Studio: international art (9.1897)

H. H. La Thangue and his Work

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THE BOAT-BUILDING YARD " FROM A PAINTING BY II. H. LA TIIAXGUE

(By permission oj J. Haddocks, Esq., J P )

big square brushes. His square brush technique is
better worked into the motive of the picture now
than in those earlier days, but he never at any
time ran into the extravagant excesses which some
men affected. It is usually assumed that this
manner of handling came from France, but I
have been assured on most excellent authority
that it was really invented by La Thangue. At some
time, perhaps, we may know all about it, when
someone writes the history of the square brush
in painting. It is said, I do not know on what
authority, that Sir Thomas Lawrence was the first
to paint with square brushes. Be that as it may,
it was a member of the Royal Academy who first
set the students of the school painting in this
manner. Mr. Hook was the visitor, and I often
wonder what he thought of the innovation he

caused. He did not at all approve of the small-
ness of the tools the students were using. ': You
have got nothing to paint with," he said, and
forthwith proceeded to Barbe's, whence he brought
something like an armful of large square brushes,
which he distributed among the students. Amongst
others, La Thangue received a bunch, and became
very skilful in their use. It may therefore well be
that his example set the fashion.

After leaving Paris, La Thangue returned to
London, and occupied a studio in Chelsea for
some time. These were the reformation of the
Academy days, but I am not sure that he pro-
duced any pictures at this time. His work lay
in the country, so in due course he proceeded to
Walsham, on the Norfolk Broads. Then he lived
for about a year at Rye, but returned to Norfolk

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