HENRY VAN INOEN. 35 



selected, and in many cases the subjects, were all Eu- 

 ropean. Most of them were rather low European at that. 

 This shows us that the only way to have American art, 

 is to educate our artists in America. So much in regard 

 to the formation of classes for instruction. 



Let me speak now of our lectures. They, too, should 

 be practical, and as much as possible should be given by 

 professional artists. Their aim should be to supply the 

 required knowledge of the beautiful, teaching how and 

 what to select and how to compose. They, in short, 

 should supply the complement to the classes, and with 

 them complete the instruction of that language which 

 may be made so eloquent and so powerful for good. 



Now, the next and last point to consider is the giving 

 of exhibitions and the forming of a collection of works 

 of art. Let me state, at this point, that this forming of 

 a collection is one of the most important duties intrusted 

 to this Section. Nothing is more capable of forming 

 our taste — which is in reality the sentiment for the beau- 

 tiful — than productions of art, in which we can observe, 

 study, and become familiar with all the combinations 

 which together produce this beauty. If works of art 

 lack this beauty their influence will be dangerous, for 

 they will help to introduce a bad taste. Moreover, since 

 examples of bad taste find also admirers, these vices in 

 art, receiving favor from some, will not only introduce 

 but also encourage a bad taste. " To form and purify 

 the taste," says Sulzer, "is a great national duty. So 

 we must not neglect to look into the analysis of art, 

 by the aid of which we may reach this aim of purify- 

 ing and forming the taste, and, consequently, improve 

 the morals." 



Most people, in acknowledging this moral influence of 

 art, place it merely in the subjects which the artist may 

 select for his painting. I go farther, and find it also in 

 the execution of the work and in a subject which may 



