DOI Heft:
No. 61 (April, 1898)
DOI Artikel:White, Gleeson: The work of Heywood Sumner, 1, sgraffito decorations
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18391#0174
SGRAFFITO DECORATIONS IN THE LADY CHAPEL OF ST. AGATHA'S, PORTSMOUTH, WITH THE SEMI-DOME IN MOSAIC
BY HEYWOOD SUMNER
HE WORK OF HEYWOOD Heywood Sumner in the catalogue to the "Arts
SUMNER. _ I. SGRAFFITO and Crafts" second Exhibition—" Of Sgraffito
DECORATIONS. BY GLEE- Work." In this we find :—
SON WHITE. "The Italian words Graffiato, Sgraffiato, or
Sgraffito mean—Scratched, and scratched work is
In a series of articles on the work of Mr. Hey- the oldest form of graphic expression and surface
wood Sumner it is convenient to begin with his decoration used by man.
decorations in sgraffito ; and to do so is the more " The term sgraffito is, however, specially used to
apposite from the fact that the revival of the craft denote decoration scratched or incised upon plaster
and its present popularity is due very largely to his (or potter's clay) while still soft, and for beauty of
individual labours. Yet the very name " sgraffito " effect depends either solely upon lines thus incised
at present is hardly familiar even to those who have according to design, with the resulting contrast of
learned to pronounce "gesso" with a soft "g." surfaces; or partly upon such lines and contrast,
Reference to two of the most popular English and partly upon an under-coat of colour revealed
dictionaries discovers no entry under " S," and in by the incisions ; while, again, the means at dis-
only one of the two as " graffiti"—where the de- posal may be increased by varying the colours of
finition " ancient inscriptions by scribbling with a the under-coat in accordance with the design.....
stylus on a wall " leaves much to be desired. " l^irst, then, as to the method. Given, the wall
Therefore it were best before going further to intended to be treated; granted, the completion
quote literally from a certain "note" by Mr. of the scheme of decoration, the cartoons having
i53
BY HEYWOOD SUMNER
HE WORK OF HEYWOOD Heywood Sumner in the catalogue to the "Arts
SUMNER. _ I. SGRAFFITO and Crafts" second Exhibition—" Of Sgraffito
DECORATIONS. BY GLEE- Work." In this we find :—
SON WHITE. "The Italian words Graffiato, Sgraffiato, or
Sgraffito mean—Scratched, and scratched work is
In a series of articles on the work of Mr. Hey- the oldest form of graphic expression and surface
wood Sumner it is convenient to begin with his decoration used by man.
decorations in sgraffito ; and to do so is the more " The term sgraffito is, however, specially used to
apposite from the fact that the revival of the craft denote decoration scratched or incised upon plaster
and its present popularity is due very largely to his (or potter's clay) while still soft, and for beauty of
individual labours. Yet the very name " sgraffito " effect depends either solely upon lines thus incised
at present is hardly familiar even to those who have according to design, with the resulting contrast of
learned to pronounce "gesso" with a soft "g." surfaces; or partly upon such lines and contrast,
Reference to two of the most popular English and partly upon an under-coat of colour revealed
dictionaries discovers no entry under " S," and in by the incisions ; while, again, the means at dis-
only one of the two as " graffiti"—where the de- posal may be increased by varying the colours of
finition " ancient inscriptions by scribbling with a the under-coat in accordance with the design.....
stylus on a wall " leaves much to be desired. " l^irst, then, as to the method. Given, the wall
Therefore it were best before going further to intended to be treated; granted, the completion
quote literally from a certain "note" by Mr. of the scheme of decoration, the cartoons having
i53