International studio (55.1915)

Belgian Artists in England


BY CAMILLE STURBELLE
cloudy landscape by Leon Frederic; some refined
and delicately tinted drawings and engravings by
Fernand Khnopff; an important water-colour,
Stranded Ships, by Alex. Marcette; symbolical
figures on a gold ground by Xavier Mellery. Charles
Mertens, too, having made
his first attempt at render¬
ing the English landscape,
showed us a pretty sketch in
oil colours ; the late Con-
stantin Meunier was repre¬
sented by an etching Le
Port-, the sculptor Victor
Rousseau by a drawing ; Jan
Stobbaerts by an original
lithograph, Cour de Ferme;
Alexander Struys, the great
painter of the humble in-
teriors of Malines, con-
tributed an etching after his
picture Le mois de Marie;
Alfred Verhaeren a litho¬
graph, Jeune Pecheur. This
review is by no means com-
plete, but we will not tire
the reader with a longer
enumeration.
Another collection,
privately brought over from
Belgium, was exhibited at
46

the McLean Gallery, under the somewhat hyper-
bolic denomination of “ Belgian Masterpieces.”
It contained, however, several meritorious works.
The chief attraction consisted of a drawing Belgium
Unfettered, specially executed for this exhibition
by Jan Gouweloos, and framed with the Belgian
colours. It showed the very serious qualities of
this vigorous painter. We further mention sketches
by Firmin Baes, Geo Bernier, Georges Lemmers,
Jules Merckaert, Jos. Taelemans, Carl Werleman :
etchings by Aug. Danse, M. L. Cluysenaer, Maurice
Langaskens, J. B. and M. H. Meunier, Henri
Thomas, and Louis Titz; and a number of drawings
and water-colours by Jan Gouweloos, Maurice
Hagemans, Theo Hannon, Amedee Lynen, and
others.
Whilst these exhibitions were in progress, and
some other Belgian works were being shown at other
galleries, we have succeeded in collecting some
further reproductions of pictures and sculptures
by artists now in England, and are glad to place
these before our readers as supplementing those
previously published.
We first mention the vivid bust of Taxander,
by Frans Huygelen, a symbol of the indomitable
Flemish character and, what is better, a strong
piece of sculpture, speaking the language that was
understood in Memphis and in Athens, in Florence
and in Rheims, the language of high art, that may


“ TAXANDER ”

BY FRANS HUYGELEN