Art Schools

Once upon a time a man wrote a book entitled "About Frogs in Ireland," and began as follows: Chapter 1. "There are no frogs in Ireland." I can but follow t'.is ex imple and say "there are no art schools in Detroit." The classes that have been fonned from time to time have lacked many of the essential qualities of a school. The first of the6e gatherings, that I remember, was about flftecn yearg ajo wben a few ladies and gentlemen, who had some knowledge of drawing and an earnest desire to learn the use of wator colors, overéame the mode6t objections of Mr. Robert Hopkin and prevailed upon hirn to try to teach them EOincthing of the art. Tbey secured a room on the top floor of the building known as Ilodges' Block, at the corner of Griswold and State streets, where the Branswick hotel now stands, and tbere had many opportunities of testing Mr. Ilopkin' patience and other excellent qualities. In December, 1875, the "Detroit association" was formed, composed mostly of artists. Thank to Detroit gencrosity the association gave an interestlng exhibition of pictures and an enjoyable reception at Abstract hall. In the winters of 1879-80, a score of ladies and gentlemen met in the parlors of the Abstract buildng and organized the "Sketching club." ts purpose was "sketching from nature and from object, and the establtshment and maintenance of proper rooms for the social and business meetings of the club." Heetlngs for practice in drawing were ïeld once a week in Abstract building, and these became so popular that the membership soon grew too large for the quarters, and the club got a larger room n the Industrial 6chool building. The club continued to tbrive and increase in membership and the following December ound it quartered in pleasant rooms in ,he Walker block. At lts first reception n these new quarters, not only the sketches of the members were exhibited, ut excellent work was shown from kindred organizatfons In Cleveland, Cincinnati and Chicago. Thus far, and during the first half of the year following, there was no regular eacher employed, as it had been the ntention of the club simply to furnish opportunüy for those to draw who had already made some progres in the art, uut many had joined who were unable to work to advantage without a teacher. Therefore, in the fall of 1881, the sketching club organized some art classes with seven instructors. Lessons were given every day in the clubrooms, and over one tmndred puptls attended the classes. JThe following fall the club chauged its name to the Detroit art club, and arranged its winter'swork so as to include lectures, exttibits of art works and a sketching class in its plans. The meetings were held at J. E. Watson's photographic rooms on Woodward avenue, and the services of Mr. L. T. Ive were ecured for the eketching class. Mr. Seymour Haden of England, Mr. George Ward Nichols and Mr. George McLaughlin of Clncinnati, and Prof. D'Ooge of Ann Arbor, lectured before the club and its friends. The club gave complimentary exhibitions to Mr. Cari Marr, Mr. J. K. Harlow and to Mr. Francois, besides having exhibitions each year of the work of members. Messrs. M. S. Smith fe Co. donated to the club, as an Ímpetus to its workln.tr, members, an elegant gold medal, to be a perpetual prize for best work, and to be awarded to the succe6sful competitor at the spring exhibit of club sketches. During the winter of 1883 to 1884 the club occupled rooms in Mr. C. C. Randall's building on East Grand Circus park. The membersliip increased and the sketching department, under the direction of Mr. J. G. Melchers, did excellent work. The following year the Art club arrun_;.M with Mrs. Holdeu to have its meetings at her residence on Hcnry street, and othar classes weie there formed under Mis. Holdcn's management, and have contiimnl ince. There have been other opportunities for learning to draw and paint, Mr. Conely's liio class, the Misses O'Connor's class in object drawing, the new "Art Academy," so called, which had a briaf existence in toe building on the southeast oornur of Woodward avenue and Elizabeth street, and other classes in various parta uf the city, at which young ladies acquired a smattering of an aecomplishmeüt more or lese artistic. While there have been no properly equipped art schools, there has been ampie cvidince of there being no scarcity of art pupils. Goethe says: "Teach the beautiful, the useful will take care of itself," and 1 do not thlnk that Detroit will long be behind hr sister cities in this lmperative duty. B. C. Wjlbï. The genuiue, law-giving artist, strlves after artistic truth; tbe lawlcss, following a blind iustinct, aftcr an appearauce ol naturalness. The formcr leads to tli. highest pinnaelo of art. the latter to its