Reports on the Philadelphia International Exhibition of 1876.

Date:
1877-1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reports on the Philadelphia International Exhibition of 1876. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    familiar and modern, appealing to the eye, and depending greatly for their success on the technical excellencies of colour, texture, and execution. I wish, however, to mention a few of the more striking features of the Exhibition. By far the most extensive collection of pictures was contributed by the American art. United States, as indeed was to be expected. If the question be asked, What is the character and quality of American art? it is difficult to find an answer, because the visitor is puzzled by the great variety of aim and treat- ment. It is evident that the artists have mostly studied in the schools of Europe, and have returned home bringing with them French, Belgian, or English taste and methods, and frequently one finds that even the subjects chosen are rather European than national. Besides this, many foreign artists have gone to the States, have become citizens, and their works are ranked as American productions, although they are rather the works of foreigners. It is only fair, however, to say that there are many exceptions to this general remark, as there are some painters who have not been inspired solely by foreign influence. Perhaps this want of originality is unavoidable in a very young school, and there are not wanting evidences of home inspirations. These, however, are rather exceptional. The most original, and therefore to foreigners most interesting, efforts are in the branch of landscape painting. There are many pictures representing the grand features and bold rocky scenery in the far'West. These are very characteristic, but a critic perhaps might wish that they had less of the look of mere views, less deficiency in art language. Good art is not dependent upon fine scenery, nor is the finest art usually found in countries where the scenery is on the grandest scale, e.g., Switzerland. The very grandeur seems to be a snare, enticing painters to attempt impossibilities. On the other hand, some of the finest efforts in landscape are to be found in Dutch art, where the only end is to represent the simplest truths of nature in colour, lighfc, and shade. The French school of painting was inadequately represented, many of the France leading French painters having contributed nothing. But the abstinence from exhibition by the painters was atoned for by the sculptors, for the bronze figures were among the most remarkable and beautiful productions in the whole collection, and received the warmest approbation. Not so, however, with the large majority of Italian pieces of sculpture The Italy art seems to have descended to mere materialism, the aim of the sculptors bein«- to represent curious distinctions of surface texture, in cloth or linen or knitted fabrics; difficult under-cuttings of network enclosing fish, and such like trifles. The quantity of these works is surprising, suggesting the painful reflection that where there is such an abundant supply the demand must be considerable, and pointing to the conclusion that the art is debased into ministering to the tastes of the ignorant. The contributions from Austria were very striking in the direction of colour Austria. Amongst them were some remarkable works, gorgeous in many-hued brilliancy or subtle in refined delicacy. J iuu»m>ys In religious art the noblest contributions were sent by Spain Spain made in photographs process, which can reproduce works in a sho t pace of t,me and at comparatively httle cost, are elbowing other kindred arts out ;iene„tenCe' 11,6 SpeCime'13 °f P**™ ffom pictures were ver^ The art of etching, however, is well represented by exhibits from France iw-v r.ngland, Austria, and America. It is an art adapted not only for ZodudS * the works of others, hut in the hands of genius it is a fasciiatin» method „f artcSibu^ *° in/P-tthe wo'rks of Kxtra medal8 their Government consist,™ Go^^ - Canada, pleasure ,n complymg with their request. The collection was not vcrv 1?
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