Studio: international art (18.1900)

Arts and Crafts

judged by the simple standard of utility, there is but I regret to say that I find the room nearly
no question but that the fly-trap is far more service- always deserted. And no wonder ! The authori-
able to mankind than the gilt-bound lumber that ties afford the least possible facilities to the visitor
lures the shekels from the plutocratic purse. to study the work in question. During the recent

If there is one art alone which outshines and exhibition there, wanting to examine a minute
surpasses, as it ought to dominate and control all drawing which was hung at an altitude of about
the rest, it is none other than architecture. And eight or nine feet from the floor, and so placed,
on this point we need continually to remember the moreover, that the light on the glass made inspec-
precepts of the master to whose inspiring genius the tion from close beneath it impracticable, I begged
aesthetic revival of this century owes its chiefest one of the attendants to lend me a stool or chair
debt. The late William Morris never lost an for the purpose. The man appeared quite amazed-
opportunity to insist on the unique importance of at so unprecedented a request, and positively de-
this, the parent, chief and standard of all the other clared himself unable to comply. Now, who is to
arts. No amount of beautiful objects of art are blame for an anomalous state of things like this ?
able of themselves to constitute a beautiful home. No one can honestly pretend that there is not suffi-
A building of which the walls and plan and general cient demand for architectural work to warrant more
character are altogether degenerate and ugly the prominence being assigned to it. It is inconceiv-
most studious decking can never decorate. Nothing able but that there must continually be an immense
but an architectural basis gives organic cohesion to quantity of architectural plans and elevations on
the decorative arts. order to satisfy the current requirements of the

It is significant that, out of all the rooms at the metropolis alone. Every day the London with
Royal Academy, one only, and that a miserably which we used to be familiar is being transformed,,
small one, is consecrated to architectural design, fresh buildings springing up on the sites of those
For the sake of this portion of the Exhibition alone demolished. Rarely, very rarely, the change is an
I never omit an annual visit to Burlington House ; improvement. More often than not a plain and

homely old place disappears-
to make way for something
which, if not actually more
repulsive in appearance
than the former, is yet the
greater outrage against taste
in so far as it is showier
and more pretentious. And.
in all these schemes for
modern " improvements "'
not the smallest provision,,
where sordid mercenary
considerations dictate-
otherwise, is made for pre-
serving such few venerable-
remains of antiquity as do-
yet happen to survive. If,
for example, some gem
of inestimable beauty like-
Crosby Hall comes to be
disclosed from amid the-
hideous trespass that has-
hemmed it in these many
evil years past, it is only
that it may be the more
permanently and irrevoc-
ably hidden away out. of
sight. Whatever fashion

ade (Messrs. Alex Morton & Co., Manufacturers) by c. f. a. voysey of new building shall.

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