from
IT. barring every work upon which art
lovers could possibly pin = subject for
conversation, new avenues for the re-
naming "meritcrious works" might he
opened. even If the art status OF the
community be not qppreciahly raised
But public scribhlers upon art topics
can he of very little assistance to such
Q contamination. What is there TO
say? Non ragionam di Tor. ma guarda
passa," Is Dahte's cruel dictum
when compelled to say something of
those who in life had echoed others.
IL really seems 20 outsiders TINT the
"meritorious" in thus banding together
defeat their main object. which is to
sell their works Would not the public
bite better at pictures not cunfessedly
classed as 'mertorous"?
! am not myself one OF those who
ny into RACES at the sight OF humdrum
works OF art nor do | despair when
people buy them. After studying at
close :an:;. the art ~ oceedings OF an
acknowledged centre OF ,rudltion. such
a. Paris. ! have sonnet mes concluded
that an immense quantity Of almost
hah art IL necessary for the public con-
sumption, and II Is upon an ocean IL
the hundrum that the crested waves
OF. genius. conditions OF wind and
weather being favorable. appear.
Art patronage. even III judged pat
roraCc. Is factor for the public
good, as THE SvN is never tirad NJ eX-
planning. There is somcthin, IN the
inIying Of n modest picture at modes;
price because | liked il" thai blesses
tim that buys and MIN that sHll.. To
buy Il mbrlnit and hen have all 4
your friends ask "ls Il a .'emorandt ,"
Is. ! assure you, not half so exh!larat-
ing
Tho Europeans are moro given to
impulsivc buying than we are. and you
viii find mere amateurs oN"r ter,
who are Indifferent To the names OF
the artists than you viii find here.
They stick their purchases on the
walls OF corridors or at stair landings
saying ut makes a nice color note
doesn't III" and nobody thinks the less
OF their taste ara some obscure artist
IiNes dinner in "A dusty cafe TO his
pals. saying AT last ! am arrived I've
spid my 'Fontainebeau.'
This Is something In the style OF
the sermon THE SIN breaches every
Christmas upon the occasion OF the
thumb box exhibitions in the Katz
and Powell Art g llcries. At such
times the sermon always points out
that often the best things that artists
who are not Yet great do are the
small sketches alone directly from
Udlur's mere are a freshness and "A
spontaneity in them that evaporate
when the same artist paints with one
eve on tho Vanderbilt Gallery and the
other eve on tho list of iurymen who
are to decide his fate.
1t IL not a surprise. therefore. 20
md that the gallery that is given over
to the sketches i'm the present cXhib.-
ton contains the most agreeable
work. Almost all the artists who
form the society submit groups Of
small studies which have no hesita-
ton in pr claiming To he eminently
buyable and sellable.
Amy Mali Hcls's exhibition of
dyed fabrics at 1iS West Eleventh
street will surely be revelation to
some designers and interior decorators,
for tho possibilities of dyeine as "A fine
art have been ignored among the
Western nations for generations.
Not science itself, but science as 4:
r. applied 10 business, seems to
operate against the use of simple and
natural dyes, and whenever civiiza-
ton disp aces primltlvlsm the anime
dyes and the machine printed fabric
will he found replacing the old vegr-
table dyes and the hand woven go de.
dur Indians in the West now weave
with yarns that arc colOred in the
Isast, and the rug makers of modern
Il A, al.