the finest examples are
unknown save to a few.
Many of these priceless
treasures will soon be on
their way to Shepherd's
Bush, and the presence of
them there will be certain
to attract students and
connoisseurs of many
nationalities next summer.
*' IN NORMANDY*'
{Seep. 145)
BY ALFRED EAST, P.R.B.A., A.R.A.
masterpieces of art in the world. Judging by the
crowds who have thronged the galleries since the
opening, Mr. Balfour's appeal has had the desired
effect.
The Anglo-Japanese Exhibition to be held at
the "White City" next summer promises to be an
event of unique interest so far as art is concerned.
The Committee is already taking steps to bring
together a collection of
works by British artists
equal in importance to
that wonderful display
which proved so great an
attraction on the occasion
of the Franco-British ex-
hibition last year. But
what will make the Fine
Art section especially
memorable will be the
display of the art trea-
sures of Japan. Apprecia-
tion of Japanese art has
been steadily growing dur-
ing the past quarter of a
century both in this
country and on the Con-
tinent, as well as in
America, and, as every-
one knows, it has had
marked influence on the
We reproduce in colour
one of the Merton Abbey
Tapestries of Messrs.
Morris & Co., worked
from the design of Mr.
By am Shaw. In the allegory. Truth is represented
as a beautiful maiden, stripped, despoiled and
blindfolded by the great ones of the earth. Of
all the motley throng about her, only two figures
are in sympathy, and strive to keep alive the
flame of her lamp. The colour scheme is one
of restraint and careful combination. The
beautiful draughtsmanship of Mr. Byam Shaw
and his remarkable gifts for design have met
STEAM TRAWLERS, BOULOGNE HARBOUR
BY ELMER SCHOFIELD, R.B.A.
142
Digitized by
Google
Digitized by
Google
I ilr r il( \ clopiiii nl of
\\ f^:. r-i an ; tan m. f.ir
no i"t 5 ',v It pr<'<'jn:.irr.c
( \\ '■'•.:■.< <\) «'f its r< (in'k-
at.ic pcul^K. lions b.a> I:-; en
-' . 11 111 t'»« s^j parts, a: «!
(•\v!i in I.ii'an - (jriu/ (j?
Tic !, K ^r L'\ani[ilL-s arc
iinkii'-An ^ave lo a l«'w.
M;.n\ oi" llu.'^-r ]'ri' clr>s
n, .i~i;: - vv :il soon l>c on
II < 1 \V.<V to SPiCplUTfl^
Ku' â– '. a'ld ihc: prestTK c of
t; • t:i ;!;lTc Will 1)0 rortj.in
(.) :rt. â– L ^: ..nuiUs an-.i
( . i\r,( ,'.- -â– i:rs of man)-
I'.M onaiiii<:s next sinnnicr.
W'c rcprodiKX' in coiour
np.e of tlic Mcrton Al)iH*y
T a [)(-;>> t ries of Mc.^^is.
' • ^^■^' Morris .V Co., workud
fn ipi the dcs'^n of Mr.
.V In tlx' ail. gory. Truth is r(.|)res<'ntt.*d
;: .' ri ..'id(-!>, stri;)pcd. dcsinjilcd and
; '\ i' L- ^ivat'oii's of the carlh. f)i
' , :' , .1 ^ alxajt h.er, only two figiircs
■., :•,'.. and ^Ir-.v-; to keep ali\'e the
. ! Mn p. l\]r < ulour sthenic is one
«,: .,'.1 c;.^: i conroinalion. 'llie
. . , iii.,n^hi|) (tf Mr. ]'.\-ani S!:a\v
•• i.ukaMi u^'ts lor do.-'^^ lK.\e met
l;^- i-.i MJ- i; sen- !• 'I' 1 . }: i . \.
Digitized by
Google
THE BLIND-FOLDING OF TRUTH-
AN ALLEGORY." tapestry designed
FOR MORRIS & COMPANY BY BYAM SHAW.
Digitized by
Google
Digitized by
Google
Studio-Talk
" ROSINKA" (a portrait), by JOSEPH SIMPSON, R.B.A.
with perfect interpretation in the working of the
tapestry.
