Studio: international art (8.1896)

The Salon of the Champ de Mars

BLOWN GLASS BY KARL KCEPPING

concerned to enrol himself under this or that more With his series of studies of contemporary French

or Jess revolutionary banner, but who, on the other celebrities, from Victor Hugo to Banville, from

hand, would seem to aspire—maybe half uncon- Pasteur to Marshal Canrobert, from Zola to Jules

sciously—to revive the tradition of the great artists Ferry, he is raising a lasting monument of the

of other days. His work is extremely strong, both glories of the century. His art is based on deep

in draughtsmanship and colour, with an entirely knowledge, and sincerity and truth—three qualities

personal flavour. rarely combined in these days of ours.

Space is too limited to discuss certain works of
sculpture as they deserve, those of Rodin, for in-

Applied Art.

stance, who is numerously represented by exhibits of There are many lamentable errors to record in
the highest class, showing, one and all, the masterly this department, and a good deal that is common-
ability of our greatest sculptor. Then we have place and inferior, side by side with several interest-
Mme. Besnard with Le Sommeil, Mlle. Camille ing efforts. Plenty of good ideas and plenty of
Claudel, with a bust of a child, a perfect piece of goodwill are to be seen in many of the exhibits—
supple execution, and glowing with life; M. and any discouragement of such attempts were
Charles Samuel with his Ubenspiegel et JVe/e, M. to be deplored—but taste is sadly wanting in
Bartholome—all too inadequately represented to most of them. One notices a lack of reflection
satisfy his admirers—and M. Niederhausern- as to the objects aimed at and the means of its
Rodo, whose portrait of Paul Verlaine will last as realisation—questions which, in decorative art,
a " document" and as a work of art. must always depend upon the material employed.

Amongst the engravers M. F. Desmoulin occu- Thus M. Carabin's furniture is as ugly as can be

pies the premier place, with his masterly portrait of imagined ; while the design for a fountain wash-

Renan. According to the critics of the day after to- hand-stand with a clock, by M. Jean Baffier—an

morrow this is merely the traditional etching ! And artist of considerable merit, as his tin-work testifies—

so much the better, for M. Desmoulin has the true deserves no verdict but one of severe condemnation,

suppleness and power of the master portrait-gravers. The same must be said of the ensemble exhibit of

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