Studio: international art (11.1897)

Studio- Talk

Tito, essentially a colourist, errs too
often in mistaking coarseness for strength,
and several of his works, though strong
in colour and draughtsmanship and bold
in chiaroscuro effects, are in consequence
unsympathetic in treatment. One canvas,
however, is entirely free from this defect,
and September affords him an opportunity
of rich sunlight effects and glowing colour
that he is not slow to take advantage of.
The result is one of the finest works in
the exhibition. A fine canvas by Leibl,
almost Holbeinesque in its weird strength
and a Portrait of a Gentleman by John
Lavery, showing a distinct influence of the
Spanish school, are among the most in-
teresting of the portraits, though Sargent
and Alexander also exhibit some charac-
teristic work—not, however, new to the
English public. Delug sends a fine alle-
gorical painting of The Fates, hung unfor-
tunately in a very bad light; and Hart-
mann's Faust, though somewhat theatrically
lurid in colour, gives evidence of careful
work, especially in the flesh painting of the
female figure.

M. G. S.

H

OLLAND.—The artistic
event of the season was the

festival in commemoration portrait of marie hyermans by violet teague

of the fifty years' existence (See Melbourne Studio-Talk)
of the society known as
" Pulchri Studio" at the Hague. This

club, which was started by some art amateurs in At Messrs. Van Wisselingh's galleries at Am-

1847, is now the most powerful society of artists sterdam, M. van der Valk is exhibiting a collection

in Holland, and for several years it has been pre- of about fifty works, generally drawings in black

sided over by the celebrated marine painter, H. W. chalk or in pastel. Van der Valk is a very clever

Mesdag. etcher, and in these drawings his qualities of firm-

- ness and directness of touch are brilliantly adapted

At the time of the commemoration festival, to his materials. Striking and clever compositions

Pulchri Studio also opened an exhibition of works of willow stems, Dutch country-houses, desolate

by deceased members which afforded an interest- winter scenes, and very individual still-life studies,

ing historical review of Dutch art of the present show him to be a sensitive, and distinguished artist,

century. It was very instructive to note how, after -

the period of extreme decay that lasted until about At the Venice Exhibition a great attraction is

i860, a new renaissance began with artists like the large collection of etchings, including all the

Bosboom and Josef Israels, who belong to the best original work produced during the last few

glorious group of painters that includes Mauve, the years in Holland, that forms a separate group of

Marisses, and Mesdag. The works of no • fewer uncommon artistic value, brought together by Mr.

than eighty artists were shown, but it is regrettable Ph. Zilcken, who was appointed as a special com-

that Yongkind was not more adequately repre- missioner of the exhibition for this purpose,
sented. PH. Z.

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