The Black Frame
Sketch Club exhibition is
always a very interesting
exhibition of oil sketches.
This year they have ex-
hibited at the Baillie Gal-
leries. Though they are
pledged to their black
frames, many are the
pictures which a black
frame does not suit. Well-
trained handling is a
characteristic of nearly
all the members of this
club. Here no amateur-
ishness enters anywhere,
but the word "sketch"
in the title of the club
prepares us for works in
all processes of finish and
for a number of spontan-
eous panels from nature.
It is in these latter that
the club excels. Some of
the pictures which should
be mentioned are the
following: Mr. Percy W.
Gibbs* A Rest on the Way and The Gift; J.
Alfonso Toft's The Millstream ; Mr. E. Borough
Johnson's At the Window and Afternoon Tea;
A. Carruthers Gould's Evenings Porlock Weir;
T. T. Blaylock's Ludluff, Co. Wicklow ; Mr. Val.
Havers-Morgan's A Village-Treat; Joseph Long-
hurst's Sussex and Surrey, and Christopher Clark's
Pomp and Circumstance, Mr. Glyn W. Philpot's
The Little Spaniard and sketch for The Circus
Boy, perhaps represent that interesting painter to
the greatest advantage.
The Royal Society of British Artists are holding
their one hundred and thirty-second exhibition,
and we have had pleasure in reproducing from it
In Normandy by the President, Mr. Alfred East,
A.R.A., a harbour scene, by Mr. Elmer Schofield,
Picquigny sur Somme, by Mr. Fred Milner, and
Posinka, by Mr. Joseph Simpson, the latter a work
of great vivacity, interesting as a colour scheme and
as a design; though criticism might be given to
a shadow, almost suggesting a black eye, which
modifies the expressiveness of the achievement.
There are Mr. Ldszl6's forcible portraits and Mr.
Graham Robertson's Master Raymond Hill and
some other interesting portraits ; but the chief
'IN AMSTERDAM HARBOUR" (ETCHING)
BY ANTHONY R. BARKER.
Digitized by
Google
Studio-Talk
"THE CANAL BRIDGE" (ETCHING)
BY ANTHONY R. BARKER
source of strength of the R. B. A. at present is its
landscapes. Here Mr. East always sends of his
best, and among the more valuable contributions
by members were such works as the Green and
Silver of Mr. Talmage (though in this we seemed
to detect a considerable debt to the effects Mr.
Hughes-Stanton has associated with his name);
Corfe Mullen Mill, by Mr. F. Whitehead ; The
Rising Moon, by Mr. T. F. M. Sheard ; Twilight,
Notre Dame, Paris, by Mr. F. F. Foottet; The Pool
of London, by Mr. H. K. Rooke ; Overlooking an
Estuary, by Mr. Walter Fowler; Australia Felix, by
Mr. Arthur Streeton (recently reproduced in The
Studio), and a delightful study of primroses by that
artist ; and Mr. Hayley lever's Fishing Boats,
Nor should we omit to mention Mr. D. Murray
Smith's The Edge of the Wood, A Winter Sun, by
Mr. Gardner Smith ; The Courtyard of the Orange
Trees, Cordova, by Mr. Trevor Haddon ; The Severn
Sea ; Porlock, Somerset, by Mr. Alec Carruthers
Gould ; Ballard's Shaw, Litnpsfield, by Mr. Lewis
G. Fry, and Albi, by Mr. A. W. Foweraker. The
end wall of the middle gallery on which were hung
together the works by Mr. Schofield, Mr. Simpson,
146
and Mr. Foottet to which we have referred, was
a very happy piece of work on the part of the
hanging committee.
Examples of Mr. Anthony R. Barker's etchings
have already appeared in these pages, and the
two further examples now reproduced will confirm
the opinion already given concerning his marked
talent for this means of expression. Mr. Barker
was a student of the London School of Art at
Kensington.
