DOI Heft:
No. 81 (November, 1903)
DOI Artikel:Studio-talk
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26230#0090
57 77/7
ART EXHIBITION ROOM
DECORATION (CARVED OAK)
The centre and leader of the art movement in
Siciiy is Ernesto Basile, an architect of great
iearning and taste, essentially modern, inexhaustibly
inventive, many sided, but thorough. In archi-
tecture he long since brokewith academictradition,
translating SiciHan mediasval tendencies into forms
suited to modern requirements. The corre-
sponding aims of the firm of Ducrot in the
treatment of furniture enabied him to carry out his
ideas in detail. The co-operation of two painters
—De Maria Bergler and Enea—and of a sculptor,
A. Ugo (known to the readers of THE S'fUDio),
has made this establishment a perfect centre of
applied art. The undertaking—a labour of love
—though still in its infancy bears the stamp of
genuine vitality ; and, with all their seriousness, the
designs have a lightness characteristically suited to
the Southern climate that
gives them birth. In
furniture the practical and
simple convenience of
English construction is
frankly adopted; but the
form, line, and Ornament,
the peculiar Southern ele-
gance of style, are essen-
tially Italian. In contrast
to Northern severity, the
decorative work of the
Sicilian craftsman leans
towards the richness of
Ornament characteristic of
the Middle Ages, both
here and in Venice.
Hence the frequent intro-
duction of carving, bas-
reliefs, painting, and
coloured woods. Nor is
there any fear of a lapse
into archaic taste ; Nature
is faithfully studied as the
inexhaustible source of
fresh inspiration in struc-
ture and decoration; re-
liance on tradition is rigidly
banned. The fundamental
principles of th,e revival
in Siciiy are identical with
those in the North—rebel-
lion against the tyranny of
the past, and a search for
new forms of expression
in harmony with the spirit
of the people. Artistic
endeavour on this basis is now universal through-
out Europe, and I have therefore brought its out-
come in Siciiy to the notice of the readers of THE
STUDIO.
Among the firms who exhibited at Turin, that
of Ducrot, of Palermo, deserved attention, and
received a diploma of merit, though the objects
exhibited were its earliest attempts in a new direc-
tion. The aim of this firm is clearly defined ; its
efforts are not merely tentative, but are based on a
comprehensive, organic scheme of artistic decora-
tion applied to every purpose, from architecture
itself down to the humblest domestic uses. After
its first difMent appearance at Turin, Siciiy mad.e
a better show at the International Exhibition at
Venice in the decoration of the rooms devoted to
DESIGNED BY E. BASILE
EXECIITED BY THE " MAISON DUCROT '
77
ART EXHIBITION ROOM
DECORATION (CARVED OAK)
The centre and leader of the art movement in
Siciiy is Ernesto Basile, an architect of great
iearning and taste, essentially modern, inexhaustibly
inventive, many sided, but thorough. In archi-
tecture he long since brokewith academictradition,
translating SiciHan mediasval tendencies into forms
suited to modern requirements. The corre-
sponding aims of the firm of Ducrot in the
treatment of furniture enabied him to carry out his
ideas in detail. The co-operation of two painters
—De Maria Bergler and Enea—and of a sculptor,
A. Ugo (known to the readers of THE S'fUDio),
has made this establishment a perfect centre of
applied art. The undertaking—a labour of love
—though still in its infancy bears the stamp of
genuine vitality ; and, with all their seriousness, the
designs have a lightness characteristically suited to
the Southern climate that
gives them birth. In
furniture the practical and
simple convenience of
English construction is
frankly adopted; but the
form, line, and Ornament,
the peculiar Southern ele-
gance of style, are essen-
tially Italian. In contrast
to Northern severity, the
decorative work of the
Sicilian craftsman leans
towards the richness of
Ornament characteristic of
the Middle Ages, both
here and in Venice.
Hence the frequent intro-
duction of carving, bas-
reliefs, painting, and
coloured woods. Nor is
there any fear of a lapse
into archaic taste ; Nature
is faithfully studied as the
inexhaustible source of
fresh inspiration in struc-
ture and decoration; re-
liance on tradition is rigidly
banned. The fundamental
principles of th,e revival
in Siciiy are identical with
those in the North—rebel-
lion against the tyranny of
the past, and a search for
new forms of expression
in harmony with the spirit
of the people. Artistic
endeavour on this basis is now universal through-
out Europe, and I have therefore brought its out-
come in Siciiy to the notice of the readers of THE
STUDIO.
Among the firms who exhibited at Turin, that
of Ducrot, of Palermo, deserved attention, and
received a diploma of merit, though the objects
exhibited were its earliest attempts in a new direc-
tion. The aim of this firm is clearly defined ; its
efforts are not merely tentative, but are based on a
comprehensive, organic scheme of artistic decora-
tion applied to every purpose, from architecture
itself down to the humblest domestic uses. After
its first difMent appearance at Turin, Siciiy mad.e
a better show at the International Exhibition at
Venice in the decoration of the rooms devoted to
DESIGNED BY E. BASILE
EXECIITED BY THE " MAISON DUCROT '
77