RULE OF THE ANNUAL SALON

ROSE † CROSS

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I. — Purpose

The Order of the Rose † Cross of the Temple aims to restore the cult of the Ideal in all its splendor, with Tradition as its base and Beauty as its means.

II. — Definitions

The aesthetic doctrine of the Rose † Cross is explained in a volume currently at the press for October, titled: Idealist and Mystic Art, doctrine of the Order of the Rose † Cross by its Grand Master. We extract these definitions from it:

Art is the collection of expressive means for Beauty.
Beauty results from the perfect suitability between a concept and the process that expresses it.
Ideality, the sole rule in the search for Beauty, is defined as: a version of the Archetype, which is to say, all the perfection attributable to a form.

III. — Nature of the Invitation

The theocratic sense of the Order of the R † C does not commit the artists in any way, and their individuality remains outside the character of the Order. They are merely invited, and consequently, they are not bound to each other from a doctrinal perspective.

IV. — Forbidden Subjects

The following subjects are rejected, regardless of the quality of execution, even if perfect:
1. Prosaic and illustrative historical painting of the kind found in manuals, such as those by Delaroche;

SECOND AESTHETIC DEED

2. Patriotic and military painting, such as those by Meissonier, Neuville, or Detaille, except for the Chouannerie the royalist uprising in western France during the Revolution;
3. Any representation of contemporary life, whether private or public;
4. The portrait—except as an iconic honor;
5. Any rustic scene;
6. Any landscape except those in the style of Poussin;
7. Seascapes and sailors;
8. Anything humorous;
9. Orientalism that is merely picturesque;
10. Any domestic animal or anything related to sport;
11. Flowers, bodegones still life paintings of food and kitchen objects, fruits, accessories, and other exercises that painters usually have the insolence to exhibit.

V. — Accepted Subjects

The Order will primarily favor the Catholic Ideal and Mysticism. Below that: Legend, Myth, Allegory, Dreams, Paraphrases of great poets, and finally all Lyricism, preferring works of a mural character as being of a superior essence. For greater clarity, the following subjects will be welcome:
1. Catholic Dogma and Italian themes from Margharitone to Andrea Sacchi;
2. Poetic and legendary themes;
3. Allegory, whether expressive like "Modesty and Truth" or decorative, like the work of Puvis de Chavannes;
4. The sublimated nude, the stylized nude in the manner of Primaticcio or Correggio; or heads with noble expressions in the manner of Leonardo or Michelangelo.

Note: The section numbering jumps from V to VII in the original text.

VII. — Sculpture

The same rule applies to Sculpture. We will also welcome Ionian harmony, Gothic subtlety, and the intensity of the Renaissance. The following are rejected: historical, patriotic, contemporary, and picturesque sculpture—that is, sculpture that presents only the body in motion without the expression of the soul. No bust will be accepted, except by special derogation as an iconic honor.

VIII. — Technical Admission

The Salon of the Rose † Cross admits all forms of the art of design, from a simple lead pencil sketch to fresco cartoons and stained glass.

IX. — Architecture

Architecture! Since this art died in 1789, we will only accept restorations or projects for fairy-tale temples and palaces.