At the Baillie Galleries Mr. W. Heath Robinson
has lately been exhibiting his illustrations to Rud-
yard Kipling's " Song of the English." Some of
the smaller headpieces in pen and ink exhibit a
very fluent and interesting line and feeling for
decoration ; but the larger illustrations fail a little
in their choice of colour, and the attempt to fuse
the shapes of modern vessels with mystic design is
not always convincing. We find Mr. Robinson
happiest, perhaps, when in this respect he is least
ambitious. Though he is always an artist of much
imagination and invention, perhaps allegory of this
Digitized by
Google
Studio-Talk
kind has not afforded him the happiest opportunity
for his lively and resourceful art
The Stock Exchange Art Society's recent
Exhibition at the Drapers' Hall should remove
anybody's impression that the Stock Exchange is
a centre of Philistia. It is true the artist brokers
wisely choose easy conventions and take no daring
or hazardous flights into the mazes of impressionism
and the problems which overthrow the gladiators
of our great exhibitions. Sticking, then, to veins
which it is the fashion to think exhausted, they
produced some admirable results. Perhaps Mr.
Mostyn Pritchard's pencil drawings of architecture
were the most highly successful things in the
exhibition, and Mr. W. NewelFs sculpture was of
great merit. There were, however, many exhibits
displaying an educated artistic vision, and the
atmosphere of the exhibition and the standard of
work were thoroughly professional
throughout.
At the Fine Art Society there
was held last month an exhibition
of some brilliantly effective water
colours by Yoshio Markino, and
drawings for Kingsley's North
Devon and Water Babies, by
Warwick Goble. Mr. Warwick
Goble has a gift of some charm in
water colours, though where for the
purposes of illustration he has had
recourse to line, he exhibits charac-
teristics of style invented by Mr.
Rackham. If not, then, quite
original always in method, he has
liveliness and skilfulness as a de-
signer of fanciful figures. In this
connection, for a similar kind of
illustration —though running more
in a humorous vein — we might
here mention Mr. W. H. Walker's
exhibition at the Walker gallery.
The artist had struck a note of
fantasy similar to that which Mr.
Rackham brought into fashion long
before that artist's work was so
well known; for that note of
fantasy, though he has not Mr.
Rackham's power and skill as a
designer, his work made a pleasant
exhibition.
illuminated page by Mr. Fred Vigers, embracing
many difficulties of design and achieving a very
interesting result.
Two small exhibitions of last month worthy of
recording were Mr. A. Fuller Maitland's Landscape
and Sea Paintings at the Ryder Gallery and Mr.
F. D. How's Cotswold drawings at the Baillie
Gallery.
Mr. Pennell, whose " ceuvre " by this time
amounts to the respectable number of some three
hundred and odd plates, has recently turned his
attention to mezzotint. Few modem etchers are
practising the process — always excepting the "re-
productive" men, who vie more or less success-
fully with their famous eighteenth century ancestors
in translating popular paintings in black-and-white.
Mr. Pennell's work is, of course, distinct from
On this page we reproduce an
ILLUMINATION
DESIGNED AND EXECUTED. BY FREDERICK VIGERS
BLACK LETTERS BY M. C. OLIVER
Digitized by
Google
Studio-Talk
theirs, as an original etcher's work always must be
from that of the professional picture reproducer.
But it is also quite distinct from the work of the few
artists who turn out original mezzotints nowadays.
As Dr. Singer remarked in these columns some
time ago, Mr. Pennell possesses an admirable gift
of grasping the possibilities of subject. He seems
to be able to find at a glance the very point from
which he can make a striking picture. There is
something similar to be recorded with regard to his
mezzotints. He has grasped at the very outset the
essence of the process, and perceived the sort of
subject it is peculiarly adapted to — the representa-
tion of city nocturnes. The Westminster^ Nighty
from my Window is certainly a fascinating example
of the process and one could not attain these night
eflfects as well by any other means. Side by side
with these mezzotints there are some fine new
sand-paper aquatints. This process is not new to
Mr. Pennell, nor is he the only one who practises it
successfully at present. Its great charm lies in the
fact that the grain which you obtain is not so
regular and set as that of the rocking tools or
the dust-box ; compared with the latter, the tone
can be bitten in deep, so that the plate allows of
some burnishing and scraping afterwards ; thus the
prints resulting possess some of the qualities of
the older mezzotint process. Mr. Pennell has done
nocturnes in sand-paper aquatint before, but none so
excellent as the Courtland Street Ferry^ New York,
BIRMINGHAM.— A notable addition to
the new Church of St. Andrew, Hands-
worth, has recently been made in the
form of a Triptych, designed by the
architect, Mr. W. H. Bidlake, M.A., with the
panels painted by Mr. F. W. Davis, R.I., the
well-known Birmingham artist. The centre panel
TRIPTYCH FOR ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, HANDSWORTH DESIGNED BY W. H. BIDLAKE, M.A., ARCHITECT
PANELS BY F. W. DAVIS, R.I.
