DOI Heft:
No. 6 (September, 1893)
DOI Artikel:Hiatt, Charles T. J.: Of Galleries: national and provincial
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17188#0246
Galleries, National and Provincial
sessing one which, while representative of all of the people in affairs, their voice in things artistic
periods and schools of art, is happily devoid of is invariably a counsel of folly. It is true that
spurious or feeble pictures. The idea of a national after a while, when the master has become an old
gallery is, I take it, the complete illustration of the master, the people will mention his name with
evolution of painting, and a collection of master- deference; to do otherwise would be as reprehen-
pieces of the art in the periods of its highest sible as preferring the novels of Zola to those of
development. Nothing should be exhibited save Edna Lyall, or a music-hall performance to a
what is either an important illustration of the classical concert. But in contemporary art the
history of painting, or a consummate example— people are always on the side of the common and
THE LIBRARY, GLENCOT, WELLS (MESSRS. GEORGE AND PETO, ARCHITECTS)
{Photographed by Messrs. Bedford, Lemere & Co.)
nothing merely curious or pretty, but only that the trivial, and they are not content with a passive
which is exemplary, should have the honour of attitude, for they glory in baiting the painter of
being included in a national gallery collection, genius, and in throwing cold water on fine and
In order to achieve this ideal—in order even to well-directed enthusiasm. Whistler was for years
approach it—the government of the institution noticed only that he might be insulted; Manet's
must be rigidly autocratic; its director must be name was a byword amongst the young geniuses
as independent of popular opinion as the Czar of who received instruction at the hands of M.
the opinion of the prisoners in the Siberian mines. Bouguereau and his fellows ; Degas, too proud
Indeed, it is hardly overstating the case to say to employ methods of self-advertisement, lived
that the mere fact that a recent, or comparatively for years unknown ; the Pre-Raphaelites passed
recent, picture is the subject of a popular demon- through an ordeal of fire. While all this
stration in its favour, is a prima facie objection to was going on, the Derby Day crept into the
its acquisition, for whatever the value of the voice National Gallery, and Mr. Armitage got himself
228
sessing one which, while representative of all of the people in affairs, their voice in things artistic
periods and schools of art, is happily devoid of is invariably a counsel of folly. It is true that
spurious or feeble pictures. The idea of a national after a while, when the master has become an old
gallery is, I take it, the complete illustration of the master, the people will mention his name with
evolution of painting, and a collection of master- deference; to do otherwise would be as reprehen-
pieces of the art in the periods of its highest sible as preferring the novels of Zola to those of
development. Nothing should be exhibited save Edna Lyall, or a music-hall performance to a
what is either an important illustration of the classical concert. But in contemporary art the
history of painting, or a consummate example— people are always on the side of the common and
THE LIBRARY, GLENCOT, WELLS (MESSRS. GEORGE AND PETO, ARCHITECTS)
{Photographed by Messrs. Bedford, Lemere & Co.)
nothing merely curious or pretty, but only that the trivial, and they are not content with a passive
which is exemplary, should have the honour of attitude, for they glory in baiting the painter of
being included in a national gallery collection, genius, and in throwing cold water on fine and
In order to achieve this ideal—in order even to well-directed enthusiasm. Whistler was for years
approach it—the government of the institution noticed only that he might be insulted; Manet's
must be rigidly autocratic; its director must be name was a byword amongst the young geniuses
as independent of popular opinion as the Czar of who received instruction at the hands of M.
the opinion of the prisoners in the Siberian mines. Bouguereau and his fellows ; Degas, too proud
Indeed, it is hardly overstating the case to say to employ methods of self-advertisement, lived
that the mere fact that a recent, or comparatively for years unknown ; the Pre-Raphaelites passed
recent, picture is the subject of a popular demon- through an ordeal of fire. While all this
stration in its favour, is a prima facie objection to was going on, the Derby Day crept into the
its acquisition, for whatever the value of the voice National Gallery, and Mr. Armitage got himself
228