International studio (27.1905/1906(1906))

Reviews

With a few light touches she calls up picture after
picture of Watts — now as the self-depreciating
genius struggling for adequate utterance, now as
the master at the acme of his achievement, now as
the faithful friend sustaining others with ready
hand and sympathy. It is, perhaps, in the chapter
on the painter’s genius that the authoress best dis-
plays her insight into the motive forces of his career;
but that headed “Our Friendship,” with its revela-
tion of the human side of his career, will probably
appeal even more forcibly to those who still mourn
the loss of an inspiring influence, and remember
Watts as he was, to quote Mrs. Barrington’s own
words, “ in his füllest strength, when passionate
zeal to achieve great things had reached its zenith ;
when his subtle genius, ambitious aspirations, and
lofty imagination had found their completest expres-
sion.” Not only to those who knew and loved its
subject will this bock be full of bracing inspiration,
but to all who know, as he did, what it is to work
under sense of failure, yet share his “ aim towards
the best and highest, his burning desire to reach it.”
Beautiful Wales. Painted by Robert Fowler,
R.I. Described by Edward Thomas. (London :
A. & C. Black.) 20s. net.—In Wales Mr. Fowler,
whose fine landscape work has won him a high
reputation amongst Contemporary artists, had a
thoroughly congenial subject; and, except for a
certain tameness in some of his drawings, it may
be claimed that he has done full justice to his
theme. His Moonlight, Beaumaris; Breezy Morn-
ing, Llandudno Bay; Coming Night, near Bedd-
gelert; and Lonely Shore, Barmouth Estuary, are
especially fine, with their happy renderings of
passing effects; but it seems a pity that the inte-
resting and picturesque historic survival, Harlech
Castle, should have been omitted. Unfortunately
the letterpress can scarcely be said to be equal to
the beautiful interpretations of nature it is intended
to Supplement; for Mr. Thomas, in spite of his
evident familiarity with Wales and the Welsh,
actually seems anxious to evade grappling with his
task. He makes no effort to define the charac-
teristics, past or present, of places or people; but
meanders on from topic to topic, indulging in all
manner of irrelevant dissertations, as when he
describes his own life as a boy in London, or talks
about Latin and German authors who did not write
on Wales, whilst in his constant desire to be
amusing he often degenerates into flippancy. He
speaks, for instance, of a “ haughtily poised head
on a blithe neck,” whatever that may be; and of
“ an unnecessary pool that wasted by the wayside,”
as if it could do anything eise ! Plis best
182

pages are those giving quotations from Welsh
legends and songs, and of these the reader would
gladly have had more.
Chinese Art. By S. W. Bushell, C.M.G., etc.
Vol. I. (London : Victoria and Albert Museum.)
iw 6d. — The Board of Education have acted
wisely in commissioning Dr. Bushell to write this
volume. The collection of Chinese works of art at
South Kensington, if not a large one, contains many
objects of unusual interest, and the Student of Oriental
art will find there much to attract his attention.
But some instruction was necessary to enable him to
intelligently appreciate the examples before him,
and to that end a populär work upon Chinese art
was much needed. Judging from the volume now
issued, the work promises to be one of especial
value, and a worthy companion to M. Paleologue’s
handwork upon the same subject published by the
Maison Quantin in Paris.
London to the Nore. Painted and described by
W. L. and Mrs. Wyllie. (London: A. & C.
•Black.) 2os. net.—Amongst the many delightful
publications resulting from the happy collaboration
of an artist and author that have recently appeared,
high rank must certainly be given to “ London to
the Nore,” with its sympathetic interpretations of
typical river scenes and vivid word-pictures of their
environment. Mr. Wyllie’s drawings, especially
his Westminster Bridge aitd the Houses of Par-
liament, St. Pauils from Flower and Everett's
Wharf, and North Fleet Cement Works, are far
more than mere literal transcripts of their subjects
—they are true poems in colour, catching with rapid
touch the fleeting atmospheric effects that make
up half their charm ; and Mrs. Wyllie, though she
is perhaps sometimes a little too colloquial in her
descriptions, has deftly woven into her narrative of
the daily experiences on the bärge from which her
husband worked, just enough of the history of the
past to give a permanent background to the tran-
sient impressions of the present. Her account of the
good work done in the training-ships is especially
interesting, and many will endorse her strictures on
the Londoners who are indifferent to the attractions
of the river to which they owe so much.
Rossetti. By Dr. Hans Singer. (Berlin:
Bard Marquardt.) 1 mark 25, 1 mark 50, and
2 marks. — It is significant of the increasing
popularity of Dante Gabriel Rossetti that a
monograph on his work should be issued in
Germany, where he was certainly not appreciated
in his lifetime, his dreamy, mystical poems and
paintings having failed to appeal to the practical
Teutonic mind. In Dr. Hans Singer he has at