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135  [[stamp]] 65 [[/stamp]]

THE AMERICAN DEPARTMENT DEBASED.
A PROTEST FROM THE COMMITTEE OF SELECTION——
REJECTED PICTURES ADMITTED BY MR. SARTAIN.

The committee of eminent artists to whom was intrusted the task of making selections from the works offered by American artists for exhibition at the Centenial Exhibition learned in June last that several pictures which they had rejected had been placed on exhibition. They at once addressed a letter to Director-General Goshorn protesting against this action. They have not as yet received any reply to this protest. Now they publicly protest against this admittance of rejected works by Mr. Sartain, Chief of the Art Bureau, and disclaim all responsibility for "the mass of crude and ill-arranged works" in the American Department. Below is a copy of the letter of remonstrance and of the protest:
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THE LETTER OF REMONSTRANCE,
NEW-YORK, June 21, 1876.
The Hon. A. T. GOSHORN, Director-General.

DEAR SIR: It has been widely reported among artists and lovers of art, and we now learn that it is true, that several pictures rejected by the "Committee of Selection" have been placed in the Centennial Exhibition. This has undoubtedly been done without your knowledge and consent, since, in the printed instructions you gave us you stated that works of art would only be admitted on the approval of the Committee of Selection, besides your repeated declarations personally to the members of the committee to the same effect. We therefore feel it to be our duty to call your attention to a fact which not only exposes the committee to contempt, but places you in a false light before the public, who, not knowing all the circumstances, will suppose that your promise to the committee has been dishonored. Your committee, all of whom entertain for you the highest regard and respect, feel that if their decisions are to be thus despised it will be necessary for them in their own defense to make a public protest. Very respectfully, yours,  D. HUNTINGTON, Chairman.
T. HICKS, Secretary.
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PROTEST OF THE COMMITTEE.

The undersigned, members of the Committee of Selection of American Art at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, were appointed by the Director-General, and at a meeting for organization held by his orders at the rooms of the New-York State Centennial Board on Feb. 12, 1876, he, being present, instructed us that the American art exhibit was committed to our hands; that we should be held responsible for its character, and that no work of art would be admitted to the Exhibition without our approval. Circulars were issued by the Director-General containing this clause: "All works of art must be of a high order of merit, and those produced by citizens of the United States will be admitted to the Exhibition only on the approval of the Committee of Selection."

We entered accordingly upon our work at Boston; New-York, and Philadelphia——depots designated by the Director-General——and selected such works as in our judgment would best represent the art of the country. Notwithstanding the pledge to our committee that our decision should be final, and should in no way be supplemented by any of the authorities of the Centennial Exhibition subsequently, not only many American works of art have been exhibited in the art galleries which never received the approval of the Committee of Selection, but works which were rejected by us have been admitted in defiance of our decision. We remonstrated by letter, but have received no reply. We therefore earnestly protest against this deliberate violation of the compact by the chief of the Art Bureau, acting under the authority of the Director-General; and we disclaim all responsibility for the mass of crude and ill-arranged works which lower the tone of the American art exhibit.
T. HICKS, Sec.   D. HUNTINGTON, Chairman.
JERVIS McENTEE, H.K. BROWN,
J.Q.A. WARD, R.M. STAIGG,
T. ROBINSON.
New-York, Nov. 2, 1876

Tribune (B.T.)
To the great art-loving public, the card from the distinguished American artists printed in another column will seem to be a protest that comes too late rather than too soon. The Committee of Selection appointed to pass upon works of art seeking admission to the American exhibit at Philadelphia, with whom it was stipulated that their veto should be final, discovered in June that pictures which they had declined had nevertheless been placed in the Exhibition. Their immediate protest to Director-General Goshorn has remained unanswered, and they now place upon record their formal disavowal of "all responsibility for the "mass of crude and ill-arranged works which "lower the tone of the American art exhibit."

There are two persons to whom this statement has especial pertinence——Mr. Goshorn, the Director-General, and Mr. Sartain, Chief of the Art Bureau. The public would be glad to know just where the responsibility rests in this matter, and why American art was disgraced in the eyes of all the world in spite of the protests and appeals of some of its most honored representatives.

N. Y. Tribune (B.T.)
The history of the Exhibition would thus be wholly illustrious but for two blotches which stand out all the more offensively against such a bright background of success. The American Art display, which promised to do us honor, was seriously degraded by what appears to have been the arbitrary action of one individual, in defiance of the earnest protest of a Committee of Selection composed of some of the ablest artists in the country. The stipulations under which the latter accepted their arduous service were violated at the start, and they were powerless to prevent the country from being disgraced.

how I miss her and how entirely dependant I am upon her society. I cannot accustom my self to being here alone and count the days until I go up home again where I would be only too glad to remain all semester.

Sunday Mar. 26 This morning was dark and it has rained and snowed all day. I did not sleep well and was half conscious of my Booth pictures and worried about failing in them. This morning I got out Richards Robe and painted it all over as I had the color too bricky. I was reasonably successful so that when Booth came at 1 oclock he was very much pleased. He sat for me from 1 to 4 and I painted on the face and put in the feet. We talked of Hamlet and I found that he had thought of the very idea that I had. Seated against the couch with his cap and fur robe on 

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