DOI Heft:
No. 86 (May, 1900)
DOI Artikel:Sparrow, Walter Shaw: The art of Mrs. William de Morgan
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19784#0244
The Art of Evelyn De Morgan
King of Athens. Mrs. De Morgan has
represented Boreas in the act of flying
with Orithyia towards Thrace, where
they begot the Boreades, Calais, Zetes,
and Cleopatra. This myth seems to
exemplify the soul of good in things
sometimes evil, Orithyia personifying
that eternal fruitfulness of Nature, the
corn and flower seeds of which are so
often sown in waste places by the most
boisterous of destructive winds. But,
however this may be, the picture has a
fine significance of its own. It has
faults, no doubt. The modelling is
somewhat " tight," and there is also a
want of proportion between the torso
and the legs of Boreas. On the other
hand, when viewed as a whole, the
picture is noteworthy for the excellence
of its decorative conception and treat-
ment.
In " Earthbound " (p. 228), where the
artist tells what she thinks of the world's
engrossing pursuit of wealth, there are
merits of a quite different kind, often
described as art-literary. The story told
runs as follows : In a desolate country
an aged king broods over his hoard of
gold, while the dark Angel of Death
approaches, a cloud-like mantle floating
around her. It is strewn with stars, and
a moon shines dimly in the angel's dusky
wing, all typical of the elements into
which the earthbound miser will soon be
resolved. Away in the distance a freed
" boreas and orithyia " from a painting spirit rises into the sky. Allegorical
dy evelyn de .morgan pictures of this kind give to Mrs. De
Morgan's art a certain resemblance to
that of Mr. G. F. Watts; and I do not
he may believe—certainly with perfect justice—that feel called upon to break a lance with those who
he has a right to translate into the language of his object to allegories in painting. They are free to
own form of aesthetics the inspiration he has received think as they please, but their criticisms are cer-
from Milton's " dim intimations " of glorious or tre- tainly futile, inasmuch as all true artists do as they
mendous beings. This is what Mrs. 1 )e Morgan has must—not as they will.
done, and art and we gain a great deal. Milton, To this fact Milton draws attention in his great
too, did something akin to it, for did he not trans- essay on "The Reason of Church-Government
form the traditional poetry which had grown about urged against Prelaty." Here, rising suddenly into
the story of Adam's disobedience, and the loss verse, he says: " But when Cod commands to
of Paradise? take the trumpet, and blow a dolorous or jarring
Another phase of Mrs. De Morgan's art may blast, it lies not in man's will what he shall say, or
be studied in the illustration reproduced on what he shall conceal." This view of genuine
this page. Here the subject is taken from the inspiration applies to all forms of imaginative
mythological story of Boreas, the wind from the expression, and hence one is glad to accept in
N.N.E., and Orithyia, daughter of Erechtheus, pictures all allegories which are deeply felt, as is
23i
King of Athens. Mrs. De Morgan has
represented Boreas in the act of flying
with Orithyia towards Thrace, where
they begot the Boreades, Calais, Zetes,
and Cleopatra. This myth seems to
exemplify the soul of good in things
sometimes evil, Orithyia personifying
that eternal fruitfulness of Nature, the
corn and flower seeds of which are so
often sown in waste places by the most
boisterous of destructive winds. But,
however this may be, the picture has a
fine significance of its own. It has
faults, no doubt. The modelling is
somewhat " tight," and there is also a
want of proportion between the torso
and the legs of Boreas. On the other
hand, when viewed as a whole, the
picture is noteworthy for the excellence
of its decorative conception and treat-
ment.
In " Earthbound " (p. 228), where the
artist tells what she thinks of the world's
engrossing pursuit of wealth, there are
merits of a quite different kind, often
described as art-literary. The story told
runs as follows : In a desolate country
an aged king broods over his hoard of
gold, while the dark Angel of Death
approaches, a cloud-like mantle floating
around her. It is strewn with stars, and
a moon shines dimly in the angel's dusky
wing, all typical of the elements into
which the earthbound miser will soon be
resolved. Away in the distance a freed
" boreas and orithyia " from a painting spirit rises into the sky. Allegorical
dy evelyn de .morgan pictures of this kind give to Mrs. De
Morgan's art a certain resemblance to
that of Mr. G. F. Watts; and I do not
he may believe—certainly with perfect justice—that feel called upon to break a lance with those who
he has a right to translate into the language of his object to allegories in painting. They are free to
own form of aesthetics the inspiration he has received think as they please, but their criticisms are cer-
from Milton's " dim intimations " of glorious or tre- tainly futile, inasmuch as all true artists do as they
mendous beings. This is what Mrs. 1 )e Morgan has must—not as they will.
done, and art and we gain a great deal. Milton, To this fact Milton draws attention in his great
too, did something akin to it, for did he not trans- essay on "The Reason of Church-Government
form the traditional poetry which had grown about urged against Prelaty." Here, rising suddenly into
the story of Adam's disobedience, and the loss verse, he says: " But when Cod commands to
of Paradise? take the trumpet, and blow a dolorous or jarring
Another phase of Mrs. De Morgan's art may blast, it lies not in man's will what he shall say, or
be studied in the illustration reproduced on what he shall conceal." This view of genuine
this page. Here the subject is taken from the inspiration applies to all forms of imaginative
mythological story of Boreas, the wind from the expression, and hence one is glad to accept in
N.N.E., and Orithyia, daughter of Erechtheus, pictures all allegories which are deeply felt, as is
23i