DOI issue:
No. 123 (May, 1907)
DOI article:Baldry, Alfred Lys: Some medallions by Mr. A. Bruce-Joy, R.H.A.
DOI article:Macfall, Haldane: The paintings of John D. Fergusson, R.B.A.
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.28251#0216
J. D. Fergus son, R.B.A.
AUBYN TREVOR-BATTYE, ESQ.
BY A. BRUCE-JOY
was, after all, to be expected from a sculptor whose
cultivated perceptions have led him to grasp un-
hesitatingly just what is really vital and to sub-
ordinate or omit the non-essentials.
For one thing especially these medallions can be
unreservedly praised—for their intimate shrewdness
of characterisation ; and they are not less deserving
of admiration for the technical skill with which
small differences of model-
ling and flesh surface are
presented. The rugged and
attenuated forms in the
head of W. Bruce-Joy,
M.D., the sharply-defined
modellings in the face of
Sir G. Gabriel Stokes,
B.B.S., and the firm mus-
cularity of the Aubyn
Trevor Battye contrast in-
structively with the not
less firm but more delicate
modulations of surface in
the exquisitely-treated head
of Emily Bruce-Joy; and
in all the others there is
equally distinctive evidence
of that studious exactness
of record which accounts
for so much of Mr. Bruce-
Joy’s success as a sculptor.
As a piece of technical
achievement, too, the
absolute sureness with
which all the contours
are stated must be noted; there is no trace of
hesitation in the relating of planes one to the other,
no slurring over the parts where fine and subtle
definition is needed. But, after all, this is hardly
to be wondered at with an artist so concerned with
the higher principles of the craft he follows. When
he works on a small scale he only concen-
trates the strength and
condenses the observa-
tion which give such
memorable distinction
to his larger works—to
such a marvellous char-
acter study, for instance,
as his bust of Mr.
Fergusson — and when
he chooses a new direc-
tion it is only to apply
in a different way the
exhaustive knowledge
which he has brought to bear upon all his work before.
A. L. Baldry.
The paintings of John d..
FERGUSSON, R.B.A. BY HAL-
DANE MACFALL.
Two or three years ago there was shown in
“ A CLOUDY DAY, PARIS PLAGE” BY J. D.FERGUSSON.
ARCHBISHOP BENSON
BY A. BRUCE-JOY'
202
AUBYN TREVOR-BATTYE, ESQ.
BY A. BRUCE-JOY
was, after all, to be expected from a sculptor whose
cultivated perceptions have led him to grasp un-
hesitatingly just what is really vital and to sub-
ordinate or omit the non-essentials.
For one thing especially these medallions can be
unreservedly praised—for their intimate shrewdness
of characterisation ; and they are not less deserving
of admiration for the technical skill with which
small differences of model-
ling and flesh surface are
presented. The rugged and
attenuated forms in the
head of W. Bruce-Joy,
M.D., the sharply-defined
modellings in the face of
Sir G. Gabriel Stokes,
B.B.S., and the firm mus-
cularity of the Aubyn
Trevor Battye contrast in-
structively with the not
less firm but more delicate
modulations of surface in
the exquisitely-treated head
of Emily Bruce-Joy; and
in all the others there is
equally distinctive evidence
of that studious exactness
of record which accounts
for so much of Mr. Bruce-
Joy’s success as a sculptor.
As a piece of technical
achievement, too, the
absolute sureness with
which all the contours
are stated must be noted; there is no trace of
hesitation in the relating of planes one to the other,
no slurring over the parts where fine and subtle
definition is needed. But, after all, this is hardly
to be wondered at with an artist so concerned with
the higher principles of the craft he follows. When
he works on a small scale he only concen-
trates the strength and
condenses the observa-
tion which give such
memorable distinction
to his larger works—to
such a marvellous char-
acter study, for instance,
as his bust of Mr.
Fergusson — and when
he chooses a new direc-
tion it is only to apply
in a different way the
exhaustive knowledge
which he has brought to bear upon all his work before.
A. L. Baldry.
The paintings of John d..
FERGUSSON, R.B.A. BY HAL-
DANE MACFALL.
Two or three years ago there was shown in
“ A CLOUDY DAY, PARIS PLAGE” BY J. D.FERGUSSON.
ARCHBISHOP BENSON
BY A. BRUCE-JOY'
202