Studio: international art (13.1898)

Studio- Talk

"JOAN STRUCK BY AN ARROW"

FROM A WALL-TAINTING BY
H. HUGHES-STANTON AND TALBOT HUGHES

another group, by Mortimer J. Brown, again came
quite close.

The results of a travelling scholarship, held
by Frank Derwent Wood, were shown in eight
subjects, all excellent ; and some—Dante at
Ravenna, and a bust in teak, beech, and lead
—more than excellent. The paintings by
another travelling scholar, H. R. Milchen, were
disappointing, several designs for the story of
Joseph and his Brethren being neither pleasant
in colour nor strong in drawing.

Among monochrome studies, a Hermione as
a Statue, by Mary Towgood, was a most excel-
lent work, and well merited the honour it re-
ceived; as did the study of a girl's head, by
Geoffery Alan Nott, and another, No. 1701.
The illustrations—a huge number—to JephthaWs
Daughter, were mediocre to a surprising degree,
nor were the drawings for the (so-called) draped
model more interesting as a whole. A word of
grumbling must be added to this scanty notice.
The authorities neither issue a catalogue of the
works exhibited nor allow the names of the
students to appear below any except the prize
designs. Therefore much excellent work can-
not be duly credited to its author.
44

A very interesting scries of wall paintings, in-
tended for a room in a house at Guildford, has
been carried out by Mr. Talbot Hughes and Mr.
H. Hughes-Stanton, both well-known exhibitors
at the Royal Academy and elsewhere. The sub-
jects are taken from the life of Joan of Arc, and
show the heroine in the garb which modern
fancy, based on more accurate knowledge of his-
toric costume, has allotted to her. It is curious
to turn up an album of theatrical portraits, which
belonged to the famous Dr. Burney, and to find
the Maid of Orleans frequently depicted with a
mailed corset, huge hoops, and a coiffure tower-
ing on high, powdered and bedizened with bows
and flowers ! In the paintings, several of which
are here illustrated, Joan is shown as a graceful
maiden, transfigured by her mission almost to
the verge of the supernatural. The most suc-
cessful panels are undoubtedly those of actual
warfare and the Coronation of Charles VII. at
Rheims. In these a very pleasant convention
(not wholly unlike that employed by M. Boutet
de Monvel in his famous picture book) has been
used to express admirably imagined scenes. The
colour is gay, and at times brilliant, without
excess. The pictures are intended to occupy
spaces in a fine oak-panelled wrainscot, with much
carved detail below ; the canopies of the panels,

FROM A WALL-PAINTING BY
H. HUGHES-STANTON AND TALBOT HUGHES