Annual Address. 



31 



city a number of pictures, many of them of no ordinary 

 excellence and chiefly the works of American artists, be- 

 longing to the old Albany Gallery of the Fine Arts, which 

 many years ago on the suspension of the annual exhibi- 

 tions of the gallery, were placed in deposit with the Young 

 Men's Association for the want of some more suitable place 

 for their care and preservation. These would form a valua- 

 ble addition to any collection. 



Another thing which it is perhaps within our means to 

 accomplish, and which is not thought unworthy of the atten- 

 tion of some of the best art schools and galleries in Europe, 

 is the gradual formation of a collection of good casts, draw- 

 ings, engravings, autotypes and photographs of the best 

 works of art in foreign galleries. Without some such means 

 of illustration, it is almost impossible to give any valuable 

 elementary instruction in such matters ; but with these, it 

 would not be difficult to give any young person of intelli- 

 gence and aptitude of tastes, such initiation into the gene- 

 ral principles of art and into the distinctive styles and 

 peculiarities of the different schools, as would lay the 

 foundation for a discriminating appreciation and enjoy- 

 ment of the works of the best masters. In other countries 

 this is considered as almost one of the necessary forms of 

 culture of a well educated person. Often have I observed 

 in foreign galleries, family groups of intelligent looking 

 young persons, attended by their tutor or governess, going 

 from picture to picture and listening with eager interest 

 as their instructor pointed out the beauties or peculiarities 

 of the work, and I have thought what a privilege it would 

 be to our own children, could they have such means of art 

 culture. This we cannot have at once, but there is great 

 power in time and in well-directed, continuous effort. If 

 we are content to accept that which is within our means, 

 the power and the opportunity for greater and better things 

 will be certain in due time to come to us. In this as in 



