DOI Heft:
No. 80 (November, 1899)
DOI Artikel:British decorative art in 1899, and the Arts And Crafts Exhibition, [2]
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19783#0127
Arts and Crafts
CARTOON FOR STAINED GLASS
BY R. ANN1NG BELL
window. This cartoon is
exquisitely modern in its
tender refinement of style,
yet a pleasant touch of the
naive ages of faith comes
back to us when we study
the unaffected ingenuous-
ness of the little boys and
the beautiful angels. From
a technical point of view
attention may be drawn to
the skilful and uncommon
use that the artist has made
of the lead lines, both upright and horizontal. We see no room for
criticism anywhere.
The panel of Music and Dancing is not new to us; it is fortunately
conceived and admirably executed, though some may think that the
drapery falling over the knees of the seated musician drops into hard
folds too much like those of the curtain behind. But the design is
excellent, the general sentiment true and individual. It is, however,
in his triptych that Mr. Aiming Bell has achieved his most noteworthy
success. The figure of Christ has a restrained pathos and impressive-
ness, and there is thought and originality in the decorative treatment
of the thorned bush growing into a cross. As to the kneeling angels
in the wing panels, they are lovely alike in form and colour, for Mr.
Bell is among the few artists in England who understand how plaster
should be treated when coloured. Students should study his method,
comparing it with that of other craftsmen whose painted plaster is
often not flat enough in relief to be very successful work of its kind.
When the relief is not flat, as it is always in the work of Mr. Aiming
Bell, the modelling commonly looks lumpish and the colouring
aggressive.
On turning to the work of Mr. Alexander Fisher, to whose initiative
the art of enamelling in this country has long owed so much, it is
pleasant to note that the colour is as gemlike as we expect it to be,
and that the artist is gaining in breadth and simplicity of style. He
is still greatly attracted by mystical and religious subjects, as the silver
cross here illustrated bears pleasing witness. The subject of the
picture in enamel is a glorification of Christ, who rises heavenward
in a glory of brilliant light, while those who pretend to follow Him fall
CARTOON FOR STAINED GLASS
BY R. ANN1NG BELL
window. This cartoon is
exquisitely modern in its
tender refinement of style,
yet a pleasant touch of the
naive ages of faith comes
back to us when we study
the unaffected ingenuous-
ness of the little boys and
the beautiful angels. From
a technical point of view
attention may be drawn to
the skilful and uncommon
use that the artist has made
of the lead lines, both upright and horizontal. We see no room for
criticism anywhere.
The panel of Music and Dancing is not new to us; it is fortunately
conceived and admirably executed, though some may think that the
drapery falling over the knees of the seated musician drops into hard
folds too much like those of the curtain behind. But the design is
excellent, the general sentiment true and individual. It is, however,
in his triptych that Mr. Aiming Bell has achieved his most noteworthy
success. The figure of Christ has a restrained pathos and impressive-
ness, and there is thought and originality in the decorative treatment
of the thorned bush growing into a cross. As to the kneeling angels
in the wing panels, they are lovely alike in form and colour, for Mr.
Bell is among the few artists in England who understand how plaster
should be treated when coloured. Students should study his method,
comparing it with that of other craftsmen whose painted plaster is
often not flat enough in relief to be very successful work of its kind.
When the relief is not flat, as it is always in the work of Mr. Aiming
Bell, the modelling commonly looks lumpish and the colouring
aggressive.
On turning to the work of Mr. Alexander Fisher, to whose initiative
the art of enamelling in this country has long owed so much, it is
pleasant to note that the colour is as gemlike as we expect it to be,
and that the artist is gaining in breadth and simplicity of style. He
is still greatly attracted by mystical and religious subjects, as the silver
cross here illustrated bears pleasing witness. The subject of the
picture in enamel is a glorification of Christ, who rises heavenward
in a glory of brilliant light, while those who pretend to follow Him fall