DOI Heft:
No. 118 (December, 1906)
DOI Artikel:Vallance, Aymer: Of some recent plaster work by Mr. G. P. Bankart
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.28250#0163
Mr. G. P. Bankart's Plaster IVork
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PORTION OF CEILING OF BILLIARD-ROOM AT BOWDEN GREEN, PANGBOURNE
DESIGNED AND EXECUTED BY G. P. BANKART
this instance, in others, as I know, Mr. Bankart
has worked for and in concert with the eminent
Edinburgh architect, Mr. Lorimer, a circumstance
which is alone sufficient to give a cachet of
distinction to his productions.
Mr. Bankart wishes it to be understood that all
the decoration here illustrated consists of cast-
plrster work, executed, that is, in advance and
subsequently fixed in position; and not to be
confounded with modelled relief carried out on
the spot, a method which,
in the nature of things,
has a peculiar charm and
freedom of its own, and
deserves to be more widely
used than it has hitherto
been. On the other hand,
again, the process, gener-
ally prevalent, of undercut
modelled work in plaster
of Paris, cast in gelatine
moulds, comes under a
totally different head. And
however degraded it may
have become in ordinary
practice, it is nevertheless
capable of serving purposes
of a very superior artistic
standard to those of here-
tofore. The fact of a pro-
cess having been never so
grossly misused in the past
does not warrant the artist
in condemning it, if he
knows that it affords legiti-
mate scope for the produc-
tion of what is at once
useful and beautiful. It
would be difficult to name
any art which can boast an
unblemished record and
has not, at some time or
other, been perverted to
ignoble courses.
The above considerations
bid me not to conclude
without one word of caution
with regard to the process
of which the present article
treats. The material of
plaster is so facile and
adaptable that it is not
without its perils. In ad-
dition to keeping the relief
most desirable also that the
bands that carry the orna
ment should be shallow; otherwise, if allowed to
become prominent features, they are liable to be
misapplied in a manner strongly to be deprecated,
I mean for the purpose of covering, or, not to put
too fine a point on it, concealing iron girders.
From the point of view of soundness and honesty
of construction, such a fraud is quite indefensible,
however innocent and unaggressive the appearance
ornament low, it is
rectangular framing
HALL CEILING AT “ AVERLEY,
KELVINSIDE, GLASGOW
DESIGNED AND EXECUTED BY G. P. BANKART
149
r\
wnttSBBBBk
*
>v,
Gm v
*
■M
PORTION OF CEILING OF BILLIARD-ROOM AT BOWDEN GREEN, PANGBOURNE
DESIGNED AND EXECUTED BY G. P. BANKART
this instance, in others, as I know, Mr. Bankart
has worked for and in concert with the eminent
Edinburgh architect, Mr. Lorimer, a circumstance
which is alone sufficient to give a cachet of
distinction to his productions.
Mr. Bankart wishes it to be understood that all
the decoration here illustrated consists of cast-
plrster work, executed, that is, in advance and
subsequently fixed in position; and not to be
confounded with modelled relief carried out on
the spot, a method which,
in the nature of things,
has a peculiar charm and
freedom of its own, and
deserves to be more widely
used than it has hitherto
been. On the other hand,
again, the process, gener-
ally prevalent, of undercut
modelled work in plaster
of Paris, cast in gelatine
moulds, comes under a
totally different head. And
however degraded it may
have become in ordinary
practice, it is nevertheless
capable of serving purposes
of a very superior artistic
standard to those of here-
tofore. The fact of a pro-
cess having been never so
grossly misused in the past
does not warrant the artist
in condemning it, if he
knows that it affords legiti-
mate scope for the produc-
tion of what is at once
useful and beautiful. It
would be difficult to name
any art which can boast an
unblemished record and
has not, at some time or
other, been perverted to
ignoble courses.
The above considerations
bid me not to conclude
without one word of caution
with regard to the process
of which the present article
treats. The material of
plaster is so facile and
adaptable that it is not
without its perils. In ad-
dition to keeping the relief
most desirable also that the
bands that carry the orna
ment should be shallow; otherwise, if allowed to
become prominent features, they are liable to be
misapplied in a manner strongly to be deprecated,
I mean for the purpose of covering, or, not to put
too fine a point on it, concealing iron girders.
From the point of view of soundness and honesty
of construction, such a fraud is quite indefensible,
however innocent and unaggressive the appearance
ornament low, it is
rectangular framing
HALL CEILING AT “ AVERLEY,
KELVINSIDE, GLASGOW
DESIGNED AND EXECUTED BY G. P. BANKART
149