DOI issue:
No. 56 (November, 1897)
DOI article:Studio-talk
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18390#0149
Studio- Talk
and therefore a much greater range of opportunities
is afforded to the artist. For these reasons decora-
tive and architectural designers would do well to
study closely the possibilities of his method.
The headquarters of the Decorative Art Needle-
work Society is a place any lover of fine em-
broideries cannot fail to find of unusual interest.
The panels here illustrated, which show exquisite
schemes of colour, will give an idea of the excel-
lence of the figure subjects executed by the members
of this Society. A mere list of the beautiful
work on view at 17 Sloane Street would exhaust
pages, but we hope to call attention to it again
before long, for, whether regarded as an influence
for art or as a philanthropic institution, the Society
deserves warm approval, and in Miss Gemmell has
a director whose good taste is visible in every detail
of its numerous undertakings. The reparation of
old tapestries—many historic and of priceless value
-which the Society has accomplished would alone
entitle it to the warmest praise at our disposal.
Sir John Gilbert, whose death was announced in
the early days of October, was an artist of extraor-
dinary energy and very strongly marked individu-
ality, who, by some sixty years of strenuous labour,
had made for himself a prominent place in the front
rank of the British school. He belonged by manner
and inclination to the romanticist group, which in
the earlier half of the present century produced a
number of peculiarly able painters, and created a
large amount of very interesting art; and by his
extremely numerous achievements in oil painting,
water-colour, and black and white, kept alive the
traditions of this group long after its methods had
ceased to be popular with the younger painters of
the day. His efforts gained for him considerable
recognition ; he was elected an Associate of the
Academy in 1872, Royal Academician in 1876, and
was President of the Royal Water-Colour Society
from 1871 till his death. He was also a Chevalier
of the Legion of Honour, and a member of many
other art societies, British and foreign.
BIRMINGHAM. -A most interesting
" two men" exhibition was recently
held at the Graves Gallery here,
consisting of some fifty paintings,
drawings and sketches by Mr. J.
Buxton Knight, and half that number of pieces of
sculpture by Mr. Albert Toft. Mr. Knight's work
is too well known to need criticism, and his robust
technique, strong effects, and rich ^harmonies of
" EVENING " BY ALBERT TOFT
colour, and his reverent study of Nature in her
many moods, were all well set forth in the collec-
tion of his pictures gathered together, containing
as it did some of the best work he has done.
Mr. Albert Toft is a Birmingham man, so that
his statuettes in bronze and plaster, his portrait-
busts, and his plaster sketches provoked much
interest and pleasure among Midland art lovers.
Most of the pieces exhibited have been seen in
London, and it is therefore- unnecessary to refer to
them at length here. Illustrations are given of two
of his best works—Evening, a beautiful statuette
which well displays his poetic grace and dainty
r 2 1
and therefore a much greater range of opportunities
is afforded to the artist. For these reasons decora-
tive and architectural designers would do well to
study closely the possibilities of his method.
The headquarters of the Decorative Art Needle-
work Society is a place any lover of fine em-
broideries cannot fail to find of unusual interest.
The panels here illustrated, which show exquisite
schemes of colour, will give an idea of the excel-
lence of the figure subjects executed by the members
of this Society. A mere list of the beautiful
work on view at 17 Sloane Street would exhaust
pages, but we hope to call attention to it again
before long, for, whether regarded as an influence
for art or as a philanthropic institution, the Society
deserves warm approval, and in Miss Gemmell has
a director whose good taste is visible in every detail
of its numerous undertakings. The reparation of
old tapestries—many historic and of priceless value
-which the Society has accomplished would alone
entitle it to the warmest praise at our disposal.
Sir John Gilbert, whose death was announced in
the early days of October, was an artist of extraor-
dinary energy and very strongly marked individu-
ality, who, by some sixty years of strenuous labour,
had made for himself a prominent place in the front
rank of the British school. He belonged by manner
and inclination to the romanticist group, which in
the earlier half of the present century produced a
number of peculiarly able painters, and created a
large amount of very interesting art; and by his
extremely numerous achievements in oil painting,
water-colour, and black and white, kept alive the
traditions of this group long after its methods had
ceased to be popular with the younger painters of
the day. His efforts gained for him considerable
recognition ; he was elected an Associate of the
Academy in 1872, Royal Academician in 1876, and
was President of the Royal Water-Colour Society
from 1871 till his death. He was also a Chevalier
of the Legion of Honour, and a member of many
other art societies, British and foreign.
BIRMINGHAM. -A most interesting
" two men" exhibition was recently
held at the Graves Gallery here,
consisting of some fifty paintings,
drawings and sketches by Mr. J.
Buxton Knight, and half that number of pieces of
sculpture by Mr. Albert Toft. Mr. Knight's work
is too well known to need criticism, and his robust
technique, strong effects, and rich ^harmonies of
" EVENING " BY ALBERT TOFT
colour, and his reverent study of Nature in her
many moods, were all well set forth in the collec-
tion of his pictures gathered together, containing
as it did some of the best work he has done.
Mr. Albert Toft is a Birmingham man, so that
his statuettes in bronze and plaster, his portrait-
busts, and his plaster sketches provoked much
interest and pleasure among Midland art lovers.
Most of the pieces exhibited have been seen in
London, and it is therefore- unnecessary to refer to
them at length here. Illustrations are given of two
of his best works—Evening, a beautiful statuette
which well displays his poetic grace and dainty
r 2 1