John White Alexander: Comparing Opportunities for Artists in Europe/USA, 1901-1912, Pt. 2

"In the Cafe" by John Alexander White

John White Alexander continues to speak on the influence of the government of a country on its Art and artists:

"Interest on the part of the public is fostered in every possible way by the Administration of the Fine Arts with the result that Paris is never without its current Art Exhibitions. The two Salons in the Spring - the International Society, the Independents, the Water Colourists, the Etchers, the Rose Croix, the Pastelists and dozens of societies of faddists all keep the ball moving - and invariably the foreigner is welcome to take part if he only has something original to say and is strong enough to say it. And the Artists are everywhere as well known personally to the public as are our politicians to us.

In France the President opens the Salons officially and in England some member of the royal family attends the Royal Academy banquet. The President of the Royal Academy and the Scottish Academy are knighted and all the ceremony and pageant of the thing excites interest and creates an impression on the people.

I remember very well the first exhibition held by the handful of Symbolist painters, poets and sculptors who formed the Society of the Rose Croix. This exhibition took place in the rue Lafitte and excited so much public interest that it was impossible to turn in from the boulevard to the street. The crowd trying to gain admittance to the gallery was so dense on the opening days.

The beauty of the city of Paris is also jealously guarded by the government so that no man is allowed to build a house until all his plans have been passed on and approved by an official board who sees to it that in height and design it will not mar the general effect of the street or disturb the harmony of the skyline. Each year the city gives a gold medal and one thousand francs to the architect who plans the most artistic house, to its builder goes a silver medal and five hundred francs, and its owner has his taxes cut  50%.

Everywhere and in everything the belief is encouraged and fostered that Art is of practical value and not merely a pleasant but useless luxury and that its encouragement tends to beauty, to cultivation and to advancement for every citizen."