DOI Heft:
No. 38 (May, 1896)
DOI Artikel:Studio-talk
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17296#0266
Reviews of Recent Publications
A wood interior had all the charm and juicy
greenness of June with flecking lights and shadows,
quite irresistible in its joyousness. Of his ideal
subjects one is reminded of Turner, in the wealth
of colour, effulgence of light, and in the dreaminess
of conception. Tannhauser, Sardanapalus, Cin-
derella, Fairie Land, Jean d'Arc, and the Last
Lock, all show marked skill in composition, rich-
ness of colour scheme, and fertility of imagination
even to excess in some cases. This interesting
exhibition was held in the gallery of Doll and
Richards.
The collection of oil paintings by living Swedish
painters, at the Boston Art Club last month, was
most interesting and refreshing. Determination
with masculine vigour were manifest both in sub-
ject and treatment. Some were coarse and
brusque, others extravagant in composition, and
others extremely low in tone and nearly colourless.
Zorn was represented by seven examples, good
and half bad, one of a girl with a cigarette was
the piece de resista?ice, for its simple naturalness
and charm, notwithstanding its objectiveness.
The Paint and Clay Club have just closed their
annual exhibition, which seemed to me better
than ever before in its seriousness and loveliness.
No extravagance, no raw purple and orange
varieties, no prismatic nonentities. The Water-
colourists of Boston have shown many good
aquarelles in different galleries and studios, yet
no picture can be recalled that was remarkable in
originality.
The impressionistic influence is waning slowly ;
however, true impressionism has always existed. We
see now and then vacuities with milk-and-water
sunshine, where there is nothing but tone, and are
very weak at best. On the whole, art is being
practised in Boston of late, with augmented earnest-
ness of purpose, and a better balance in ideas
and treatment. In the line of sculpture Mr.
Samuel Litson, a native of England, who has
made Boston his home for several years, has
distinguished himself by doing several excellent
busts of prominent citizens, the most notable
of which is of our late and much lamented
Governor Greenhalge. The work is remarkably
lifelike and full of character. It is greatly
admired by all classes. It is placed in the
State House, conspicuously. In the latest archi-
tecture we have little to boast of. There are
several hideous boglike buildings, some of which
are sky-scrapers. The new Tremont Temple is
an exception. It has just been unveiled, showing
a beautiful facjade of Venetian and Greek styles,
finely designed and put together in such a way
as to be satisfactory and beautiful to look upon.
B. S.
REVIEWS OF RECENT
PUBLICATIONS.
Venice and Lombardy. A series of original
photogravures. By J. Craig Annan. (Glasgow :
T. and R. Annan Bros.) If any proofs were
needed of the artistic quality that may distinguish
certain photographs over others, the plates before
us would form eloquent witnesses. We have had
on more than one occasion to speak of the excel-
lent work which has been accomplished by Mr.
Craig Annan. Professional as well as amateur
photographers may learn much that is well worth
learning in the careful examination of these charm-
ing camera pictures.
Les Mditres de FAjtfiche. Publication mensuelle
editee par l'imprimerie Chaix. (Paris: Chaix.
1895-6.)—The literature of the picture-poster is
growing at a great rate, and already more than one
regular journal is devoted to the subject. The
present publication is a magnificent periodical, con-
taining reproductions in colour of the most note-
worthy illustrated placards of our time. Among the
artists whose works have appeared in the first issues
are Cheret, Toulouse-Lautrec, H. G. Ibels, Georges
Meunier, Dudley Hardy, Julius Price, Louis Rhead,
and Greiffenhagen. The colour printing is simply
admirable, and there is little fault to be found with
the selection of examples for reproduction.
Nursery Songs and Rhymes of England. Pictured
by Winifred Smith. (London: David Nutt.
Price t,s- 6d.)—An excellent gift-book for a child.
The illustrator has the rare merit of combining
humour with considerable technical and decora-
tive ability.
Letters from Sir Charles Grandison. By
Richardson. Selected by George Saintsbury.
Illustrated by Chris. Hammond. Two volumes.
(London: George Allen.)—Mr. Hammond has
made himself thoroughly acquainted with the
picturesque costumes and mobilier of the last
century, and has shown us in his clever pen-work
illustrations to these " Letters" by Richardson some
delightful pictures of life in the days of our great-
grandfathers.
