Studio: international art (17.1899)

Ernest Newton

green trees which it seems to call for as back-
ground. Finally, there is the small house at
Bickley, of which two illustrations appear on page
159, suggestive of comfort and refinement, and
relying, as do so many of Mr. Newton’s most
successful efforts, mainly on its proportion and
disposition of window-space to wall-space for its
harmonious effect.

To sum up, Mr. Newton impresses one as an
artist of culture and widespread knowledge who,
while having absorbed the true spirit of the old
builders, a term which, as has been shown, he
himself chooses to claim for himself, has yet de-
liberately cast aside the strict letter of their so-

called styles, fn this theory of negation he has
not perhaps proceeded so far as Mr. C. F. A.
Voysey for example, but nevertheless he has suc-
ceeded in retaining his own individuality. If then
his work not only speaks for the man himself, but
also breathes one side at least of the nineteenth
century, if in short we can conceive of its being
produced at no other period of the world’s history,
if again it is thoroughly harmonious and preserves
that reticence which is the sign-manual of the true
craftsman in any branch of art, it has, without
doubt, fulfilled its mission, and is worthy, not only
of our most careful consideration, but also of our
frankest admiration and respect.

HOUSE AT WOKINGHAM

164

ERNEST NEWTON, ARCHITECT