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THE FINE ARTS 
National Academy of Design —The twenty-fifth 
anniversary of this institution was held on the first of last 
month, at the new galleries, No CG3 Broadway, in the 
rear of the Stuyvesant Institute. It is extremely gratify¬ 
ing to the friends of Art to know that this excellent nursery 
of artistic talent has now suitable buildings for its accom¬ 
modation, and the display of the productions of the paint¬ 
ers of New York. It was only last fall that definite ar¬ 
rangements were madhfor the construction of this build¬ 
ing, and already, as if'at the bidding of the genii who 
ministered to the wants o^our youthful friend Aladdin, it 
has sprung into existence. This result has been effected 
by the constant exertions mjd devoted attentions of the 
building trustees, Messrs. Durand, Cummings, Ingraham, 
Edmonds, Stergesand Leupp. r t l he new edifice is situated 
in the heart of the fashion of the metropolis ; the galleries 
are five in number, all intercommunicating, well lighted, 
airy, spacious and elegantly neat. The coup d’asil of the 
whole, when filled with works of art rtor exhibition, will 
present one of the most animating and’dieautiful scenes 
which the city can afford. The artists of New York have 
a right to be proud of this edifice, and we. do not doubt 
that the public will be equally proud of thbse splendid 
productions with which they will adorn its waffs. At the 
advanced period, when we write this article, it is impos¬ 
sible to give any definite account of the present '•exhibi¬ 
tion ; but the notes of preparation, the foreshadowing and 
the glorious promise of an array of talented namesfSnre 
the tokens that it will be of unusual brilliancy. Eve 
exertion will be made to give eclat to the opening, an 
more pains will be bestowed on this display, that its debut; 
before the public may be dazzling and defiant of criticism. 
We learn from the New York papers, and from other 
sources, that all the artists of that city will offer “ tastes 
of their quality” to the public. Huntington, who has 
been exhibiting nearly all his prominent works for his 
own benefit, states in the catalogue that his latest efforts 
have been retained privately for the opening of the new 
gallery. Durand has a new work, of which report speaks 
in the most rapturous terms; this, with others of his elabo¬ 
rate and highly finished compositions, will be displayed. 
Cummings, Ingraham, Gray, Edmonds, Elliott, Cropsey, 
Stearns, Kensett, Gignoux, Cafferty, Edouart, Audubon, 
and others, will contribute portraits, compositions, land¬ 
scapes, etc. In fact, the artists luuVe determined by every 
means in their power to make t^e first exhibition in the 
new building both brilliant mi^f attractive. We hope by 
our next number to be able' to speak more fully of this 
exhibition. / 
/ 
The Philadelphia £rt Union. —It is but a few years 
only since the first plan of an Art Union was suggested 
in Germany, and already they are in existence wherever 
the beautiful is veifemted and art admired. In this coun¬ 
try we have Art,Unions in New York, Philadelphia, Bos¬ 
ton, Newark a^td Cincinnati The Philadelphia institu¬ 
tion differs from all the rest in its mode of distribution, 
and follows,'we believe, in every respect the London one, 
which has been by far the most successful ever started. 
In New York the managers purchase pictures and distri¬ 
bute them. Under this arrangement it frequently happens 
that the person who draws a prize is disappointed, be- 
catuse he has not obtained some particular picture in the 
collection which pleased his fancy. The Philadelphia 
plan is to divide the proceeds of the subscription money 
into various sums, which are allotted to the subscribers, 
who with the certificates, when successful, can choose 
any picture which may suit their taste, provided it is by 
an American artist, and on exhibition in some accredited 
gallery of art in the country. The annual distribution of 
the Philadelphia Art Union takes place on the 6th of this 
month, and we are pleased to learn that its prospects are 
most flattering. The engraving for this year is from 
Huntington’s celebrated picture of “ Mercy’s Dream,” 
which will be executed in a mixed style of line, stipple 
and mezzotint by A. H. Ritchie, of New York. This 
composition is derived from Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, 
where Mercy’ relates to Christiana the sweet dream sue 
had in a solitary place, where she saw a winged messen¬ 
ger approaching, who placed a crown upon her head, and 
invited her to a golden gate, etc. The landscape of this 
picture is clothed in the first shades of evening, and the 
figures of Mercy anti the Angel form the attraction of the 
work. In calm, spiritual expression, anatomical preci¬ 
sion, delicacy of coloring, and perfect keeping, there is 
no modern work which can surpass this. 
The Free Gallery of this Institution, located at No. 210 
Chestnut Street, has doubtless had a most beneficial in¬ 
fluence iu disseminating a taste for Art, and preparing the 
public for its just appreciation. The walls of this gallery 
have been constantly supplied with much-admired pic¬ 
tures, and a crowd of visiters are always in attendance. 
We hope hereafter to find much pleasure in referring to 
the new pictures exhibited in this gallery. The effects 
which are dependent upon the success of the Art Union, 
are shown by the great impetus which has been given of 
fate years to many extremely varied branches of manufac¬ 
tures and commerce by’ a judicious encouragement of the 
Arts.of Design. It has been found, more particularly in 
Europp, that numerous classes, hitherto considered as in¬ 
operative and useless, have been supplied with employ¬ 
ment, aiid entire districts revivified, as it were, by’ the 
establishment of certain manufactures, whose excellence 
depended mainly upon the skill of the artist. The surest 
means of effecting this result, is to create a public taste, 
and not merely comply with it as it exists at large; and 
it may be brought about by offering rewards for the best 
designs, by the publication of the best specimens of Art at 
cheap prices, by the erection of free galleries of painting, 
and chiefly by the encouragement of Art Unions. Willi 
such objects in view, and such results to achieve, the 
multiplication of these institutions in our country must be 
regarded as a cheering indication of the true progress of 
the age, and the precursor of a widely diffused love of the 
Beautiful in Art, which cannot but tend to the.general im¬ 
provement of the useful arts. All such results must be 
effected by our citizens at large, for we cannot expect 
legislative aid, and hence it is that we feel the necessity 
of impressing upon the public atteutipn the operation of 
the Art Unions, ns the great popular plan for fostering 
talent, infusing a love for the beautiful in Nature and Art, 
and cultivating those studies which invariably mark na¬ 
tional progress in civilization, refinement and general 
happiness. 
New Jersey Art Union. —We announce with great 
pleasure that an association of the friends of art in Newark 
have drawn tip the programme of an Art Union, and made 
a stirring appeal to the citizens of the State for encourage¬ 
ment and co-operation. A free gallery will be opened inN 
