DOI Heft:
No. 54 (September, 1897)
DOI Artikel:Baldry, Alfred Lys: Drawings by Mr. J. M. Swan, A.R.A.
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18389#0267
Drawings by J. M. Swan
this mental condition that he gives his first attention, feel vividly how sure lie is of his subjects, and
and it is his appreciation of the animal's thoughts with what an entire absence of hesitation he can
that determines the manner in which he depicts set down what he has to say. He has too the
tin' lines and modelling of its body. Of course rarest of all gifts, an exact judgment of the right
such a system of work implies the possession by moment to stop. Nothing that he does is ever
the artist of a very great amount of knowledge carried further than is necessary to make its mean-
acquired by endless comparisons and constant ing clear, and no elaboration for its own sake ever
analysis. He has made himself so thoroughly spoils the significance and simplicity of his work,
acquainted with the details of animal nature that What he gives us is technically a masterly state-
he can distinguish between very minute variations ment of the idea which has commended itself to
of movement, and can realise subtleties of expression him as a worthy pictorial motive, a clear and un-
that might easily escape a less keen observer. He hesitating assertion of the results of a particular
knows by heart the turns and twists of the most set of observations. Each drawing is, as it were,
complex animal personality, he can read the signs the solution of a problem, and only so much is
by which in the four-footed world shades of admitted into it as will complete the proof; any
emotion are differentiated, and he can interpret in side issues, everything which does not help to
the right way apparent in-
consistencies which really
give the keynote to in-
stincts of the utmost im-
portance.
But Mr. Swan's position
as an artist would not be
so assured and indisput-
able if it depended simply
upon his possession of an
exceptional amount of
knowledge of animals and
their ways. It is because
he combines a scientist's
powers of observation with
artistic skill of a very high
order that he ranks among
the best living exponents
of the branch of art which
he follows. His techni-
cal capacity is, indeed,
remarkable. He can, even
in his slightest notes,
suggest variations of sur-
face texture, details of
modelling, facts of anato-
mical structure, and graces
of movement, with a cer-
tainty and appropriateness
which are only possible to
a worker whose training of
hand and eye is extremely
thorough and complete.
In his drawings the quali-
ties of his style are, per
haps, more evident than
in anything else he does.
Ln them he makes us study of a lioness by j. m. swan, a.r.a.
240
this mental condition that he gives his first attention, feel vividly how sure lie is of his subjects, and
and it is his appreciation of the animal's thoughts with what an entire absence of hesitation he can
that determines the manner in which he depicts set down what he has to say. He has too the
tin' lines and modelling of its body. Of course rarest of all gifts, an exact judgment of the right
such a system of work implies the possession by moment to stop. Nothing that he does is ever
the artist of a very great amount of knowledge carried further than is necessary to make its mean-
acquired by endless comparisons and constant ing clear, and no elaboration for its own sake ever
analysis. He has made himself so thoroughly spoils the significance and simplicity of his work,
acquainted with the details of animal nature that What he gives us is technically a masterly state-
he can distinguish between very minute variations ment of the idea which has commended itself to
of movement, and can realise subtleties of expression him as a worthy pictorial motive, a clear and un-
that might easily escape a less keen observer. He hesitating assertion of the results of a particular
knows by heart the turns and twists of the most set of observations. Each drawing is, as it were,
complex animal personality, he can read the signs the solution of a problem, and only so much is
by which in the four-footed world shades of admitted into it as will complete the proof; any
emotion are differentiated, and he can interpret in side issues, everything which does not help to
the right way apparent in-
consistencies which really
give the keynote to in-
stincts of the utmost im-
portance.
But Mr. Swan's position
as an artist would not be
so assured and indisput-
able if it depended simply
upon his possession of an
exceptional amount of
knowledge of animals and
their ways. It is because
he combines a scientist's
powers of observation with
artistic skill of a very high
order that he ranks among
the best living exponents
of the branch of art which
he follows. His techni-
cal capacity is, indeed,
remarkable. He can, even
in his slightest notes,
suggest variations of sur-
face texture, details of
modelling, facts of anato-
mical structure, and graces
of movement, with a cer-
tainty and appropriateness
which are only possible to
a worker whose training of
hand and eye is extremely
thorough and complete.
In his drawings the quali-
ties of his style are, per
haps, more evident than
in anything else he does.
Ln them he makes us study of a lioness by j. m. swan, a.r.a.
240