114 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VOL. II. 



Arts Association, which for years held the gauge of professional merit in 

 the art of the country. In 1873 was formed the first distinctly profes- 

 sional group, known as the Ontario Society of Artists, and which, during 

 these eighteen years has placed annually before the people of Canada the 

 best work of our artists. Two years before that date the Art Associa- 

 tion of Montreal was organized, and in 1880 H.R.H. the Princess Louise 

 and the Marquis of Lome inaugurated the Royal Canadian Academy. 



Annual exhibitions of meritorious pictures, aided by an Art Union 

 successfully promoted by the Ontario Society of x'\rtists, under the presi- 

 dency of Hon. G. W. Allan, have contributed much toward an awaking 

 interest in our country's art ; but equally potent has been the influence 

 of successes achieved by our younger painters in the capitals of Europe 

 in turning the e)es of the people to what is being done at home. 



The art c f Canada to-day is a mingling of elements. We refrain from 

 mentioning any names of living men, not wishing to discriminate 

 amongst our confreres in any way, although you will not be slow to 

 observe one very natural division, viz. : Belonging to the professional 

 society mentioned are fifty members, of these a half-dozen, certainly not 

 more than ten, are native Canadians. The influence of the old world may 

 be seen in the work of many who cherish still the precepts of their 

 masters. Yet it is due to those who have adopted Canada as their home 

 to say they are as Canadian in the faithful reproduction of the pure 

 glories of our climate as those who first saw the sun in our own sky. 

 Our native artists, who have studied abroad, are very much inclined to 

 paint a Canadian sky with the haze of Western Europe, and our verdure 

 too as though it grew upon foreign soil. Our art is not Canadian. 



The French school to-day rules the art of Europe. No stronger 

 evidence of this is required than the catalogue of the Great International 

 Exhibition held in Paris in 1889. The British is the only school distinct 

 from it. Canada furnishes the arena in which the forces of these rival 

 schools contend ; and while the restless dispute continues with little sign 

 of truce, we may at least expect more universal interest in the true ideal 

 to which our painters are looking. When a more intelligent conception of 

 the aim of art is possessed by our younger men especially, it may be 

 discovered that both are near a pure and high ideal, and that rapproche- 

 ment, not rivalry, would best serve the occasion ; and the union might 

 reasonably be hoped to produce a purer, higher ideal than any yet 

 reached. Material is certainly not wanting, nor motif for art of the 

 grandest order. 



The first requisite is for a stronger national spirit. Events are slowly 

 developing this ; and the signs are full of promise in this direction. The 



