Studio: international art (23.1901)

Studio- Talk

Old Kew Bridge, and the badly diawn and garish
absurdities like Mr. Joseph Pennell's Summer and
St. Paul's, and such overdone things as Mr. Rols-
hoven's landscapes. Included in the exhibition
are also some slight notes by M. Rodin and an
exquisite oil study by Giovanni Segantini.

The group of lithographs by M. Fantin-Latour,
lately presented by Mr. R. Gutekunst at his gallery
in King Street, St. James's, must be noted as a
delightful display of the work of an artist who
combines to an unusual extent the greatest quali-
ties of imagination and accomplishment. The
subjects of most of them have to do with music ;
they illustrate scenes from operatic stories, and
express motives suggested by the works of great
composers. Technically they have exceptional
beauty. Well drawn, finely composed, and
executed with admirable understanding of the
capabilities of lithography, they are worthy of
the highest praise. They are the productions of a
master, and in many respects are unapproachable.

Mr. J. G. Millais has given during the last few
years many proofs that he possesses a particular
aptitude for the treatment of natural history sub-

jects, and has frequently shown himself to be an
unusually acute observer of the ways of birds and
animals. The collection of his drawings of Birds
and Animals in Motion, which has been exhibited
by the Fine Art Society, may be heartily com-
mended as one of the best assertions of his
capacities that he has made so far. It was of very
level merit throughout, sincere and sound in inten-
tion, and marked by a memorable thoroughness of
drawing. Primarily, of course, the exhibition
appealed to naturalists, but it had as well a strong
claim upon the attention of all lovers of earnest art
work.

The Nene Valley, Northamptonshire, a picture
recently purchased by the Italian Government, is
one of the most delightful English landscapes that
Mr. Alfred East has painted. It is fresh with air,
it is true in values, it is rich in quiet ctilour; and
the trees, patterned against the sky, are handled
with a rare feeling for the necessity of design in
the translation of country scenes into works of art.
The quest of " realism " has done much to shut
men's eyes to the spacious dignity and restfulness
which the art of landscape-painting has so often
owed to a wise display of thought in decorative

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"THE NENE VALLEY, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE " BY ALFRED EAST, A.R.A.