264 Mr Wilson's Observations on some of the 



to see tlie old system of schools restored, I should be glad 

 to see an academic school amongst us offering certain advan- 

 tages to the student, whilst the disadvantages of the system 

 might in some respects be avoided. 



The artist in this country has thus two great evils to con- 

 tend with ; in youth, the want of the means of education — in 

 manhood, the want of proper and well-directed patronage. 

 Private patronage can create a very excellent school of art, 

 but it cannot create what we term a great school. We must 

 have that of the State, and also that of Municipalities ; I would 

 willingly add also that of the Church, but that is very hope- 

 less in Scotland. I am certain, however, that if the State 

 finally patronizes art (and I am thankful to think that there 

 is now a certain prospect of its doing so), our municipalities 

 will follow and do so also. We should then see our artists 

 called upon to design, not only great historical works, but 

 also works which would bear more directly on mere ornamen- 

 tal art, than the production of pictures alone can possibly do, 

 and which would, therefore, tend to its improvement ; and, as 

 I hope to shew you by my subsequent observations on foreign 

 art, whilst the artist would profit in every point of view by 

 such employment (his field of study, for instance, would be 

 greatly extended, which would unquestionably tend to the 

 general improvement of fine art), the position of the orna- 

 mentalist would also be greatly improved, more ability and 

 rultivation would be required in his department ; and as juster 

 ideas of art would soon prevail, young men would not so 

 readily esteem themselves fit to be artists, as they do now on 

 very slender grounds, but would continue in departments of 

 art which would offer them secure subsistence, rather than 

 embrace the miserable and hopeless career of the mediocre 

 artist. 



In my late continental tour, my express object was inquiry 

 into certain processes of painting ; but although much occu- 

 pied with these, I still had time to give a passing glance to 

 other interesting subjects so closely connected with the par- 

 ticular objects of my journey, that I had merely somewhat 

 to extend my observations partially to embrace these also. 



The King of Bavaria is the greatest patron of art now liv- 



