27 JANUARY 1844, Page 18

FINE ARTS.

INSTITUTE OF THE FINE ARTS.

Barnsn artists have always felt the want of an organized association calculated to give them a status as a class ; enabling them to maintain a professional intercommunication with each other and with their Con- tinental brethren—to influence the public mind, the Legislature, and the Executive, by a timely expression of opinion in their corporate capacity —and to promote the advancement of art as well as to protect their own interests. With some such object the Royal Academy was founded ; but its basis was too narrow and its constitution too petty : it soon became a focus of intrigue for a few self-seeking men, instead of a nucleus for the formation of a society embracing the whole class of persons connected professionally with the arts of design. The Royal Academy—having no constituency, its members being limited in number and self-elected, and the body itself claiming to be irresponsible, and to act solely with a view to its own interests—is nothing more than a dab composed of artists, who have Royal authority for calling each other " Academicians " and " Associates." Its President is recognized at Court as an official person ; and its members have certain advantages— such as exhibiting their performances in the best places in a public building, which they have the use of rent-free—assuming a superiority independent of their talents by virtue of their diploma, and securing pensions to themselves and their widows in case of need. But the Royal Academy recognizes no artist, however great his talents, who does not come before it as a suppliant for its honours and emoluments, and then only in that capacity. The only way in which it acts as a public insti- tution is, by affording instruction to pupils gratis ; and in this respect it is useful only as a school of practice : lectures are delivered, and some surveillance is exercised over the students ; but there is little real practical teaching, and no amount of knowledge and skill is exacted after entering. So far from the Royal Academy being a rallying-point for artists—the organ of their views and opinions—a bond of union—its via inertia has been obstructive, or rather destructive ; for it has acted as a wedge, splitting the community of art into fragments. It has served only to foment jealousies and engender hatred and enmity among the profession : it has never interfered in its public capacity but to check any impetus in the way of improvement.

This is shown by the various societies that have been established to supply the wants which the Royal Academy should have provided for. The British Institution was set on foot by the patrons of art to en- courage historical painting ; the two Water-colour Societies were formed to afford artists in that branch of painting opportunities of ex- hibiting their productions ; the Society of British Artists was instituted to remedy the injury done to oil-painters and sculptors by the exclusive- ness of the Academy ; the "Living Model Academy," to afford addi- tional facilities to students ; the " Artists Society," to extend these This society has done valuable service to the students by inducing Mr. HENRY Boozes, a lecturer at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School, to give a course of lectures on Anatomy applied to the Fine Arts; in which demon- strations from recent dissections, as well as from the living model, will be given; and the subscribers are privileged to draw and study in the dissecting-room. still further; and the various Conversazioni to enable artists to meet each other and amateurs in friendly discussion on subjects of art. But still there existed no comprehensive association, where artists in every department could meet to communicate information and express their opinions and wishes on subjects interesting to themselves and the public and important to the arts. The architects have formed an Institute for their purposes ; the painters, sculptors, and engravers, are now endea- vouring to establish an " Institute of the Fine Arts," to include every department of the profession. This institute is yet in its infancy, being but a year old. The vigour and rapidity of its growth will depend upon its organization ; its influence will be proportioned to the ability and energy of its members, and the character of its actions. In the first beginning, names will have great weight ; and therefore the recent ac- quisition of Lord FRANCIS EGERTON and Sir J. E. SWINBURNE, as Vice- Presidents, is valuable. But it is upon the reputation of its members in society and in the exhibitions that the Institute must rest ; its stability and power can only be derived from their high standing in the profes- sion. At the last general meeting, we observe, a letter from HORACE VERNET was read, acknowledging the honour conferred upon him by electing him a member, and approving of the plan and objects of the society. This is so far satisfactory ; but we could have wished the "Institute" had waited a while, to consolidate its force and strengthen the ground of its pretensions, before taking upon itself to confer unsoli- cited honour upon so distinguished a painter. The resolutions, too, approving of the proceedings of the Royal Commission, and the ap- pointment of Sir AUGUSTUS CALLCOTT to the Keepership of the Na- tional Gallery and of Mr. EASTLAKE to that of Conservator of the Royal Collection, would have been more valid had the Institute ac- quired a greater degree of strength and permanence than it has yet attained. It would have been better taste on the part of a young and almost unknown body, to have refrained from acting, either in bestow- ing honorary compliments or expressing opinions publicly, until it had received the sanction and adherence of a larger proportion of eminent artists. The countenance of the Academy, of course, cannot be reckoned upon; there is the greater need, therefore, to recruit sup- porters from the foremost ranks of the profession before exercising the functions of a national association of artists. Meanwhile, much good may be done in the way of suggestion and interchange of information and opinion on topics of interest : memorials or petitions, also, might with propriety and good effect originate with the Institute,-as in the instance of Mr. PARK'S proposal to petition Parliament for the forma- tion of a "Ball of Sculpture." The Conversazione announced to be held in May is likewise a judicious step.