DOI Heft:
No. 159 (June, 1906)
DOI Artikel:Strange, Edward F.: The Mezzotint and etched work of Frank Short, A. R. A.
DOI Artikel:Wood, T. Martin: English drawing: a note on the exhibition at Leighton House
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20715#0078
English Drawing at Leighton House
“A FARM CORNER” BY SEI.WYN IMAGE
over, there is His original work in the manilre noire
to be brought to account : no small matter to
weigh in the balance of his achievements as com-
pared with those of his predecessors. One of
the best of these is reproduced with this essay;
and those who know the beauty of sunset light on
the hills behind Polperro, and the softness and
harmony of the shadows that rest upon the quaint
little Cornish fishing-village at eventime, will not
hesitate to award due meed of praise to the artist
who could thus record them in one of the most
difficult and laborious of all pictorial methods.
Short could have made a worthy reputation as a
water-colourist, had he chosen; but his gift of colour
and facility in this medium has been entirely sub-
ordinated to his chief calling.
One more phase of his work must be referred to;
and all the more so because it is rare among
British artists. For many years he has given of
his best to the teaching of others. It would be
hard to reckon how much the etchers of our day
owe to Short’s direct teaching. Beyond that large
number who have actually passed through his hands
in the Engraving School of the Royal College of
Art—the only institution of its kind, I believe, in
Europe—there are few who, at one time or another,
have not been indebted to him for that generous
help and assistance which none have ever sought
in vain. But the School has always been nearest
his heart; and he has made no secret of his hopes
to develop it still further, and by its means to
restore the arts of engraving as practised in this
country to that proud position in the world which
they might easily occupy.
It would hardly become me to enlarge upon the
personality that has achieved so much; but I may
set down one hitherto unrecorded tribute to its
worth. Whistler sought him out some twenty years
ago, and then laid the foundations of an intimacy
which never failed. A series of visits to Short’s
studio was part of the inevitable programme of each
of his sojournings in London, and in that studio
the master proved the last of his plates.
E. F. S.
English drawing, a note
ON THE EXHIBITION AT
LEIGHTON HOUSE.
The exhibition of English drawings at Leighton
House is to be welcomed. Sufficient recognition
has never been given to drawing in England. We
57
“A FARM CORNER” BY SEI.WYN IMAGE
over, there is His original work in the manilre noire
to be brought to account : no small matter to
weigh in the balance of his achievements as com-
pared with those of his predecessors. One of
the best of these is reproduced with this essay;
and those who know the beauty of sunset light on
the hills behind Polperro, and the softness and
harmony of the shadows that rest upon the quaint
little Cornish fishing-village at eventime, will not
hesitate to award due meed of praise to the artist
who could thus record them in one of the most
difficult and laborious of all pictorial methods.
Short could have made a worthy reputation as a
water-colourist, had he chosen; but his gift of colour
and facility in this medium has been entirely sub-
ordinated to his chief calling.
One more phase of his work must be referred to;
and all the more so because it is rare among
British artists. For many years he has given of
his best to the teaching of others. It would be
hard to reckon how much the etchers of our day
owe to Short’s direct teaching. Beyond that large
number who have actually passed through his hands
in the Engraving School of the Royal College of
Art—the only institution of its kind, I believe, in
Europe—there are few who, at one time or another,
have not been indebted to him for that generous
help and assistance which none have ever sought
in vain. But the School has always been nearest
his heart; and he has made no secret of his hopes
to develop it still further, and by its means to
restore the arts of engraving as practised in this
country to that proud position in the world which
they might easily occupy.
It would hardly become me to enlarge upon the
personality that has achieved so much; but I may
set down one hitherto unrecorded tribute to its
worth. Whistler sought him out some twenty years
ago, and then laid the foundations of an intimacy
which never failed. A series of visits to Short’s
studio was part of the inevitable programme of each
of his sojournings in London, and in that studio
the master proved the last of his plates.
E. F. S.
English drawing, a note
ON THE EXHIBITION AT
LEIGHTON HOUSE.
The exhibition of English drawings at Leighton
House is to be welcomed. Sufficient recognition
has never been given to drawing in England. We
57