34 
ART ED V CAT ION. 
mediseval elements united with those of the antique, forms the 
true basis of our national art. In painting, the mediseval forms 
were completely absorbed by the antique ; in the present age, a 
reflned realism is developing itself side by side with idealism. 
Sculpture still bears the marks of the epoch in question more dis- 
tinctly, but it is likewise about to pass on to realism, from the 
antique. Architecture, which at the same time had admitted 
antique decoration into its Gothic forms, again righted itself when 
the puriflcation of stylcs took place, consequent upon the com- 
plete re-awakening of Greek art. Art-industry, however, as before 
remarked, followed the current of development but hesitatingly. 
Upon its fallow field there was consummated a dissolution rather 
than a biending of these elements, which, indeed, are dualistic in 
themselves. Not tliat all industrial skill has been lost by the 
Germans, but the inventive genius is wanting, to develop the ele 
ments already at hand. 
The visitor at the German Educational Exhibition could see, by 
looking over the numerous portfolios containing drawings from the 
various Art-Schools, tliat, besides the Gothic and the antique stjles, 
the Renaissance was principally represented. But, wherever the 
attempt had been made to unite these different elements in original 
productions, the styles rather hindered each other, so to speak, 
instead of biending together organically. The study of nature, 
and especially of plant-forms, is still wanting in the schools ; and 
both of these are indispensably necessary if the Ornament in Ger 
man industry is to be purifled. As long as the traditional forms 
are only copied, there can be no thought of the development of 
new elements. The study of nature must also supply the under- 
standing of the purpose of the Ornament, i.e., its relation to the 
object and to the material employed, or the art of learning how to 
translate prosaic forms into forms rhythmically constructed. The 
German Art-Industrial Schools are often closely connected with 
industry, andtheir influence is perhaps quite as potent as in France 
and elsewhere; which becomes apparent from the fact, that the 
same defects and the same excellences are observable on both sides. 
The experience gained by the Germans at former World’s Fairs, 
in the department of art-industry, has indeed brought about a slow 
revolution in taste; but a decided reform has not yet taken place.