148
Digitized by
Google
Digitized by
Google
is
?°-
•CUJ
I
O I-
5^
ii
b
Ul Z
> a:
Digitized by
Google
"COURTLAND STREET FERRY, NEW YORK." FROM AN
AQUATINT (WITH SAND-PAPER GROUND) BY JOSEPH PENNELL.
Digitized by
Google
Digitized by
Google
Studio-Talk
of the Triptych illustrates the Crucifixion ; the left-
hand panel represents the throe Marys, with
St. John sympathising with the Mother of Jesus,
Mary Magdalene being in a kneeling position;
while in the right-hand panel are depicted a
Centurion, a Pharisee mocking at Christ, a
Standard bearer, and two Roman soldiers casting
dice for the clothing of the crucified Christ. The
smaller panels below are descriptive of the Passion
— the Agony in the Garden, the Betrayal, Christ
before Pilate, the Descent from the Cross, the
Entombment, and the empty Tomb. In the
centre is the Lamb, the Emblem of Christ. The
colouring is rich and harmonious, the figures
standing out well against the dull gold background
which has been adopted throughout The artist
has taken especial care to ensure the permanency
of his work, the panels being of mahogany painted
in spirit fresco. The work as a whole is most
effective, and adds very greatly to the
interior of the church, one of the most
beautiful that has been erected in the
district in recent years. The combina-
tion of architect and artist in this case
has been particularly happy, and goes
to show what can be accomplished by
mutual co-operation — the only basis of
successful decoration, and forms an
example well worthy of imitation.
A. E. M.
jects in which he has achieved no small amount
of success. Mr. W. G. Simmonds, whose Seeds
of Love was acquired for the Tate Gallery two
years ago, contributed some good landscapes and
genre pictures, notable among them being his
picture of the Severn^ a fine harmony in tone and
colour; and Tragedy^ which was considered his
best work here. Mr. Ernest Board was another
successful exhibitor; his work betrays the influ-
ence of the old Italian school, but is not without
its own personal charm. The other contributors
were Messrs. T. C. Dugdale, James Durden,
C. D. Ward, James Wallace and L. Buckley, all
of them well represented.
Hofrat Dr. Josef Strzygowski has been appointed
Professor of Art History in the University of
Vienna. He comes hither from Graz University,
and is a warm admirer of Klimt. A. S. L.
VIENNA. — A few English
artists, designating them-
selves the "Label Group,"
held an exhibition here a
short time ago at Pisko's Art Gallery,
and on the whole were well received
and, what is more, found purchasers.
Among them was Miss S. B. Pearse,
who has also been highly successful
in America, and whose water-colour
drawings show a deep insight into
child nature in all its phases, serious
and humorous. Mr. W. E. Webster,
in addition to an excellent portrait of
this lady and other works, showed
the two figure subjects now repro-
duced. The Japanese Fan is a good
example of this artist's manner. It is
well composed, the colours being
judiciously subordinated, and the work
as a whole is essentially decorative.
