Studio: international art (87.1924)

THE WATER-COLOURS OF MR* W. REDWORTH

HANDMADE POTTERY BOWL. DE-
SIGNED AND MADE BY E. MANNERS

(Society of Women Artists Exhibn.)

and also a charming pottery bowl, designed
and made by Miss Erna Manners. 0
The display of jewellery was, for
the most part, uninspired and unin-
teresting. Of metal work, apart from
jewellery, there was little shown, but Miss
Amy Sandheim contributed some excel-
lent pieces, full of character and delight-
fully varied in treatment, showing

THE WATER-COLOURS OF MR.
W. REDWORTH. 0000

IN art, as in other things, the present
age is an age of experiment and innova-
tion, but there is an art which can never
be displaced or supplanted because it
is emotionally satisfying and has its roots
firmly fixed in technical excellence. Mr.
W. Redworth is no revolutionary : he does
not startle by his daring nor does he put
forward extravagant theories in order to
draw attention to his work. In point of
fact, when the work itself is so accom-
plished as that of Mr. Redworth, the
necessity for these things entirely dis-
appears ; and that it is accomplished our
readers will be able to judge, even from
reproductions. He handles his medium
with a pleasant directness—it is obvious
that every detail of construction, every
subtlety of tone, has been well thought-
out before any attempt was made to begin
the actual drawing, his feeling for colour
is refined and sensitive, and his way of
looking at nature is entirely individual. 0
Our colour-plate, Richmond, Yorkshire,
shows one of his best compositions, and
the photogravure reproduction of The
202

LUSTRE BOWL. DESIGNED AND

MADE BY LOUISE POWELL

(Society of Women Artists Exhibn.)

imagination and initiative. Mrs. Phyll

Vipond-Crocker showed a number

of happily inspired pierced metal
decorations intended for mounting on
small boxes or leather cases. Good em-
broidery, leatherwork and hand-woven
fabrics, the latter excellent in colour and
texture, helped to make the exhibition
decidedly interesting. S. B. W.

Quarry is another notable example of his
performance, while we have seen such a
simple subject as Ricks made charming by
its delicate luminosity. 000
Mr. Redworth holds very decided views
on the function of pictorial art in general,
and is reluctant to admit any intellectual
considerations, any non-aesthetic factors,
when appraising the value of a picture.
His first requirement is correctness of
drawing and composition, and there can
be no question but that these things are
indispensable to the production of a good
picture. As in literature no amount of
local colour will atone for a slipshod and
inelegant style, so in painting no interest
relating to subject can make slovenly
technique excusable. The best works of
art, in either form, are excellent through
their equipoise of the two qualities. The
water-colour is to the eye what the lyric
is to the ear : both may have the slightest
of subjects, but it is the workmanship and
the emotional value of the treatment in
each case which give pleasure. Looking at
Mr. Redworth’s water-colours, the ob-
server cannot miss his lyrical feeling, nor
can he fail to remark the distinction with
which that feeling is conveyed. H. B. G,