72 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



We most respectfully recommend that in future exhibitions of the society a minimum stand- 

 ard of meril be established, and thai specimens of art below a medium grade of . excellence be 

 excluded, thus making applicable to this departmenl rule twelfth of your society. We also 



find much n 1 of a more detailed classification of art work, embracing a greater variety than 



is mentioned in the premium list for this year. Owing to this want of a more extended classifi- 

 cation, artists have been deterred from entering the list as npetitors, since their work must 



depend for reward upon the recommendation of the Committee of Award, and uot upon direct 

 and !'■•_';! imate competil ion. 



We also find that much in the line of copies, both in oil and water color, of mosl decided 

 merit, is excluded from compel ii ion with original paintings, because the} are copied. And si nee 

 there may be large merit in this line, we recommend the establishment of a separate classifica- 

 tion under which they can compete. 



We wouhl recommend that in future exhibitions the whole amount of money set apart for 

 premiums in this department be named in one sum, and its distribution be Left to the discretion 

 of the Committee of Award. This would enable them to distribute the cash premiums more 

 equitably. In our judgment cash premiums should be used in commutation of expenses to 

 exhibitors, and professional pride in art. we feel sure, will regard the medals and diplomas of 

 the society as the highest reward of merit. 



In justification of this recommendation we may he pardoned for mentioning the fact here, 

 that under the inflexibility of the premium list, under which we have acted, the society's gold 

 medal and forty per cent, of all the cash premiums offered were awarded to one exhibitor, thus 

 raising the cash reward to a profitable figure, and leaving elements of the exhibition of almost 

 equal merit without any reward whatever. Finally, the exhibition as a whole, notwithstand- 

 ing the except ionably high order of merit of certain parts of it, was a conspicuous failure, when 

 the large amount of art -work and art-culture of our people is remembered. The remedy seems 

 to lie in the direction we have indicated. 



A Liberal appropriation in the handsof a judicious Committee of Award could be SO distributed 

 to actual merit in mitigation of expenses as to produce an exhibition attractive and instructive, 

 and worthy of the esthetic culture of our people. 



Finally, permit us to explain, in answer to any criticism which may arise, that we had but 

 fourteen cash premiums to distribute under the rule, which fell necessarily to two exhibitors. 

 It", therefore, any specimens of art of decided and relatively high merit are not mentioned in 

 our award, the omission was unavoidable. 



Very respectfully, 



Miss A. J. PERRY, 

 GEORGE CADWALADER, 

 WILLIAM H. MILLS. 



