―129―For the Literary Magazine.
pennsylvania academy of
fine arts.
A NUMBER of gentlemen in
Philadelphia have united in a plan
for promoting the charming studies
of sculpture, painting, and archi-
tecture. A liberal subscription has
been raised for purchasing ground
and building a house, suitable for the
reception and display of the finest
monuments and models, which can
be procured from abroad or suppli-
ed at home. Sufficient funds have
already been formed for these pur-
poses. A plan for a building has
been furnished by an amateur of
great taste, and it is expected that
a temple will speedily rise, in the
most airy and desirable situation in
the city.
This design is highly honourable
to the spirit of those who have adopt-
ed it. Our country is generally con-
sidered as a youthful, or rather, in
some respects, an infantile country,
whose imbecile and growing state
requires corporal nutriment and
exercise, rather than intellectual;
but the success of this project, is a
proof that we are not altogether oc-
cupied in these coarser cravings.
A large supply of the best models
has already been engaged from
France and Italy, and the zeal and
liberality of those engaged in the un-
dertaking will, no doubt, procure
―130―
new and constant accessions to the
collection, after it is begun.
Whatever justice there may be
in the contempt with which the lite-
rary and scientific spirit of Ame-
rica is regarded by Europeans, we
are surely remarkably distinguished
for our genius for the arts. Notwith-
standing the want of examples, and
incitements, America has hitherto
produced the greatest painters of
the age, and this pre-eminence they
have established, not only in spite
of the want of all the customary
motives to diligence and emulation,
but in defiance of numerous dis-
couragements and obstacles, to
which the artists of other nations
have not been exposed. One of the
ends of the present institution is to
supply these incitements, and to re-
move these obstacles, by concentering
and cultivating a taste for these arts,
and supplying those who are thirst-
ing after excellence, with patterns
and prototypes.
This is written by one who has
not the honour to be enrolled in this
fraternity, but whose zeal for liberal
pursuits will always make him dili-
gently second their efforts, and sin-
cerely rejoice in their success.