His Paisley Shawl is an example of
his treatment of early- Victorian sub-
'THE PAISLBV SHAWL
BY W. E. WEBSTER
Digitized by
Google
Studio-Talk
BUDAPEST.— Among the younger Hun-
garian artists who are devoting them_
selves to etching is Robert L^vy, a
member of the "K^ve" Society of
young artists, founded in 1896 by him in con-
junction with the Hungarian painter, Ferencz
Frischauf. This society has ab-eady held suc-
cessful exhibitions in Budapest, Berlin, Diissel-
dorf and Dresden. Mr. L6vy did not learn to
draw till he arrived at manhood,' though he had
read much of art and studied what books could
teach him — Rembrandt in particular claiming his
admiration. On leaving school he entered his
father's business, which brought him to England,
where, at the age of 20, he came in touch wiih Mr.
William Monk, with whom he studied drawing and
painting. In England, indeed, he found that leisure
and freedom which he had failed to find in his own
country. Forced to return to Budapest to enter
on his military service, he devoted his free time
to studying nature, and in this respect his military
life proved of benefit to him. Military service
over, the young lieutenant of artillery returned to
business, and then, after an interval at Fiume, he
began to attend the life classes of Mr. Sigmond
Vajda, and later made the acquaintance of Mr.
Ferencz Frischauf. It was, however, from Signor
Ettore Cosomatti, the eminent Italian graphic
artist, that he learnt the elements of etching, and
in this medium he found the unknown which he
had so long sought, and since that time, now some
five years ago, he has abandoned all other methods.
He etches direct on the plate itself, and for the
most part restricts himself to the methods proper
to etching in the strict sense of the term. Only
in rare cases does he make use of vemis mau^
roulette or aquatint, for he does not find the right
expression in these methods. Neither does he
care much for etching in colour which he tried in
Paris, for he considers that this is an art depending
on the printer, who often contrives to make a
good print of a bad plate and vice versa. Mr.
L^vy always prints his
own etchings on a small
machine, which serves him
excellently. A. S. L.
' THE JAPANESE FAN '
BY W. E. WEBSTER
CRACOW.—
Another art
society has
been formed
in this city, which has
chosen "Zero" as its
appellation. The presi-
dent is Albert Kossak.
Many other well-known
artists have joined its
ranks, or have shown
their sympathy by exhibit-
ing at the Society's first
exhibition held here re-
cently. " Zero " professes
to be a reaction against
the practice of publicly
exhibiting sketches and
studies which used to be
kept for the inspection of
the artist's friends in the
seclusion of the studio.
Consequently "Zero*'
will show neither sketches
nor studies, but will con-
fine its exhibits to finished
works. Exhibitions are
to be held every year in
Digitized by
Google
•a
M
00
O
M
>•
09
u
O
z
Digitized by
Google
Studio-Talk
the autumn, and the next one will be held at
Warsaw. The society is under the patronage of
the Archduke Karl Stephan, himself a great lover
of art, and his daughter, the Archduchess Renata,
Princess Radziwill, declared the first exhibition
open.
Although the works at this inaugural show
numbered only 80, there was a good proportion
of really meritorious achievements among them.
The president, who is justly known for his battle-
pieces and has himself seen active service, exhi-
bited several of these, the most important being
The Charge of the Polish Regiment at Graveiot^
1808 — a chapter of history related with powerful
realism. Jacek Malczewski, who has not exhibited
of late years, was induced to break his silence,
and exhibited several works of a symbolic
character. He has a marvellous power of expres-
sion, and is essentially strong in colouring and
composition. Stanislas Lentz's portrait of the
celebrated Polish comic actor, Fraenkl, was quite
among the best works shown, and Artur Markowicz
showed some good work in pastels. Other promising
young members of the society are A. Karpinski,
F. Zmurko, J. Karszniewicz, K. Lasocki, J. Wrze-
sinski, and Leon Kolalski, the last contributing a
charming miniature picture of the ancient garden
of King John of Poland. A lady artist, B. Rychter-
Janowska, must also be mentioned for her Bridge
over the Tiber. A. S. L.
