38 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



mend that a strenuous effort be made in advance to secure 

 a loan collection at the next exhibition, and that, if it is 

 thought likely by the Executive Committee that premiums 

 would be a help in that direction, a first and second premium 

 for paintings in oil or water-color not executed by tlie exhib- 

 itor should be offered. The pleasure afforded to the mass of 

 visitors by the sight of the art-treasures accessible ordinarily 

 to but few of them would be well worth the expenditure 

 necessary to secure it. 



The specimens of work in oil were, as a whole, marked by 

 an excellent degree of fidelity to nature. The animal-paint- 

 ings especially were admirable as faithful portraitures of the 

 originals. One visitor at least was heard to recognize upon 

 the canvas the distinguishing features of his four-legged 

 acquaintances. Hardly less real in appearance were some of 

 the flower-pieces. Landscape-painting had less faithful rep- 

 resentatives on exhibition, and not without good reason ; for 

 although, perhaps, the most commonly attempted, and proba- 

 bly the most attractive to the painter, it is yet tlie most diffi- 

 cult branch of art in which to attain perfection. Its demands 

 for a thorough knowledge of perspective and a skilful manip- 

 ulation of colors are imperative. Moreover, the landscape 

 artist must, by minute observation, have gained a deep sym- 

 pathy with Nature in her varying robes, and then must have 

 a powerful grasp upon the technique of his art in order 

 satisfactorily to express on the canvas that which he feels. 

 Few acquire this skill early in life, or in other places than 

 where artists abound. True art demands, like every other 

 mistress, the whole-souled devotion of her lover. In our 

 rural communities and smaller cities, oil-painting yet has 

 ample room in which to grow. With us it is not an avoca- 

 tion, but rather an accomplishment, or the amusement for a 

 leisure-hour. We have, perhaps, reason to be grateful that 

 the perfection of our home talent is not entirely secured ; for 

 in that case those whose work we are glad to see in our fine- 

 lart room would be spirited away to the large art-centres 

 of our hind. AVe should be content to see our artistic life 

 expanding, to encourage it, and to notice with joy the 

 spread of the love for the beautiful which accompanies its 

 growth. 



In water-colors the exhibits were quite numerous, and of 



