DOI Heft:
No. 85 (April, 1900)
DOI Artikel:Ford, Harriet: The work of Mrs. Adrian Stokes
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19784#0167
The Work of Mrs. Adrian Stokes.
with such effect in her later work. Mrs. Stokes been given to problems of pure colour and line,
admits that this period was one of probation, of Her later work has been called a "retrogression,"
strenuous endeavour to fully equip herself with a inasmuch as she now deliberately chooses to deny
store of positive knowledge, ultimately to be turned herself the somewhat flamboyant use of many
to other uses. It has been often said that we elements which are supposed to be necessary to
must reach the accomplishment of leaving out by the equipment of the modern painter. But within
first knowing how to put in. The difficulties of certain limitations, carefully studied with a view to
selection, of simplifying, are only effectively possible not interfering with a desired effect, they are all
after a long training in the relative importance of there, for she by no means wishes to forego her
things. inheritance as a " modem." Her work has, it is
In 1891 Mrs. Stokes first turned her attention to true, the haunting, elusive suggestion of a bygone
decorative work. The summer of the same year convention ; but try to follow the suggestion and
she went to Italy. Since then her attention has we find it defies capture. In fact, it is personal.
The outlook is her own.
Believing, as she does, that
the preoccupation with
manual dexterity has run
its course, and that the
elements for truer art rest
upon a less showy foun-
dation, she elects to
ignore " technique " in
the " brushwork " sense
of the word, and to con-
fine herself to the pro-
blems of beautiful arrange-
ment, that is to say, to the
patternmaking quality of
the pure decorator. It is
no easy task thus to ex-
press, with the severest
self-restraint, this decora-
tive quality which yet
shall have relief, space
and envelopment. That
she has not failed
the Primavera testifies.
Wholly devoted to beauty,
Mrs. Stokes' aim is to
build up, evolve, create
some beautiful thing: a
picture which shall be, in
the broadest sense of the
word, a piece of " deco-
ration " for a wall, har-
monious and delightful.
Abhorring anything in
the shape of "still life,"
independent of shop
" draperies," all the orna-
mentation of robes and
accessories are designed
with a view to their special
aucassin and nicolbtte " by Marianne stokes use, and are wrought with
54
with such effect in her later work. Mrs. Stokes been given to problems of pure colour and line,
admits that this period was one of probation, of Her later work has been called a "retrogression,"
strenuous endeavour to fully equip herself with a inasmuch as she now deliberately chooses to deny
store of positive knowledge, ultimately to be turned herself the somewhat flamboyant use of many
to other uses. It has been often said that we elements which are supposed to be necessary to
must reach the accomplishment of leaving out by the equipment of the modern painter. But within
first knowing how to put in. The difficulties of certain limitations, carefully studied with a view to
selection, of simplifying, are only effectively possible not interfering with a desired effect, they are all
after a long training in the relative importance of there, for she by no means wishes to forego her
things. inheritance as a " modem." Her work has, it is
In 1891 Mrs. Stokes first turned her attention to true, the haunting, elusive suggestion of a bygone
decorative work. The summer of the same year convention ; but try to follow the suggestion and
she went to Italy. Since then her attention has we find it defies capture. In fact, it is personal.
The outlook is her own.
Believing, as she does, that
the preoccupation with
manual dexterity has run
its course, and that the
elements for truer art rest
upon a less showy foun-
dation, she elects to
ignore " technique " in
the " brushwork " sense
of the word, and to con-
fine herself to the pro-
blems of beautiful arrange-
ment, that is to say, to the
patternmaking quality of
the pure decorator. It is
no easy task thus to ex-
press, with the severest
self-restraint, this decora-
tive quality which yet
shall have relief, space
and envelopment. That
she has not failed
the Primavera testifies.
Wholly devoted to beauty,
Mrs. Stokes' aim is to
build up, evolve, create
some beautiful thing: a
picture which shall be, in
the broadest sense of the
word, a piece of " deco-
ration " for a wall, har-
monious and delightful.
Abhorring anything in
the shape of "still life,"
independent of shop
" draperies," all the orna-
mentation of robes and
accessories are designed
with a view to their special
aucassin and nicolbtte " by Marianne stokes use, and are wrought with
54