Studio: international art (2.1894)

English Art and M. Fernand Khnopff

are relics of Fernand Khnopff's early impressionism, study ' Law and Humanity ' in the shadow of the
but he has rarely painted anything better than the great Babylonian Palace of Justice, far more mag-
Seven Fair Tennis- Players which gained a medal at nificent, but far less congenial to the refined ideas
Paris in 1889, which tower above their decorative of the future pa;nter than the old-world edifices of
surroundings. On the writing-desk in the corner the Ville Musee. In 1876 Fernand Khnopff finally
lies Sar Josephin Pdladan's last communication on decided to abandon the toga for the palette, and
mustard-coloured paper, but the time is close at joined the Academie des Beaux Arts. He also
hand when the ablest and most far-seeing of his became the solitary pupil in the studio of Xavier
Belgian disciples will forsake , t- Mellery, who completed what
the phantoms of the Rose , . j Bruges and nature had so
Croix, for the more substantial " j auspiciously begun. The
glories of Burlington House, j influence of Mellery on his
the New Gallery, and the I. j disciple's method is apparent
Grafton. M. Khnopff, how- '38 t0 tnose who appreciate the
ever, still remains faithful to : JPljjM Sreat, but often wasted, talents
his Sphinx panel, and the \ \ of one who might have easily
veiled lady smiles down on [.. '% taken the highest rank in
him encouragingly from the Belgian contemporary art. In
dark nook, where the lapis- " '• 1881, Fernand Khnopff joined
lazuli incense-burner of the } the Essor, and exhibited a
long panel seems to shine ceiling in which figures of
like a star. Walking slowly j painting, poetry and music
up and down amongst his soli formed the principal feature.
Ardennes landscapes, waxen j The Essor proving too con-
heads and dainty children's ! servative in its tendencies,
portraits, Fernand Khnopff j. he resolved to join the more
tells you the story of his brief go-ahead Vingtistes, who left
but brilliant career. A Flem- ; /: the parent society and set up
ing of the Flemings, he was Peladan-Papus-like a salon of
born just five-and-thirty years their own. It is a moot
ago in the old and beautiful - question to-day whether the
Castle of Grimbergen on the XX. owe more to M. Khnopff
banks of the Scheldt, in the ; or vice versa. Be this as it
neighbourhood of Termonde j may, he has always carefully

__a town where the honest j ■ avoided the pictorial vagaries

citizens never forget that a i of the Ensors, the Bochs and

modern Lord Mayor of Lon- ,. ~vW... '|v—„ . the Toorops, and can now

don grew up amongst them. __? j afford to forego the material

"The first six years of his | Kk^p^-- J advantages he has reaped

life were spent at Bruges, the during a whole decade by

early impressions of which j_ . . ' ■ ' I contrasting his delicate and

remain to this day indelibly frqm an original, pastel drawing by sympathetic handiwork with

engraved on his memory. fernand khnopff the aggressive productions of

Curiously enough, he has militant poiniillage. Last year

never yet seen the great masterpieces of Memling, M. Khnopff received the Order of Leopold in

who would certainly not have disdained to place the recognition of his great merits as a painter. He

hope of the de Rothschilds amongst his angels ! is at the present moment one of the moving spirits

The ideas which Fernand Khnopff carried away of the newly formed Socicte des Beaux Arts. In

with him to Brussels were those of gabled houses, this connection we shall have to speak of his work

tree-shaded canals, quaint lanes and twisted chim- and aspirations at a future time. For the moment

ney-stacks. There is a touch of Bruges discernible we are dealing with the skill and genius which have

even in the Ardennes farms and cottages. M. Ed- given us such original conceptions as Vice Supreme,

mond Khnopff became Conseiller at the Brussels and Venus reasserting Herself before Dogma"

Court of Appeal, and there his elder son began to Taking this quotation as a whole, I am one with

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