Evening star., 1928-05-19

The very air, this week. has teemed
with art. There we're art meetings IN
Washington-the American Federation
of Art and the American Association OF
Museums both of which drew to the
Capital many of the leading figures in
their respective professions. President
Coolidge laid aside the science OF state
craft in order to show his appreciation
of the beautiful and the erJdite. In
opening the Joint meeting of the two
societies he delivered memorable ap-
peal that Americans should show IN
creased interest in beauty.
AS If in electric touch with these local
events the telegraph brings from abroad
the news OF astounding prices PAID IN
London, partly by Americans, for rare
aOld Masters''-S875,O 900 for a small
Raphael and over 5000 900 for REM
hrandtS. Some observers measure art
by auction rates. the same as the quo
tations on commodities of the bulls and
bears.
Every lover of art applauds the car
of President Coolidge for appreciation
OF beauty and its application to the
practical. although not all art connots-
SeurS can grasp the philosophy OF SOME
Indicated by one protest yesterday from
leading artist of Washington;
Mr.. Coolidge said: 1T is especially
the practical side of art that needs
more emphasis We need to put more
effort into translating art into the daily
lives of people. II We could surround
ourselves with forms of beauty, the evu
things OF life would tend TO disappear
and our moral standards would be
raised"
THAT sounds impressive" COM
mented the artist, "but Is is historically
true? How about - and -,
famous artists. who were infamous,
morally9 How about the general tone
Of art students in Paris and other art
eenters, especially in earlier genera
tions?
Those artists were surrounded by
beauty--yet they were debauChed. One
gets out of beauty only the moral ele-
vation that he brings into 1t. Yet II
is true that If ones mind is attuned
to nature, so that he can see the
beauty all about him. he should feel
the inspiration which he cannot feel IN
the ugly surroundings Of life. Men are
of arboreal descent, and when one goes
into q forest, and sees the trees and
flowers. the rolling landscape and the
clouds and springs and rivers, II he has
not wholly hlunted his perceptions, how
can he prevent being exalted9 But
that is the beauty of nature-not Of
art. And 1t Is not practicable 10 sur
round the city man with the beauties Of
rural nature
Yes" broke in an "innocent by
Stander," cant the city man so out
and see nature, the woods and riSerS2''
No, he can't see their beauties" re-
piled the veteran artist. unless mis-
eyes are educated through the inter-
pretations OF trained artists, You know
what Turner told the lady who pro-
tested that she could not see the gor-
geous colorS of sunset as he painted
theni-'Don't YOU wish YOU eoulde' All
of us are blind until miracle of train
ing opens our eyes, That Is what the
art galleries are doing with their beau
tiful canvaSeS and marbles and hronseS
opening our eyes to see what artists
have caught In the fieeting colorS and
forms of ever-changing nature
Maybe that is What the President
meant when he said, Men and women
become conscious that they must seek
for satisfaction in something more than
worldly success, They are moved with
a desire 10 rise above themselves. II Is
but natural therefore. that We should
turn To the field OF art" suggested In
nocent ByStander. Perhaps that ex-
plains why a Raphael sells for $751;
900. Somebody must have risen pretty
high to find nearly million dollars Of
art IN one small canvaS~-a picture OF a
mother and baby"
Art appreciation had little 10 do With
that sale, No more than literature has
To do With the extravagant prices of
rare books or the original manuscripts
OF Them. II Is Just ego and pride of
purse" protested the artist. The
Raphael Is great of course and 81 are
the RembrandtS, but that dotS not ae-
count for the eXtrasagant prices The
buyer VIII not get his enjoyment cut
Of them through his knowledge and
appreciation eI their technique lis
VIII bring these pictures 10 America.
and Some egotlstiC ART lovers viii ex-
claim without comprehendlng the
technique or emotion Of the art How
much more that buyer mlght have gsone
eonstrnetlvely 70 build Np art Ia Amer
tea With his Sa1a 600 paid ter one little
picture. II he had used II ta encourage
rotemporaneouS artiStsl Contrast that
Investment With the work oI the Mae-
nnwen Art Center near peterhaEo.
N, H., run by the widow St the famous
musical composer. Tor the sole purpose
OF creating and conserving an arr
atmosphere. where artists and Writers
may work, free frem commercial dis.
tractions Then there Is anatheE
Xaada. near Saratoga Springs. endowed
hy Spencer lrask These art festeats
do not pay profit. but they prNduve
American art, One Of the finest things
President CcQliuge ever said Was the
closing Senletkae az hlA seeond inaugural
Address. onk the splgAnaAl nasnEa ct