PARIS. — At an
exhibition of
drawings and
water-colour
held some time ago by
the Cercle Volney, I
noticed some exceedingly
fine wood-engravings by
Camille Bourget, who has
become an ardent apostle
of this wonderful art. We
reproduce herewith two
examples of his work,
both of them extremely
vigorous in execution,
and, speaking eloquently
for themselves as they do,
they require no comment
on our part.
season with a most interesting exhibition, consist-
ing of about a hundred drawings by the sculptor,
Rodin. This great master has, as one knows,
executed from time to time a large number of
drawings in his own original and very personal
style. His earliest drawings are always consider-
ably reminiscent of those of the Italian masters,
and one of the very finest of these early works of
Rodin's has been already reproduced in The
S ruDio some two years ago (see The Studio for
January, 1907). Later on he devoted himself to
making drawings, touched up with water colour,
of a very diflferent nature to those which one had
hitherto seen, and these form exceedingly interest-
ing documents, veritable studies for sculptures,
though one must admit, frequently very slight
The hundred drawings here exhibited were charac-
terised by extreme purity of line and of form.
Almost all were studies of the nude, or drawings
of mythological or of antique figures, and they
included certain pages of perfect beauty which
carry our thoughts back to those masters of the
pencil, Prudhon and Ingres. H. F.
BERNE.— At the International Telegraphic
Conference held at Lisbon in June of
last year the erection at Berne of a
monument commemorating the founda-
tion of the Telegraphic Union was decided upon,
and the Swiss Federal Council was left to take the
necessary steps to carry out the project. The
The Dewambez Gal-
leries have started the
156
' LE GONFLEMENT D'UN BALLON *' (WOOD ENGRAVING)
BY C BOURGET
Digitized by
Google
"MARCH6 EN BRETAGNE"
FROM THE WOOD ENGRAVING
BY CAMILLE BOURGET
Digitized by
Google
Studio-Talk
STATUES OF THE REFORMERS FOR THE REFORMATION MONUMENT AT GENEVA
M. HORVAY, SCULPTOR
particular form which tlie monument is to take has
not yet been definitely fixed by the Council, but it
is announced that whatever this may be it shall be
the subject of a competition in which sculptors and
architects of all nationalities will be eligible to
compete. The members of the jury for this com-
petition have now been appointed, and include the
following gentlemen connected with architecture
and sculpture: — Prof.
Breuer, Berlin ; Prof. Hell-
mer, Vienna; Sir George
Frampton, R.A., London ;
Dr. Cuypers, Amsterdam ;
Senhor Ramaldo Ortigao,
Lisbon ; Prof. Louis de
Benois, St. Petersburg ; Prof.
Lundberg, Stockholm ; and
M. Jost, Lausanne.
G
E N E V A. —
Amongst the
designs recently
sent in for the
sculptural adornment of the
International Monument of
the Reformation to be
erected in Geneva, that of
MM. Landowski and Bou-
chard of Paris has found
favour in the eyes of the
jury, owing to its adaptability to the requirements
of the programme, the dignity and unity of the
composition, the simplicity of the attitudes of the
figures, and the close association of the sculpture
with the architectural background. MM. Land-
owski and Bouchard have as the result of this
decision been entrusted with the execution of the
sculptural part of the monument.
STATUES OF THE REFORMERS FOR THE REFORMATION MONUMENT AT GENEVA
MM. LANDOWSKI AND BOUCHARD, SCULPTORS
158
Digitized by
Google
Studio-Talk
STATUES FOR RBFORMATION MONUMENT, GBNSVA, BY M. REYMOND, MM. LANDOWSKI AND BOUCHARD, AND M. HORVAY
The central group will represent Calvin and his stand the statues of Coligny, William the Silent,
co-workers, Farel, Beza, and Knox. To right and Frederick William of Brandenburg, the Great
left, thrown into relief against the granite wall, will Elector, Roger Williams, Oliver Cromwell, and
STATUES OF THE REFORMERS FOR REFORMATION MONUMENT, GENEVA M. REYMOND, SCULPTOR
Digitized by
Google
U
2 <
u
z >
o <
< c3
oi Q
O O
W O
W ^•
Digitized by
Google
Studio-Talk
Etienne Boeskay. Bas-reliefs and inscriptions
will accompany these statues, and the dominant
device of the monument will be that of the city
arms, Post Tenebras Lux, The large armorial
bearings to be let into the pavement in front of
the monument and to be executed in mosaic, will