International studio (59.1916)

Water-Colours by George Henry, A.R.A.

SOME WATER-COLOUR DRAW¬
INGS BY GEORGE HENRY,
A.R A.
All the Art world has been familiar with Mr.
George Henry’s accomplishments in oil since the
year 1890, when, at Munich, he ruffled Art
orthodoxy by exhibiting a picture that marked the
beginning of a new departure in painting. But
it must not be forgotten that the artist has
achievements to his credit in the water-colour
medium—that he was perhaps the first in a school
to break the conventions in aquarelle, and a timely
reminder was an exhibition of collected and
recently executed drawings, finished studies for
paintings, and original impressions, held a few
weeks ago at Mr. Alex. Reid’s gallery in Glasgow,
a gallery long familiar with rare masterpieces in
Art. And what more
appropriate centre
could have been
selected for such an
exhibition than the
city in which the artist
began his fruitful
career, and where to¬
day, amongst his early
contemporaries, con¬
versant with every stage
in his development,
the most sincerely
appreciative admirers
of his genius are to
be found ?
Neither public ap¬
preciation, nor lack of
it, can be regarded as
an infallible criterion
of enduring quality in
the work of an artist;
the nearest approach
to incontestable claim
is surely the reasoned
judgment of those
who have themselves
become masters of the
art and craft. Sub¬
jected to this test,
George Henry’s art
work is indubitably
endorsed. But apart
from its technical
appeal to the culti¬
vated sense of the
LIX. No. 234.—August

artist, there are essential qualities in this art,
particularly of tonal character, which appertain
especially to the school to which it belongs—
qualities always appreciated but only little by little
understood, and pregnant with possibilities in
a hustling, brain-fagging age. The art of George
Henry, then, is likely to become increasingly
interesting, important and influential.
With all this in mind, it was a rare privilege,
a tonal exhilaration, to turn from the bustle and tur-
moil of the big city to the repose and calm of the
Glasgow gallery, and there to linger over this choice
composition, that alluring harmony; to forget
all outside distractions in the seductive charm of
colour enchantment, indulging the reflection that
would come unbidden, to what conclusion would
George Henry have carried expression in the
delicate medium, with complete concentration,


“ MAYFAIR ”
1916

BY GEORGE HENRY, A.R.A.
73

MUDA PUBLIC LIBRARY