Studio: international art (20.1900)

Studio- Talk

"the Thames" by constant™ meunier

manner ? Or should the comparative failure of Let me also mention the works contributed by

this year's display be ascribed to the fact that the MM. Leandre (a finely conceived landscape, Le

opening fell just on the eve of the inauguration of Vieux Domaine), Desvallieres, Eliot, Noyal—the

the Universal Exhibition ? However it be, one latter always too much like himself—and Thevenot

thing is certain : the display aroused only a moderate with his solid and well-executed portraits, notably

degree of interest among artists and amateurs alike, that of the R. P. Minjard. As for the portraits or

- the nudes of MM. Callot, Axelette and Dubufe the

Some of the exhibitors, however, deserved better less said the better. The poorest sort of chromo-

treatment, notably Albert Besnard, Gaston La lithography, designed to catch the eye of the

Touche, Helleu, Rene Menard and Aman-Jean. coarsest sections of the public, is the only thing to

M. Besnard, both in his portraits of women and in which they can be compared; indeed, they are not

his fantaisies, styled Automne, Sourire and Prin- even good enough to be put on the outside of a

temps, showed himself the same bold colourist as box of matches,
ever, carrying the pastellist's art to its uttermost

limits, yet never going beyond them. From This year we have only one Salon—that of the

M. Gaston La Touche we had several beautiful Societe des Artistes Francais—which is quite

things, such as the Livre d'Images, and his evoca- enough, perhaps even too much ! A few works

tions of the eighteenth century, of which the there are, however, amid this mass of mediocrity

Souvenir de Carnaval, with its remarkable effects which attract the attention of the impartial critic,

of light, is a good example. M. Helleu sent Les Pccheurs, Amsterdam, by M. Emile Wery, is a

some absolutely delightful portraits of ladies and painting that has deservedly won the admiration of

young girls, and M. Rene Menard five landscapes every artist. This fine work—which is perhaps a

full of style and character, and quite remarkable in little too large—has something grand and at the

point of technique. M. Aman-Jean was represented same time something intime about it, and reveals

by a fanciful series—Les Oranges, L'CEillet and rare gifts on the part of its author. We shall hear

Le Violon, conventional, yet bold and suggestive more of M. Wery, for he will go far.
in colouring, and instinct with delicacy and grace.

Praise is also due to the efforts of M. Jules Adler