International studio (17.1902)

Studio- Talk

technical manipulation imaginable, and the oftener
and closer one regards it the greater is our wonder.
The face is after the mask taken by Klein from
Beethoven when living. The whole position is
expressive of the greatest mental concentration,
and the involuntarily clenched fists full of energy.

The Secession has exhibited this work in an
unusual manner by transforming their home into a
temple. The monument stands in the great central
aisle, with decorative wall paintings symbolic of the
rising and setting sun, the work of Professor Roller.
In the side aisles the walls have mural ornamenta-
tion in various new techniques—in card-wood,
embossed copper, painted stuccos, and friezes.

The illustration on page 141 shows the north
wall of the inner temple decorated in gold by Adolf
Boehm, the subject being The Coming Day. On
each of the pillars is a wreath-bearing maiden in
bronze, the work of Rudolf Bacher, while the chair
was designed by Ferdinand Andri.

The frescoes of the outer temple (illustrated
page 142) were done by J. M. Auchentaller and
Ferdinand Andri. The frescoes on either side of
the entrance were made by Ferdinand Kolnig. All
these artists have vied with one another to give

something suggestive of Beethoven’s works and at
the same time something that shall harmonise with
the spirit of the great Master.

The reading room, here illustrated, is a delightful
little corner in white with one-toned flowers on the
window-sills, just the place where one could spend
a cosy half-hour examining the works of art lying
about it. A. S. L.

BERLIN.—The recent Exhibition of the
Berlin Secession Society was marked by
a distinctly progressive character, for
a number of members who imagined
themselves to be hostile to the tendencies of the
leading spirits had withdrawn from the ranks during
the winter. The most noteworthy features of the
exhibition were a Portrait of the Opera-singer,
d’Andrade, in the character of Don Juan, by Mac-
stevogt, painted with remarkable verve; a Biblical
subject, Samson and Delilah, by Max Liebermann,
which, on account of its force of expression and
skill of composition arrests the attention at once ;
a beautiful idyll, noticeable for its effective
colouring, by Ludwig von Hofmann, called Girls
Bathing; a Society Group, by Zuloaga; and a
masterly Portrait of a Lady, by Lucien Simon.
With these must be noticed various examples of
the work of men of earlier
schools, such as Monet,
Manet, Liebt, Bocklin,
Victor Muller,andWhistler.
Wilhelm Triibner delighted
us with a number of
portrait and equestrian
studies. Isaac Israels, the
gifted son of the veteran
master, Josef, who gave
his cordial support to the
original formation of the
Secession Society, and
George Hendrik Breitner
represented the impression-
ists of Holland. The
Russian, Constantin
Somoff, has a delicately
painted Portrait oj a Lady,
full of refined character,
in a costume such as was
worn thirty years ago.
Odga Boznanska exhibited
three admirably executed
portraits. John Lavery,
John S. Sargent, and
143

Vienna secession exhibition

THE READING ROOM