Studio: international art (1.1893)

Is the Camera the Friend or Foe of A rt ?

block. I do not suppose there exists in Europe an From Mr. Wyke Bayliss, P.B.A.

artist who would not at once admit the value of Sir—The subject upon which you invite my

photography. opinion is one to which I have given much atten-

At the same time there may be some who think tion My v;ews are expressed in my last volume,

that modern exhibitions of pictures display an «The Enchanted Island and other Studies in Art."

abuse of it. I deal with art in its sevenfold relations—with myth,

Valuable, indeed, as a record of facts, mainly with history, with religion, with science, with daily

facts already reduced to artistic methods of jy^ with Christianity, with value. It is in the chapter

thought, set photography may be used, and is, I entitled " The Robe of Amethyst," that you will find

am told, being largely used by portrait-painters what T have t0 say on art jn reiati0n to modern

who, unless I have been wrongly informed, are sc;elice_ If there is anything there you would like

beginning to photograph their sitters upon their tQ quQte jt js at your service,—Believe me, yours

canvases, and paint over. faithfully,

If this is the case the ruin of the art of portrait- Wyke Bayliss.

painting is certain. There is yet another danger 7 North Road, Clapham, S.W.
to be apprehended. It was the custom when , , . , , • ,,

artists travelled for their note-books to be con- *** The ParaSraPh which seemS t0 be

stantly in their hands, and every impression was applicable to th.s subject runs :
either carefully or summarily therein registered. I " The microscope adds to our knowledge, but it

have been told that the kodak has taken the does not help the artist; it rather conflicts with his

place of the note-book. sense of proportion. The telescope seems to bring

If this be true the lamentable absence of things nearer; but the painter loves to see the hills

interest in our annual exhibitions is to be in blue distance. It is quite possible to see too

accounted for. much. It is even possible to know too much, if

Photography can never be an art, though it may knowledge holds us in its meshes when we should

be a valuable adjunct! Yes. But if it ever is used abandon ourselves to the imagination. Already to

by an artist instead of his pencil where he could the average sight there is more visible than can be

use his pencil, it will prove to be the destroyer of expressed in art. To increase the intensity of the

art instead of being, as it should be, an aid. vision, therefore, or enlarge its range, is only to add

I would write a great deal more upon your to the artist's embarrassment and the difficulty of

subject, but I fear to take up space in your journal, his choice, unless the increased intensity and en-

—Yours very truly, larged range enable him to penetrate and to grasp

W. B.. Richmond. the higher as distinct from the lesser truth."

Beavor Lodge, W,

From Mr. Francis Bate. From Professor Fred. Brown.

Sir—It would be a long matter to consider, with SlR'~Ifa m^ t0 y°ur letter 1 beS t0 ^ that in
anything approaching completeness, the influence my 0plnl0n Photography has had no influence of any
that photography has had upon the arts. I know but kmd on the best art of tQ-day> thouSh k has con-
little of the technique of photography, and should fiderably affected a large number of painters. Its
on that account more than hesitate to express an lnfluence. however, on the appreciation of art has,
opinion on the subject you propose, were it not 1 think' been prejudicial, as it has established in
that my convictions are very strong that photo- the mind of a larSe number of people a standard
graphy has affected pictorial art injuriously. Many of mere accuracy. Judged by such a test the
photographers are artists, and use their camera to great works of the Past would not appear remark-
produce highly artistic and charming work. But able' As tbe invention of photography has not in
it seems to me that the results possible with the the least detracted from their excellences, so neither
camera are so different to, and inharmonious with, Can lts use or influence be of any benefit to the
what I feel should be the first desire and endeavour artist of to-day. Art and photography run on
of the picture painter, that I would deprecate, at entirel>' different lines.—Yours truly,
any rate in this limited sense, any confusion or Fredk. Brown.
association of the two practices.—Believe me, SLADE School' University College.
sincerely yours,

Francis Bate. From Mn Wal™R Crane.

Applegarth Studio, Brook Green, W. SiR,-In reply to your question, I would say that

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