International studio (20.1903)

occupies a comparatively small portion of the ceiling,
and is but a painted panel in a ceiling rather than a
painted ceiling, have called for a pictorial treatment
leaning neither to architectural stability of repose,
on the one hand, nor, on the other, to an endeavour
after illusion by means of strained perspective.
Mr. Draper has worked in a gallant
spirit and with great intelligence,
enlarging his style, and adding
greatly to his reputation as a painter.
Whatever criticisms may be passed
on the results obtained, he has
certainly proved that he can handle
with confidence and talent such vast
designs as the conditions of to-day
rarely bring within the province 01
an artist's thought. His composition
is animated and well knit together
in all its parts, and is a piece of true
decoration ; while the drawing
throughout is spirited and of high
excellence. It is, therefore, to be
hoped that Mr. Draper will have
many opportunities to continue the
decorative work thus well begun in
almost his first venture.
The canvas, as we have already
said, measures 30 ft. by 20, and one
illustration shows (p. 34) the manner
in which it was passed, at both ends,
over a roller, so that it might be
drawn up or down at a moment's
notice. Mr. Draper never saw the
whole of his completed work until
it was placed 777 some three or
four feet of the canvas being always
rolled up at the top or at the
bottom. A11 the painting was carried
out in six months at St. Ives, in
Cornwall, but the work of making
the innumerable studies used in the
painting has been under Mr.
Draper's hands for two years. The
principal flying figures are 8 ft. 6 ins.
high.
The subject, representing Z7wy^7*<7
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a fortunate one for a ceiling decora-
tion, as it not only takes us into an
imaginary world, but gives many
opportunities for flying and cloud-
supported figures. The stern realities
of life look out of place in a ceiling
decoration, and Mr. Draper has
36

wisely accentuated the vision-like conception of his
subject by the skill with which he has lighted the
figures from above, so that they seem to float in
space. In this he is pictorial, but not more so than
is justified by the strong mouldings by which his
composition is framed in the middle of the ceiling.

STUDY OF A WATER-NYMPH

BY HERBERT J. DRAPER