DOI Heft:
No. 74 (May 1899)
DOI Artikel:Some pictures by Byam Shaw
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19231#0285
Some Pictures by Byam Shaw
ambition than his capacities quite justify, it will be in the fact that there is in everything he does an
easy enough to convict him of his mistake. In unusual amount of individuality, a distinct and
Mr. Shaw's case this exhibition is of value especially definite character, which is so fresh and uncon-
because it provides a means of estimating fairly ventional that it has the gift of immediate persua-
closely his actual position without any reservations siveness, and yet, despite its plainly personal quality,
or exaggerations on account of circumstances that is capable of being very widely varied. Inadequacy
have no real bearing upon his art. He has sub- either of conception or treatment is the last thing
mitted himself to the test that many other members that these pictures which Messrs. Dowdeswell have
of his profession have endured, and he has c'aimed brought together can be said to show. They
to be judged with them on equal terms, asking no express pictorially the workings of the artist's
favour and no concessions. mind, and they reflect the fertility of imagination
It is interesting to see that a collection of his and the variety of intention which are to be reckoned
paintings has fully as great a power to attract and among the chief of his mental attributes. The
hold the attention of all lovers of original and charm of sincerity is indisputable in them ; and
inventive work as the particular canvases which because they are sincere they have the greater
have by their appearance in the Academy and other interest as revelations of the thoughts of an un-
exhibitions marked him as a man of importance in usual person.
artistic circles. The reason for this is to be found For mentally Mr. Byam Shaw, as he reveals
himself in his work, is
quite out of the ordinary
run. He thinks oddly
for a modern man ; he
burrows beneath the sur-
face of things, and hunts
up curious facts. He sur-
rounds himself with un-
common fancies, quaintly
conceived, and of a
fashion different from that
affected by the generality
of his fellows. Yet his
mind is a healthy one,
and his imaginings have
no touch of the mor-
bidity in which the end
of the century decadents
delight. Perhaps in this
lies the secret of his
peculiar strength. If he
thought less or posed
more, cynicism might
conceivably take the
place of the wholesome
simplicity of his nature,
and he might develop
into a bitter satirist,
offending the many to
gain the approval of the
ill-conditioned few. But
as he is he takes up a
position as a pleasant
commentator upon the
Jiound about the prow she wrote the Lady of Shallot (tennyson) by byam shaw ^ttle iromes °f ufe_> ancl
{By permission of Messrs. Dowdeswell Dowdeswell) shows to all clean-minded
262
ambition than his capacities quite justify, it will be in the fact that there is in everything he does an
easy enough to convict him of his mistake. In unusual amount of individuality, a distinct and
Mr. Shaw's case this exhibition is of value especially definite character, which is so fresh and uncon-
because it provides a means of estimating fairly ventional that it has the gift of immediate persua-
closely his actual position without any reservations siveness, and yet, despite its plainly personal quality,
or exaggerations on account of circumstances that is capable of being very widely varied. Inadequacy
have no real bearing upon his art. He has sub- either of conception or treatment is the last thing
mitted himself to the test that many other members that these pictures which Messrs. Dowdeswell have
of his profession have endured, and he has c'aimed brought together can be said to show. They
to be judged with them on equal terms, asking no express pictorially the workings of the artist's
favour and no concessions. mind, and they reflect the fertility of imagination
It is interesting to see that a collection of his and the variety of intention which are to be reckoned
paintings has fully as great a power to attract and among the chief of his mental attributes. The
hold the attention of all lovers of original and charm of sincerity is indisputable in them ; and
inventive work as the particular canvases which because they are sincere they have the greater
have by their appearance in the Academy and other interest as revelations of the thoughts of an un-
exhibitions marked him as a man of importance in usual person.
artistic circles. The reason for this is to be found For mentally Mr. Byam Shaw, as he reveals
himself in his work, is
quite out of the ordinary
run. He thinks oddly
for a modern man ; he
burrows beneath the sur-
face of things, and hunts
up curious facts. He sur-
rounds himself with un-
common fancies, quaintly
conceived, and of a
fashion different from that
affected by the generality
of his fellows. Yet his
mind is a healthy one,
and his imaginings have
no touch of the mor-
bidity in which the end
of the century decadents
delight. Perhaps in this
lies the secret of his
peculiar strength. If he
thought less or posed
more, cynicism might
conceivably take the
place of the wholesome
simplicity of his nature,
and he might develop
into a bitter satirist,
offending the many to
gain the approval of the
ill-conditioned few. But
as he is he takes up a
position as a pleasant
commentator upon the
Jiound about the prow she wrote the Lady of Shallot (tennyson) by byam shaw ^ttle iromes °f ufe_> ancl
{By permission of Messrs. Dowdeswell Dowdeswell) shows to all clean-minded
262