MODERNISED ROYAL ACADEMY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 277, 19 August 1919, Page 5

MODERNISED ROYAL ACADEMY

UP-TO-DATE FLAVOUR IN THIS TEAII'S EXHIBITION,

This year's academy, apart from any question of tho merits of tho pictures, will always bo remembered for its distinct advunce upon any,previous exhibition, by reason of tho more catholic spirit shown in tho selection of the'pictures and the improvement mado in the hanging of them, states tho Loudon correspondent of the "Christian Science Monitor." Tho overcrowding of tho Academy walls had become ione of those grievances, like Homo Rule, i that wo had begun to feel almost helpless about. Year after year, artist and critic had assailed the hanging committee with rehuko and ridicule but with littlo result. Tho walls still appeared laden up to tho ceiling with pictures both large and small. Thero was tho space and it had to be filled. So up they wont, irrespective of incompatibility of character and temper. Tho result was always a babel of confusion, it gave to the.eye tho same effect that tho ear would receive in listening to a mass of people all singing different songs and all clamouring to bo heard individually. Loud notes of red thundered above the more timid efforts of bluo and yellow, and emerald green silenced tho murmurs of Huiet gray.

Whether from the war upheaval or the good services of the new president—most likely as a result of both—a sudden and marvellous chango has appeared, the struggle and stress has somewhat abated and the British public for the lirst timo is seeing pictures hung on tho Academy, walls set off by a generous margin of wall space, not crushing and crowding each other, as in the past. There is no doubt that once having enjoyed tho sight <jf pictures presented in this way, a return to the older will not be tolerated. At the same time,. it must be remem. liered that ihe l'oyal Academy is no longer only tho Academy of England, to-day there is a.universal demand made upon its hospitality that extends beyond tho British Isles to. the far-reaching limits of the British Empire. To livo in tlie dominions is to navo this fact brought forcibly before one; there we find that every art student is encouraged from cnikliiood with the great incentive of some day achioving the glory of exhibiting within its walls. The proudest day in the life of tho. young colonial Botticelli Brown is tho one on which he can writo homo to his people that he has been hung at the Loyal Academy, and ho invariably receives their congratulations in return, addressed "B. Brown, Esq., K.A.," for there is a rooted belief that to exhibit within its sacred walls is to become tlie possessor of those coveted letters.

This world-wido demand upon tlis wall epace of the Academy needs to be borne iu mind when the vital question of selection, hanging, and reduction of the number ii pictui'o4 is being considered. It is obvious that it cannot claim the freedom iu this respect that is enjoyed by other galleries whoso responsibilities are much lighter. There is always a tendency to carry reform to an extreme, and tho Academy jnust guard against oversimplification. Tho idea expressed in certain quarters that tho hanging spaco ou its walls may bo reduced to ono or two lines of pictures would certainly give a more pleasing effect to tho exhibition and locub more attention on tho academicians and llie few fortunate ones chosen, but it would undoubtedly inflict great injustice and discouragement upon hundreds of artists who aro equally well worthy of representation, and who have overy right to uliato in tho unique advantages that it confers upon tho exhibitor.