Studio: international art (17.1899)

Studio-Talk

into the bronze groundwork with an alluring
effect.

In mosaic, curiously enough, Mr. Tiffany has
no new word to say. The large mosaic of the
Last Supper in the large gallery strikes one neither
in design nor execution as above the commonplace,
though there are many directions apparently in
which a novel departure might have been made.
Not much more satisfactory is the large cartoon of
St. Michael and All Angels hanging opposite.
Questionable, too, is the taste with which the two
outside panels of this design are intended to be
completed in mosaic, while the centre ones are in
transparent glass ; but after all this cartoon is a
mere suggestion of the completed work, and it is
ill to judge of what one has not seen.

I must not, however, say good-bye to Mr. Bing’s
exhibition without calling attention to the small
collection of jewellery designed by M. E. Colonna,
of Paris, and executed at Mr. Bing’s establishment
“ L’Art Nouveau.” It will be seen from the illustra-
tions accompanying this article that M. Colonna is
proceeding on absolutely correct lines in his work.
He relies on his jewels simply to accentuate the
line of his designs, or for a portion of his colour
scheme. The interest lies chiefly in the beauty of
line and form, and the truly decorative quality of
the gold work of the settings, rather than in the
pecuniary value and meretricious glitter of the

jewels themselves. Admirable use is made of
pearls which are of comparatively small value,
owing to their being in commercial eyes mis-
shapen and bad in colour. Artistically they are
beautiful, and of this M. Colonna has taken full
advantage. Especially striking are the tortoise-
shell combs, the open work carving of charming
purity and grace of line aptly relieved by the small
pearls set here and there, or the larger ones intro-
duced as an integral portion of the design. It
must be remembered, too, that this jewellery is
entitled to particular consideration, in that it is
intended for commercial purposes, and not simply
for the cabinet of the art collector.

Horace Townsend.

STUDIO-TALK.

(From our ozvn Correspondents.)

LONDON.—As an assertion of the import-
ance of the work done by the artists of
the modern Dutch School, the collec-
tion of pictures and drawings which has
been brought together for the inaugural
exhibition at the new “ Holland Fine Art Gallery,”
235A, Regent Street, is particularly significant.
Scarcely anything has been included which is not of
the first importance artistically, and nothing which
does not thoroughly represent the men who are to

GOLD CLASP, WITH PEARLS AND ENAMEL DESIGNED BY E. COLONNA

EXECUTED BY “L’ART NOUVEAU,” PARIS

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