International studio (57.1915/1916)

Students Exhibition at Wanamakers, Philadelphia

CIRCUS DAY BY CHARLES HARGENS


TUDENTS’ EXHIBITION AT WAN-
AMAKER’S, PHILADELPHIA
Confronted by a catalogue containing
close upon six hundred numbers, it would
be unwise to attempt any criticism of individual
work done by the many students represented.
For the twelfth time they have raised their
banner beneath the protecting roof of John Wan-
amaker, of Philadelphia, and have evidenced to a
pleased public how efficient the training has been
to produce such convincing results, especially in
the fields of landscape and illustration. The
enormous difficulties of successful portraiture are
so marked, even among the matured portrait
painters, that it may be forgiven to the student if
that branch of art does not reveal him at his best.
Apart from enjoying the exhibition itself, the
observer must feel the greatest respect and ad-
miration for a firm that not only promotes such a
display of art, but bears all the attendant ex-

penses and contributes prizes as well. But that
is only a very small item in the artistic activities
of John Wanamaker. Many a reputation in
American art has been gained through his foster-
ing care and loosened purse-strings. Such names
as F. C. Frieseke, H. 0. Tanner, Paul Bartlett and
Anne Estelle Wright, are merely a few of those
who are not unmindful of the fact that art needs
patronage. What would Florence have been
without the Medicis? Patrons in the true sense
are rare in America.
Without due reflection one is apt to regard with
a shrinking feeling the so-called art department of
the average monster stores, where horrible frames,
cheap and nasty prints, imbecile flower pieces and
shadow-box atrocities, at prices varying between
$1.28 and $3.99, meet the offended eye at every
turn. Department stores, however, must meet
the popular demand, and real art has no place
on a bargain counter. Here we find true art and
popular art making their separate appeal.


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