DOI Heft:
No. 54 (August, 1901)
DOI Artikel:Garstin, Norman: The work of Stanhope A. Forbes, A.R.A.
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22775#0131
Stanhope Forbes, A .R.A.
It is always interesting to look back and see the
forces that have been at the forging of a career, the
blows from various sides that give to the nature
glowing with hot youth and ductility the form that
it will be known by in later years, the generous
sparks of enthusiasm that fly from the iron smitten
by the hammers of convention and intolerance,
and cooling the ultimate shape.
Now, I feel that, touching ever so lightly on
Mr. Forbes’s career, some apology is due to the
reader. The army of martyrs to the cause of
genius and fame have the tale that is told of their
adventures so nearly uniform that any divergence
therefrom seems almost a violation of first
principles.
Poverty, early' struggles, a fortuitous discovery
of the latent genius, a laborious youth, unsuccessful
manhood, and tardy recognition—usually post-
humous ; these make up the printed and stereo-
typed schedule by which the biography of genius
is known—the filling in of dates and names is but
a detail—so that, when one is face to face with a
career that cannot be forced into these descriptions,
one is reduced to the alternative that either genius
has fortunate exceptions or else Mr. Forbes is not
one, for he certainly has had a career of almost
monotonous good fortune.
When at school at Dulwich his talents were
recognised by Mr. Sparks, late of South Kensington,
consequently his career was settled from the first.
So he went to the Lambeth School of Art, then to
the Academy Schools, thence to Paris to the atelier
of M. Bonnat, out-of-door work done in Normandy
and Brittany, then Newlyn, then recognition, then
fame. This is the story of his artistic career—can
anything be duller ?
Where is the picturesque struggle and disappoint-
ment?—Where is the wolf that ought to be at
the door?
During the days of Mr.
Forbes’s studentship it is
not easy to perceive merit
of any exceptional order,
conscientious good work
it certainly was, but not
particularly brilliant; he
was laying his foundations
—the true charm of his
personality was to come
later, when the fabric rose
to view.
This charm came into
evidence in some most
delightful little pictures
painted in France during
the summer of ’83 —• a
Church Gate and a Chateau
seen across water, floats
into my memory from
out the somewhat arid
wastes of the Academy of
’83. Mr. Forbes was asso-
ciated in those days with
Mr. La Thangue, whom he
always regards as having
had a considerable in-
fluence over him; and
Mr. La Thangue possessed,
even as a student, a remark-
able ability, the technical
side of his work being
especially interesting to
those who were struggling
“THE CONVENT” by STANHOPE a. FORBES, A.R.A.
(By permission op J. Maddocks, Esq.)
86
It is always interesting to look back and see the
forces that have been at the forging of a career, the
blows from various sides that give to the nature
glowing with hot youth and ductility the form that
it will be known by in later years, the generous
sparks of enthusiasm that fly from the iron smitten
by the hammers of convention and intolerance,
and cooling the ultimate shape.
Now, I feel that, touching ever so lightly on
Mr. Forbes’s career, some apology is due to the
reader. The army of martyrs to the cause of
genius and fame have the tale that is told of their
adventures so nearly uniform that any divergence
therefrom seems almost a violation of first
principles.
Poverty, early' struggles, a fortuitous discovery
of the latent genius, a laborious youth, unsuccessful
manhood, and tardy recognition—usually post-
humous ; these make up the printed and stereo-
typed schedule by which the biography of genius
is known—the filling in of dates and names is but
a detail—so that, when one is face to face with a
career that cannot be forced into these descriptions,
one is reduced to the alternative that either genius
has fortunate exceptions or else Mr. Forbes is not
one, for he certainly has had a career of almost
monotonous good fortune.
When at school at Dulwich his talents were
recognised by Mr. Sparks, late of South Kensington,
consequently his career was settled from the first.
So he went to the Lambeth School of Art, then to
the Academy Schools, thence to Paris to the atelier
of M. Bonnat, out-of-door work done in Normandy
and Brittany, then Newlyn, then recognition, then
fame. This is the story of his artistic career—can
anything be duller ?
Where is the picturesque struggle and disappoint-
ment?—Where is the wolf that ought to be at
the door?
During the days of Mr.
Forbes’s studentship it is
not easy to perceive merit
of any exceptional order,
conscientious good work
it certainly was, but not
particularly brilliant; he
was laying his foundations
—the true charm of his
personality was to come
later, when the fabric rose
to view.
This charm came into
evidence in some most
delightful little pictures
painted in France during
the summer of ’83 —• a
Church Gate and a Chateau
seen across water, floats
into my memory from
out the somewhat arid
wastes of the Academy of
’83. Mr. Forbes was asso-
ciated in those days with
Mr. La Thangue, whom he
always regards as having
had a considerable in-
fluence over him; and
Mr. La Thangue possessed,
even as a student, a remark-
able ability, the technical
side of his work being
especially interesting to
those who were struggling
“THE CONVENT” by STANHOPE a. FORBES, A.R.A.
(By permission op J. Maddocks, Esq.)
86