DOI Heft:
No. 28 (July, 1895)
DOI Artikel:Sharp, Herbert: On some sketches by Briton Riviere
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17294#0146
Sketches by Briton Riviere
'Ml. fi
STUDY OF A LION BY BRITON RIVIERE, R.A.
are quite out of character with their habits when in leave the impression of having been done direct
a natural state and amidst proper surroundings j from Nature, so closely has the artist studied the
though, on the other hand, this state of confine- lines of the animal and each habit of pose. Mr,
ment offers facilities for closer study of the fiercer Riviere, I understand, never designs direct from
kinds than would be possible in a wild state. The Nature; but, after having definitely planned a
great strength of Mr. Riviere's animal pictures is picture, invokes Nature's aid to the utmost in
due in no small measure to the fine preliminary carrying out the idea. The wild animals in his
studies he makes from the living animal, and to pictures are gradually evolved from studies that
the fact that he grapples successfully at the outset have themselves been developed from many smaller
with the main difficulties, by making numerous or more fragmentary studies drawn, or even written,
sketches and notes of the animal in many poses, direct from Nature. The complete painted study
by which means he perfects his knowledge of the of the animal is thus a combination resulting from
beast, and lays in much valuable data upon which the use of accumulated knowledge, memory, and
to draw when adapting the pictorial elements to special direct work from Nature. In the case of
his composition. The outline sketches of the dogs, or any animal that can be brought into the
Polar Bear in various poses, here reproduced, are studio, it is Mr. Riviere's plan to work directly
from pencil drawings made by Mr. Riviere when upon his picture from them; and in dealing with
thinking out the design of his Academy picture of animals of this kind he has always considered it
last year, Beyond Maris Footsteps. The originals, indispensable to have the living model at hand
and many more similar sketches, were done upon whilst at work ; for, though perhaps seldom refer-
note-paper to a scale slightly larger than our illus- ring to it, he finds he cannot conveniently pro-
bation, and drawn direct from memory, being the ceed with his work unless it be there. In order to
results of charcoal notes, and careful observations realise his ideal, or the particular individual animal
of the animal taken during early morning visits to necessary to illustrate his conception, Mr. Riviere
the " Zoo," specially for that purpose. They are prefers to have several models to work from. By
all intensely characteristic of the White Bear, and selecting from these he is able to create an animal
127
'Ml. fi
STUDY OF A LION BY BRITON RIVIERE, R.A.
are quite out of character with their habits when in leave the impression of having been done direct
a natural state and amidst proper surroundings j from Nature, so closely has the artist studied the
though, on the other hand, this state of confine- lines of the animal and each habit of pose. Mr,
ment offers facilities for closer study of the fiercer Riviere, I understand, never designs direct from
kinds than would be possible in a wild state. The Nature; but, after having definitely planned a
great strength of Mr. Riviere's animal pictures is picture, invokes Nature's aid to the utmost in
due in no small measure to the fine preliminary carrying out the idea. The wild animals in his
studies he makes from the living animal, and to pictures are gradually evolved from studies that
the fact that he grapples successfully at the outset have themselves been developed from many smaller
with the main difficulties, by making numerous or more fragmentary studies drawn, or even written,
sketches and notes of the animal in many poses, direct from Nature. The complete painted study
by which means he perfects his knowledge of the of the animal is thus a combination resulting from
beast, and lays in much valuable data upon which the use of accumulated knowledge, memory, and
to draw when adapting the pictorial elements to special direct work from Nature. In the case of
his composition. The outline sketches of the dogs, or any animal that can be brought into the
Polar Bear in various poses, here reproduced, are studio, it is Mr. Riviere's plan to work directly
from pencil drawings made by Mr. Riviere when upon his picture from them; and in dealing with
thinking out the design of his Academy picture of animals of this kind he has always considered it
last year, Beyond Maris Footsteps. The originals, indispensable to have the living model at hand
and many more similar sketches, were done upon whilst at work ; for, though perhaps seldom refer-
note-paper to a scale slightly larger than our illus- ring to it, he finds he cannot conveniently pro-
bation, and drawn direct from memory, being the ceed with his work unless it be there. In order to
results of charcoal notes, and careful observations realise his ideal, or the particular individual animal
of the animal taken during early morning visits to necessary to illustrate his conception, Mr. Riviere
the " Zoo," specially for that purpose. They are prefers to have several models to work from. By
all intensely characteristic of the White Bear, and selecting from these he is able to create an animal
127