Studio: international art (13.1898)

Studio- Talk

EMBROIDERED SCREEN DESIGNED BY SELWYN IMAGE
EXECUTED BY THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF ART NEEDLEWORK

reproductions of antique needlework seem to be
stifling the production of modern designs, it was
pleasant to find evidence here that the school still
remains true to its traditions.

A visit to its show-rooms in Exhibition Road
reinforced this opinion. So long as the clever
workers devoted their powers to interpreting de-
signs by living artists, their work was interesting;
but when they descended to mere copies of ancient
embroideries, one could not but feel regret that so
much skill should be applied to the perpetuation
of designs whose sole value is that they are old.
Two panels after Mr. Selwyn Image's designs, one
of a repeating pattern with a border of lettering, and
188

another representing Spring with returning swallows
skimming over a conventionally treated sea, and a
tree with branches disposed so that they suggest
the rising sun, are illustrated here. If the school
would retain its hold upon the sympathies of art-
workers, it should remain true to its earlier plan of
obtaining designs from artists skilled in such things.

LIVERPOOL.—Mainly due to the initia-
tion of the Liverpool Architectural
Society, the Walker Art Gallery has
been opened for a Spring Exhibition of
Arts and Crafts, conjoined with choice
examples of Indian Art lent by the South Kensing-
ton authorities, and a well arranged collection of
architectural drawings, photographs, drawings in
black and white, modern book-plates, &c. The
limitations of space require notice to be confined
to the Decorative and Applied Arts Section and to
the work of the local art schools and handicraft
classes.

EMBROIDERED PANEL DESIGNED BY SELWYN IMAGE

EXECUTED BY 1111'; ROYAL SCHOOL OK ART NEEDLEWORK