Modern Art In America

Modern Art in America

"Modern Art in America" was the subject of the Art League lecture delivered last evening by Mr. Latimer. Although American art is principally modern, America has a larger art pedigree than some European countries, and her artists have always been something more than respectable. American art has been best at the beginning and at the end of the century. The rise of impressionism in the early seventies was hailed in this country with enthusiasm. Even before this the American artists were beginning to be pre-eminent in black and white, the department in which America now leads the world.

The first great monument of American art was the Boston Public Library in which the most remarkable work has been done by John L. Sargent, and Edwin A. Abbey. The first of these is best known as a portrait painter, of great eminence with a method much like that of Velasqez. Abbey, for many years a writer of draughtmanship, took up painting late in life and since his paninting the freze in the Boston Public Library, has done some very remarkable work, so that now the exhibitors of the Royal Academy are principally interesting on account of his paintings and those of John L. Sargent.

The world 's fair has given a great impetus of art interest in this country.

The Congressional Library, tho' not architecturally as good as the Boston Public Library, is remarkable from the fact that it is admirably finished and almost every American artist of prominence has been employed in the decorations.

The lecture closed with a plea for a knowledge of the art of today as necessary to its growth. The next lecture is to be on Botticelli.