Nema, and other Stories. By Hedley Peek.
249
A wood interior had all the charm and juicy
greenness of June with flecking lights and shadows,
quite irresistible in its joyousness. Of his ideal
subjects one is reminded of Turner, in the wealth
of colour, effulgence of light, and in the dreaminess
of conception. Tannhauser, Sardanapalus, Cin-
derella, Fairie Land, Jean d'Arc, and the Last
Lock, all show marked skill in composition, rich-
ness of colour scheme, and fertility of imagination
even to excess in some cases. This interesting
exhibition was held in the gallery of Doll and
Richards.
The collection of oil paintings by living Swedish
painters, at the Boston Art Club last month, was
most interesting and refreshing. Determination
with masculine vigour were manifest both in sub-
ject and treatment. Some were coarse and
brusque, others extravagant in composition, and
others extremely low in tone and nearly colourless.
Zorn was represented by seven examples, good
and half bad, one of a girl with a cigarette was
the piece de resista?ice, for its simple naturalness
and charm, notwithstanding its objectiveness.
The Paint and Clay Club have just closed their
annual exhibition, which seemed to me better
than ever before in its seriousness and loveliness.
No extravagance, no raw purple and orange
varieties, no prismatic nonentities. The Water-
colourists of Boston have shown many good
aquarelles in different galleries and studios, yet
no picture can be recalled that was remarkable in
originality.
The impressionistic influence is waning slowly ;
however, true impressionism has always existed. We
see now and then vacuities with milk-and-water
sunshine, where there is nothing but tone, and are
very weak at best. On the whole, art is being
practised in Boston of late, with augmented earnest-
ness of purpose, and a better balance in ideas
and treatment. In the line of sculpture Mr.
Samuel Litson, a native of England, who has
made Boston his home for several years, has
distinguished himself by doing several excellent
busts of prominent citizens, the most notable
of which is of our late and much lamented
Governor Greenhalge. The work is remarkably
lifelike and full of character. It is greatly
admired by all classes. It is placed in the
State House, conspicuously. In the latest archi-
tecture we have little to boast of. There are
several hideous boglike buildings, some of which
are sky-scrapers. The new Tremont Temple is
an exception. It has just been unveiled, showing
a beautiful facjade of Venetian and Greek styles,
finely designed and put together in such a way
as to be satisfactory and beautiful to look upon.
B. S.
REVIEWS OF RECENT
PUBLICATIONS.
Venice and Lombardy. A series of original
photogravures. By J. Craig Annan. (Glasgow :
T. and R. Annan Bros.) If any proofs were
needed of the artistic quality that may distinguish
certain photographs over others, the plates before
us would form eloquent witnesses. We have had
on more than one occasion to speak of the excel-
lent work which has been accomplished by Mr.
Craig Annan. Professional as well as amateur
photographers may learn much that is well worth
learning in the careful examination of these charm-
ing camera pictures.
Les Mditres de FAjtfiche. Publication mensuelle
editee par l'imprimerie Chaix. (Paris: Chaix.
1895-6.)—The literature of the picture-poster is
growing at a great rate, and already more than one
regular journal is devoted to the subject. The
present publication is a magnificent periodical, con-
taining reproductions in colour of the most note-
worthy illustrated placards of our time. Among the
artists whose works have appeared in the first issues
are Cheret, Toulouse-Lautrec, H. G. Ibels, Georges
Meunier, Dudley Hardy, Julius Price, Louis Rhead,
and Greiffenhagen. The colour printing is simply
admirable, and there is little fault to be found with
the selection of examples for reproduction.
Nursery Songs and Rhymes of England. Pictured
by Winifred Smith. (London: David Nutt.
Price t,s- 6d.)—An excellent gift-book for a child.
The illustrator has the rare merit of combining
humour with considerable technical and decora-
tive ability.
Letters from Sir Charles Grandison. By
Richardson. Selected by George Saintsbury.
Illustrated by Chris. Hammond. Two volumes.
(London: George Allen.)—Mr. Hammond has
made himself thoroughly acquainted with the
picturesque costumes and mobilier of the last
century, and has shown us in his clever pen-work
illustrations to these " Letters" by Richardson some
delightful pictures of life in the days of our great-
grandfathers.
Nema, and other Stories. By Hedley Peek.
249