International studio (22.1904)

of long, long labour and one fixed idea—the land.
The women are the obedient slaves of the same
plan—looking in turn after the soup, the cattle,
and the children. And in the case of the old
women, who turn their spinning-wheels, and knit
and sew, or beg under some ruined church porch,
we see that calm, passive resignation which suggests
the life of the moss-covered stone.
I have been a witness of almost all Milcendeau's
self-combating. I have watched him try diversions,
travels. One cannot forget the charming scenes
and portraits he brought back after a sojourn in
some mountainous village in Spain. With him
nothing was wasted. He " found himself," and his
mind grasped the meaning of comparison. So he
returned home stronger than when he started, with
a clearer view of the mysterious nature of the life
around him. Now and henceforth he 's in full
possession of his fancy, and can apply his special
form of art to any spectacle demanding his notice

"LA FTLEUSE

and his thought. He produced in Paris splendid
portraits, wherein one may find the same intensity
as one finds in his silhouettes and his Vendeen
features. He has conceived and executed paint-
ings which are the logical sequence of his coloured
drawings. But I come back inevitably to these
drawings of his. They are justly treasured, for
their fortunate owners know well they hold posses-
sion of work by one of the most original draughts-
man among the new generation of French artists.
GUSTAVE GEFFROY.

WE have received the following note from our
correspondent in Melbourne : The Trustees of the
Melbourne National Gallery have lately purchased
several drawings by the late Phil May. It will be
remembered that May was for several years—in the
'eighties—a staff artist on the " Sydney Bulletin."
The drawings purchased by the trustees were some
of those submitted at public
auction of the works by
the " Bulletin " proprietors.
The display of the works
both in Sydney and Mel-
bourne prior to the dis-
persal, created quite a
sensation, and good prices
were realised ; for May was,
and still is, regarded with
very wide popular favour.
At the Sydney Royal Art
Society's Exhibition the
trustees have also purchased
a pen-drawing entitled
the work of a young
artist, Mr. Norman Lindsay,
who is also on the staff of
the " Bulletin." Judging
by his achievements in the
past, it is probable that in a
few years his work will be
ranked on a level with that
of Phil May, with whom he
has much in common. The
Victorian Artists' Society
held their annual meeting
at the Galleries, Eastern
Hill, on Oct. 29th, when
the retiring president,
Mr. Fred. McCubbin, was
re-elected. The affairs
of the Society are in a
very prosperous condition.

FROM THE PASTEL BY CHARLES MILCENDEAU

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