DOI issue:
No. 73 (April 1899)
DOI article:Vallance, Aymer: Mr. Arthur H. Mackmurdo and the Century Guild
DOI article:Studio-talk
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19231#0202
A. H. Mackmurdo
comparatively short duration. He visited then, Mackmurdo's own personal predilection, is to be
among other of the northern cities, Lucca and sought for his writing this book, it may no doubt
Verona, Padua and Venice. ■ be found in the intermittent agitation for the
Meanwhile, the impressions gathered during his demolition of certain of the less frequented
residence in Florence were gradually shaping them- churches in the city of London. Now, although
selves towards a definite outcome. It only shows the late William Morris is rightly credited as the
with what fearless and inexorable logic Mr. Mack- founder of the Society for the Protection of
murdo had pursued the Renaissance track, upon Ancient Buildings, since beyond question it was
which he first set his foot in Florence, to its mainly the influence of his great name that served
extremist issues, that, once back again in this to propagate the principles of the association, it is
country, he should have devoted his attention to nevertheless true that the inception of some such
Wren's city churches. In his volume on the sub- organisation occurred previously to Mr. Mack-
ject, which, though commenced earlier, did not murdo ; and that, when the latter approached Mr.
appear until 1881, the author singled out for special Morris on the subject at a time when some of
notice, as a highly characteristic feature, the Wren's churches were being threatened, Mr.
strangely bizarre contrivances which Wren devised Morris was not inclined to move until an event
to supply the place of the steeple in Gothic took place which touched him more nearly. It
churches. If a provoking cause, apart from Mr. came to pass that there was imminent danger of the
capitals of the arcading of the Ducal
palace at Venice undergoing " restora
tion." William Morris was up in arms
immediately. It was as though he
had received a direct challenge. His
friends and supporters rallied to his
call, and the Society for the Protec-
tion of Ancient Buildings was inaugu-
rated. It was in 1877. Thenceforward
Morris had to lend his support, on
principle, to defend many buildings
which it is certain that he did not
himself admire. But this is by the
way.
Not the least important result of Mr.
Mackmurdo's studies in Florence was
that there had been forcibly brought
home to him how vast a difference
subsists between the artist of the pre-
sent and the artist of the past. In
former days there was,' for all intents,
no demarcation between the artist and
the craftsman. Most of them were
proficient in several arts; whereas,
unlike them, the man who in modern
times practises one branch of art
rarely turns his hand to any other.
Even in ordinary speech we make a
distinction, as arbitrary as it is invidi-
ous, between " fine" arts, thereby
indicating exclusively painting and
sculpture on the one hand, and on the
other hand those arts which we will
call "minor," or more usually "handi-
crafts" and "industries." And if we
chair designed (1881) by a. h. mackmurdo deign to name him "artist" at all who
186
comparatively short duration. He visited then, Mackmurdo's own personal predilection, is to be
among other of the northern cities, Lucca and sought for his writing this book, it may no doubt
Verona, Padua and Venice. ■ be found in the intermittent agitation for the
Meanwhile, the impressions gathered during his demolition of certain of the less frequented
residence in Florence were gradually shaping them- churches in the city of London. Now, although
selves towards a definite outcome. It only shows the late William Morris is rightly credited as the
with what fearless and inexorable logic Mr. Mack- founder of the Society for the Protection of
murdo had pursued the Renaissance track, upon Ancient Buildings, since beyond question it was
which he first set his foot in Florence, to its mainly the influence of his great name that served
extremist issues, that, once back again in this to propagate the principles of the association, it is
country, he should have devoted his attention to nevertheless true that the inception of some such
Wren's city churches. In his volume on the sub- organisation occurred previously to Mr. Mack-
ject, which, though commenced earlier, did not murdo ; and that, when the latter approached Mr.
appear until 1881, the author singled out for special Morris on the subject at a time when some of
notice, as a highly characteristic feature, the Wren's churches were being threatened, Mr.
strangely bizarre contrivances which Wren devised Morris was not inclined to move until an event
to supply the place of the steeple in Gothic took place which touched him more nearly. It
churches. If a provoking cause, apart from Mr. came to pass that there was imminent danger of the
capitals of the arcading of the Ducal
palace at Venice undergoing " restora
tion." William Morris was up in arms
immediately. It was as though he
had received a direct challenge. His
friends and supporters rallied to his
call, and the Society for the Protec-
tion of Ancient Buildings was inaugu-
rated. It was in 1877. Thenceforward
Morris had to lend his support, on
principle, to defend many buildings
which it is certain that he did not
himself admire. But this is by the
way.
Not the least important result of Mr.
Mackmurdo's studies in Florence was
that there had been forcibly brought
home to him how vast a difference
subsists between the artist of the pre-
sent and the artist of the past. In
former days there was,' for all intents,
no demarcation between the artist and
the craftsman. Most of them were
proficient in several arts; whereas,
unlike them, the man who in modern
times practises one branch of art
rarely turns his hand to any other.
Even in ordinary speech we make a
distinction, as arbitrary as it is invidi-
ous, between " fine" arts, thereby
indicating exclusively painting and
sculpture on the one hand, and on the
other hand those arts which we will
call "minor," or more usually "handi-
crafts" and "industries." And if we
chair designed (1881) by a. h. mackmurdo deign to name him "artist" at all who
186