DOI Heft:
No. 64 (July, 1898)
DOI Artikel:Baldry, Alfred Lys: The work of Bertram Priestman
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21969#0097
Bertram Priestman
The work of Bertram
PRIESTMAN. B Y A. L.
BALDRY.
In any consideration of the develop-
ment of an artist’s capacity there is no matter of
more moment and of greater significance than the
nature of the early training by which his pre-
ferences have been directed and his tastes matured.
The influences by which, at the outset, he has
been surrounded have an unquestionable bearing
upon his after practice. They help to fix his
opinions and to define his convictions, and to
some extent they contribute to the formation of
the habits with regard to the use of technical
devices which mark his work throughout his life.
The productions of all schools show plainly how
much surroundings have to do with the evolution
of a particular style, and how familiarity with a cer-
tain artistic atmosphere will cause an appreciable
unanimity of aim in a group of individuals. What
an artist strives after is not only to express his own
personal view of Nature, but also to accommodate
his manner of stating his opinions to the fashion in
art with which he finds himself most in sympathy.
No matter what may be the strength of his per-
sonality, or the greatness of his power of imitation,
he will almost insensibly be guided by the work of
others into a certain manner of putting down what
appeals to him as worthy of record. He may have
an idiom of his own, or characteristics of method
which will apparently set him apart from his con-
temporaries; but these distinguishing marks of him-
self will not disguise the fact that he has based his
theories and his performances upon an older creed
which has been formulated by those of his prede-
cessors whom he is willing to accept as infallible
guides. He may be original, inventive, daring in
his departures from tradition or convention, but
the more sincere he is in his wish to experiment,
the more attentive will he be- in his examination
of what has been done before, and the more
anxious to understand and analyse the secret of
the success that has attended the efforts of the
men whom he admires most.
It is natural, then, that there should be a direct
waiting for the ferry” by Bertram priestman
XIV. No. 64.—July, 1898. 77
The work of Bertram
PRIESTMAN. B Y A. L.
BALDRY.
In any consideration of the develop-
ment of an artist’s capacity there is no matter of
more moment and of greater significance than the
nature of the early training by which his pre-
ferences have been directed and his tastes matured.
The influences by which, at the outset, he has
been surrounded have an unquestionable bearing
upon his after practice. They help to fix his
opinions and to define his convictions, and to
some extent they contribute to the formation of
the habits with regard to the use of technical
devices which mark his work throughout his life.
The productions of all schools show plainly how
much surroundings have to do with the evolution
of a particular style, and how familiarity with a cer-
tain artistic atmosphere will cause an appreciable
unanimity of aim in a group of individuals. What
an artist strives after is not only to express his own
personal view of Nature, but also to accommodate
his manner of stating his opinions to the fashion in
art with which he finds himself most in sympathy.
No matter what may be the strength of his per-
sonality, or the greatness of his power of imitation,
he will almost insensibly be guided by the work of
others into a certain manner of putting down what
appeals to him as worthy of record. He may have
an idiom of his own, or characteristics of method
which will apparently set him apart from his con-
temporaries; but these distinguishing marks of him-
self will not disguise the fact that he has based his
theories and his performances upon an older creed
which has been formulated by those of his prede-
cessors whom he is willing to accept as infallible
guides. He may be original, inventive, daring in
his departures from tradition or convention, but
the more sincere he is in his wish to experiment,
the more attentive will he be- in his examination
of what has been done before, and the more
anxious to understand and analyse the secret of
the success that has attended the efforts of the
men whom he admires most.
It is natural, then, that there should be a direct
waiting for the ferry” by Bertram priestman
XIV. No. 64.—July, 1898. 77