34 KKI'OKl-S OF COMMHTEES. 



hibitor claimed to be original with himself. There were also sev- 

 eral very fine copies exhibited which had they been taken from na- 

 ture whould have deserved more than an honorable mention or 

 gratuity, noticeable among which was one in oil from Rosa Bonheur 

 entitled " Plowing," which was particularly fine, but as the commit- 

 tee had not the time in the space of one short day to refer in de- 

 tail to each individual exhibit, or to give anything like an analysis 

 of their several merits, without being liable to do injustice at least 

 to some, they would refer all interested to the list of entries for 

 premiums, and the awards of your committee, hoping that they will 

 prove satisfactory alike to the exhibitor and to the society. 



In closing, the committee would say that in making their 

 awards they have given the most important consideration : 



First — To original studies, compositions and designs, as they 

 deem that it requires much more experience and a higher order of 

 talent to enter into the spirit of and forcibly illustrate a poem, an 

 incident in history or an idea with nothing but the conception to 

 draw from than to sketch or paint from nature with all its varied 

 outline, configuration and color before the eye of the artist. 



Second — To paintings and drawings from nature or natural 

 objects, as they think it much more difficult to paint or draw from 

 nature with its extended outline, its shades, shadows and colors, its 

 altitudes, levels and prospective distances than to copy from a pic- 

 ture upon the easel, where all of these details have been carefully 

 attended to and computed by a previous artist. 



Third — To copies, as the committee believe it is very neces- 

 sary to learn to coi)y well, not only as a means to higher attain- 

 ments, but also to be able to duplicate the plans, drawings or paint- 

 ings of others when desired, and although copies are not usually 

 allowed to be entered for premium at art exhibitions, yet as hereto- 

 fore no definite rule has been established in regard to the matter, 

 and as no third premium was offered, the committee thought it ad- 

 visable to award a gratuity for such as were especially meritorious 

 this year, but hope that this custom may be discontinued hereafter. 



Your committee would recommend : 



First — That $50 be appropriated for premiums for the fine art 

 department in 1 880. 



