International studio (34.1908)

Franz Courtens, Flemish Painter


“TEMPS GRIS SUR l’eSCAUT'’
phony of this sort—everything in this
masterly canvas proclaims the skilled
hand, the certain instinct of the born
landscapist, and it is certainly a long
time since we have been given the
opportunity of admiring a piece of work
so free and so rich in its savour.”
Success such as this having been won,
it followed of course that pupils and
imitators, both numerous and respectful,
made haste to follow in the master’s
steps. Some of them were quite re-
markable people, the best being MM.
Apol, Blieck, Gilsoul, Gorus, Merckaert,
and young Herman Courtens, whose
success gave great delight to his father.
But how far behind Franz Courtens
leaves them all! While a few among
them succeeded in acquiring, under his
direction, certain technical qualities and
some ability in the mise-en-poge—the
presentment of their efforts—not one
can be really compared with him. Not
one of them in the conception of his
works suggests that feeling of power and
grandeur which characterises the author
of the Pluie d'Or; not one of them con-
trives to master the manipulation of his
material with the ease and vigour of him
who painted the Barques d inoules.
BUST
Fernand Khnopff.

BY FRANZ COURTENS

(See next article)

BY P. S. KROYER
3*