DOI Heft:
No. 73 (April 1899)
DOI Artikel:Vallance, Aymer: Mr. Arthur H. Mackmurdo and the Century Guild
DOI Artikel:Studio-talk
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19231#0201
A. H. Mackmurdo
delicate tone, turning the
white parts to pearl or
cream colour, the black to
lustrous green or bronze,
but, further, has encrusted
the whole surface with a
kind of natural oxidation,
than which there is no
surer protection against
future decay. However,
the wiseacres of modern
mood, impatient of history,
purposed to obliterate all
traces of age, and to give
back to the venerable walls
that sharp contrast of black
and white which they con-
ceived them to have had
when fresh from the band
of the original decorator.
The scheme was a com-
prehensive one ; it was not
intended to stop short of
Giotto's superb companile:
but the cathedral was to be
dealt with first. The disas-
trous process was actually
begun of washing off the
surface of the marble, both
sculptured and plain alike,
with acids: when Mr.
Mackmurdo, failing in his
bronze mantel-piece designed (1880) by a. h. mackmurdo appeal to the Florentines
panels modelled by b. creswick themselves, ventured to
draw the attention of
Lest a too exclusive study of the art of the past Signor Cavalcaselle, Minister of Fine Arts under the
should exert a crystallising effect on his genius, Italian Government, to what was being done. An
"needs must that whoso is alive should not neglect official examination on the spot was made: good
that which is living at the same time. Mr. Mack- counsels prevailed; the evil business, which had
murdo, then, in addition to his other work, entered already progressed quite far enough, was arrested,
himself as an art student, and attended a life class, But the local authorities bore a bitter grudge against
so as to gain a greater mastery of the human figure the interfering stranger within their gates ; and
in design. Thus he occupied himself for a period proceeded to make matters as unpleasant as they
which extended over two winters with the inter- could for Mr. Mackmurdo. All privileges and
vening months. The date was about the year permits that had been accorded him before were
1876. How much longer he might have remained peremptorily cancelled. He was not suffered even
in Florence it is impossible to say. His stay, as it to sketch in the open streets; and therefore, find-
happened, came somewhat abruptly to an end. It ing his studies frustrated at every turn, he had
befell in this wise. The authorities in charge of no choice but to leave Florence; which he did
the Duomo, infected by the " restoration " mania, with the utmost reluctance, as may be imagined,
formed the fatal project of renovating the building, and, after visiting Siena and Orvieto on the way,
beginning with the marble walls of the exterior, returned home to England. Four years later, that
Now the action of time and weather has had the is about 1880, Mr. Mackmurdo made a second
result not only of imparting a most beautiful and journey to Italy, his stay on that occasion being of
185
delicate tone, turning the
white parts to pearl or
cream colour, the black to
lustrous green or bronze,
but, further, has encrusted
the whole surface with a
kind of natural oxidation,
than which there is no
surer protection against
future decay. However,
the wiseacres of modern
mood, impatient of history,
purposed to obliterate all
traces of age, and to give
back to the venerable walls
that sharp contrast of black
and white which they con-
ceived them to have had
when fresh from the band
of the original decorator.
The scheme was a com-
prehensive one ; it was not
intended to stop short of
Giotto's superb companile:
but the cathedral was to be
dealt with first. The disas-
trous process was actually
begun of washing off the
surface of the marble, both
sculptured and plain alike,
with acids: when Mr.
Mackmurdo, failing in his
bronze mantel-piece designed (1880) by a. h. mackmurdo appeal to the Florentines
panels modelled by b. creswick themselves, ventured to
draw the attention of
Lest a too exclusive study of the art of the past Signor Cavalcaselle, Minister of Fine Arts under the
should exert a crystallising effect on his genius, Italian Government, to what was being done. An
"needs must that whoso is alive should not neglect official examination on the spot was made: good
that which is living at the same time. Mr. Mack- counsels prevailed; the evil business, which had
murdo, then, in addition to his other work, entered already progressed quite far enough, was arrested,
himself as an art student, and attended a life class, But the local authorities bore a bitter grudge against
so as to gain a greater mastery of the human figure the interfering stranger within their gates ; and
in design. Thus he occupied himself for a period proceeded to make matters as unpleasant as they
which extended over two winters with the inter- could for Mr. Mackmurdo. All privileges and
vening months. The date was about the year permits that had been accorded him before were
1876. How much longer he might have remained peremptorily cancelled. He was not suffered even
in Florence it is impossible to say. His stay, as it to sketch in the open streets; and therefore, find-
happened, came somewhat abruptly to an end. It ing his studies frustrated at every turn, he had
befell in this wise. The authorities in charge of no choice but to leave Florence; which he did
the Duomo, infected by the " restoration " mania, with the utmost reluctance, as may be imagined,
formed the fatal project of renovating the building, and, after visiting Siena and Orvieto on the way,
beginning with the marble walls of the exterior, returned home to England. Four years later, that
Now the action of time and weather has had the is about 1880, Mr. Mackmurdo made a second
result not only of imparting a most beautiful and journey to Italy, his stay on that occasion being of
185