DOI issue:
No. 130 (January, 1904)
DOI article:West, W. K.: Recent works by Mr. Reynolds-Stephens
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19880#0317
Recent Works by W. Reynolds-Stephens
perfect harmony. There is, above all, the same a large scheme ot architectural ornamentation
healthy avoidance of anything like sensational divisible into many parts, and yet required
display of cleverness of handiwork. The excep- to be as a whole perfectly congruous and well
tional ability which has been brought to bear upon balanced. That this decoration should be rich
every detail is not obtruded ; the keynote of both in effect, with full play of colour and ample
designs is a dignified simplicity attained by careful variety of detail, was necessary; but that it should
adjustment of the relation which the various parts not be so insistent as to fail in its right purpose
bear to one another, and by subordination of the of affording a setting for the people who had to
ornamental accessories to the general mass. Ex- occupy the room, and for the pictures and articles
travagance is foreign to his style, fond as he is of of furniture which were to be placed in it, was a
sumptuousness of effect. Partly by instinct, and matter of not less importance. But he has fully
partly by training, he feels exactly how far he satisfied the essential conditions, and has arrived
can go to oblain completeness; he will not allow at a result which is eminently pleasing in its com-
himself to overstep the boundary between
richness and elaboration.
For this reason his work never seems
laboured. It is only by close and detailed
examination that the prolonged care which
has been devoted to the execution of such
a group as the Love's Coronet can be realised.
The thing seems to have grown so easily and
so naturally that hardly anyone but an expert
can think that it has cost the artist months
of thought, and has only been finished after
a serious struggle with the intractibilities of
materials. If the skill were less, the result
would very likely be more impressive to that
large section "of the public which measures
the value of a work of art by the evidences
it affords of the pains that have been taken
over it. The artist who pretends to labour
with a light heart does not gain the same
credit in his achievement as the man who is
always calling attention to the obstacles which
he has to surmount before he reaches the
end at which he professes to aim. But all
sincere art-lovers will respect Mr. Reynolds-
Stephens for his undemonstrative devotion
to his principles, as much as they admire
him for his endless ingenuity and his un-
varying resolve to leave nothing that he
undertakes unconsidered or incomplete.
Perhaps the most convincing illustration of
his thoroughness—and of his remarkable
adaptability as well — is provided by his
decoration of a room at 185 Queen's
Gate. Here he has had to solve a prob-
lem very unlike that set him in Love's
Coronet and Castles in the Air. He has
had to consider not how to bring into
proper association a number of exquisite
little details, which he could handle deli-
cately himself, and form touch by touch
"LOVES CORONET BY W. REYNOLDS-STEPHENS
With his Own fingers, but how to arrange (Bypermission ofSir Alexander Henderson, M.P. J
300
perfect harmony. There is, above all, the same a large scheme ot architectural ornamentation
healthy avoidance of anything like sensational divisible into many parts, and yet required
display of cleverness of handiwork. The excep- to be as a whole perfectly congruous and well
tional ability which has been brought to bear upon balanced. That this decoration should be rich
every detail is not obtruded ; the keynote of both in effect, with full play of colour and ample
designs is a dignified simplicity attained by careful variety of detail, was necessary; but that it should
adjustment of the relation which the various parts not be so insistent as to fail in its right purpose
bear to one another, and by subordination of the of affording a setting for the people who had to
ornamental accessories to the general mass. Ex- occupy the room, and for the pictures and articles
travagance is foreign to his style, fond as he is of of furniture which were to be placed in it, was a
sumptuousness of effect. Partly by instinct, and matter of not less importance. But he has fully
partly by training, he feels exactly how far he satisfied the essential conditions, and has arrived
can go to oblain completeness; he will not allow at a result which is eminently pleasing in its com-
himself to overstep the boundary between
richness and elaboration.
For this reason his work never seems
laboured. It is only by close and detailed
examination that the prolonged care which
has been devoted to the execution of such
a group as the Love's Coronet can be realised.
The thing seems to have grown so easily and
so naturally that hardly anyone but an expert
can think that it has cost the artist months
of thought, and has only been finished after
a serious struggle with the intractibilities of
materials. If the skill were less, the result
would very likely be more impressive to that
large section "of the public which measures
the value of a work of art by the evidences
it affords of the pains that have been taken
over it. The artist who pretends to labour
with a light heart does not gain the same
credit in his achievement as the man who is
always calling attention to the obstacles which
he has to surmount before he reaches the
end at which he professes to aim. But all
sincere art-lovers will respect Mr. Reynolds-
Stephens for his undemonstrative devotion
to his principles, as much as they admire
him for his endless ingenuity and his un-
varying resolve to leave nothing that he
undertakes unconsidered or incomplete.
Perhaps the most convincing illustration of
his thoroughness—and of his remarkable
adaptability as well — is provided by his
decoration of a room at 185 Queen's
Gate. Here he has had to solve a prob-
lem very unlike that set him in Love's
Coronet and Castles in the Air. He has
had to consider not how to bring into
proper association a number of exquisite
little details, which he could handle deli-
cately himself, and form touch by touch
"LOVES CORONET BY W. REYNOLDS-STEPHENS
With his Own fingers, but how to arrange (Bypermission ofSir Alexander Henderson, M.P. J
300