Studio: international art (2.1894)

Correspondence

the " chatsworth " frieze. designed by arthur l. gwatkin. executed by haward and son

Heywood Sumner's Sgraffito panel, Summer; The Martyr is a bad picture, as bad in execution
Lewis F. Day's designs for printed velveteens (page as it is frightful in sentiment; even Mr. Wallis

59), an admirably planned carved walnut screen of cannot defend it, and yet it was chosen as a present

good design by L. A. Turner; C. R. Ashbee's to Birmingham when hundreds of better works

delightful leather wall-hangings ; G. W. Rhead's could have been had for less money. If it is the

stained glass; Sehvyn Image's Brownies fine outcome of a momentary lapse of taste, one can

designs for stained glass, and his figures of saints, only feel sorry that the lapse must have the result

one of which we reproduced in the first notice. of permanently affecting the reputation of the

donor as a connoisseur. In conclusion, I may
perhaps be allowed to express my sense of the
GALLERIES, NATIONAL AND admirable way in which Mr. Wallis manages the

PROVINCIAL. Birmingham collection, and to assure him that I

To the Editor of The Studio.

Dear Sir,—I have read with much interest

Mr. Whitworth Wallis's criticism of my article,

" Galleries, National and Provincial," but I con-
fess that I am unable to see that my statements

have been materially affected. Mr. Wallis will,

perhaps, be surprised to know that I have visited

the Birmingham Gallery some fifty times, and as

it is not yet a Louvre or a Uffizi, I think I may

fairly claim to be acquainted with its contents.

My article was concerned with pictures, and

pictures only, and therefore, while I share Mr.

Wallis's opinion that art is not comprised in

pictures, any allusion to decorative objects was

beyond my scope. The fact that the Albert

Moore was the gift, not of one but of two persons,

does not affect my contention ; it remains true that

the gift is the outcome of somebody's good taste.

On the other hand, the fact that the donor of the

Martyr proves his good taste in private, does not

destroy the fact that he has paraded his bad taste carved walnut fire-screen-, by l. a. turner

in public. The picture was deliberately purchased shall soon do myself the pleasure of accepting his

and the name of the donor deliberately attached invitation to go through the Gallery with him.

to it, and if one may not judge a man's taste by a I am, dear sir, yours sincerely,

gift^of this kind, by.what may it be judged ? Charles T. J. Hiatt.

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