DOI Heft:
Studio-talk
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20710#0273
Studio-Talk
New Forest, which, simply true as it is as a record Government, and it is to find a permanent
of nature's facts, has all that is requisite for a noble resting place in the Luxembourg Gallery. As a
design and for a carefully planned artistic achieve- technical exercise, dealing successfully with very
ment. It sums up completely what is best in his difficult problems of tone and colour, it is unques-
art, and reveals his mastery in a most convincing tionably most memorable; it has qualities which
way. can be sincerely praised, and it proves that the
artist, unequal as he is, can rise, when the occasion
Mr. Borough Johnson's work is so well known, comes, to remarkable heights. That there is
and with the pencil he has arrived at such happy nothing else in the exhibition ot the same level
results, that his work with the latter medium sets must be admitted, but there is much nevertheless
an example always of value to the student. The that claims approval on the score of technical
example that we give here from his painting cleverness and originality of view. Mr. Lavery
Darby and Joan is interesting, as showing how the achieves most when he gives the freest rein to his
character of his work is maintained and the same own individuality; and of the pictures he has
qualities sought for whether he works in paint or brought together the most enjoyable' are those in
pencil. The work in pencil by Mrs. Borough which he has not sought too obviously to imitate
Johnson that we give shows that to her the pencil Whistler and other masters. That he should ever
has become as ready a means of ex-
pression as it is with her husband;
and, whilst in her work there is an
equal appreciation of its capabilities jj^
as a medium for something more than ^flflfibk
tentative sketching, so there is in her
sketches an individuality which is quite ^9H|
her own. The study of a child sucking "~ ,
an orange that is illustrated in colour Mn^vSm
displays draughtsmanship masculine in
its mastery, expressing what is feminine wlfcif V
in its tenderness of outlook and choice m£SKmJKL "' ISpS*/'*'
of subject and sympathetic handling VnMHk ' Sp&fb' ,
of that subject with its half-humorous jMHBHHp^ J^J.
side. The children in the street-scene
have been carefully noted and studied I _j jjjljwf t
from life; as character studies they are ■■ '
perfect. The earnestness which is so
characteristic of these studies does not
allow Mrs. Borough Johnson to depart
from reality to the careless technique
which so easily overtakes an artist if
the difficulties of fresh subjects are
shirked, and constant comparison with
nature avoided. X , • •, ! I' ' ' ,'iiAt .
Mr. J. Lavery's collection of pictures
and sketches on view at the Leicester
Galleries is made particularly memor-
able by the inclusion in it of the de- 'WBBj^^~~
lightful picture Spring, which was
recognised, when it was exhibited not
long ago at the New Gallery, as the mISM^"1''
greatest of all his performances.
More recently this opinion has been
fully endorsed abroad, for the canvas
has been purchased by the French " a swebtstuff stallbi mrs. borough johnson
256
New Forest, which, simply true as it is as a record Government, and it is to find a permanent
of nature's facts, has all that is requisite for a noble resting place in the Luxembourg Gallery. As a
design and for a carefully planned artistic achieve- technical exercise, dealing successfully with very
ment. It sums up completely what is best in his difficult problems of tone and colour, it is unques-
art, and reveals his mastery in a most convincing tionably most memorable; it has qualities which
way. can be sincerely praised, and it proves that the
artist, unequal as he is, can rise, when the occasion
Mr. Borough Johnson's work is so well known, comes, to remarkable heights. That there is
and with the pencil he has arrived at such happy nothing else in the exhibition ot the same level
results, that his work with the latter medium sets must be admitted, but there is much nevertheless
an example always of value to the student. The that claims approval on the score of technical
example that we give here from his painting cleverness and originality of view. Mr. Lavery
Darby and Joan is interesting, as showing how the achieves most when he gives the freest rein to his
character of his work is maintained and the same own individuality; and of the pictures he has
qualities sought for whether he works in paint or brought together the most enjoyable' are those in
pencil. The work in pencil by Mrs. Borough which he has not sought too obviously to imitate
Johnson that we give shows that to her the pencil Whistler and other masters. That he should ever
has become as ready a means of ex-
pression as it is with her husband;
and, whilst in her work there is an
equal appreciation of its capabilities jj^
as a medium for something more than ^flflfibk
tentative sketching, so there is in her
sketches an individuality which is quite ^9H|
her own. The study of a child sucking "~ ,
an orange that is illustrated in colour Mn^vSm
displays draughtsmanship masculine in
its mastery, expressing what is feminine wlfcif V
in its tenderness of outlook and choice m£SKmJKL "' ISpS*/'*'
of subject and sympathetic handling VnMHk ' Sp&fb' ,
of that subject with its half-humorous jMHBHHp^ J^J.
side. The children in the street-scene
have been carefully noted and studied I _j jjjljwf t
from life; as character studies they are ■■ '
perfect. The earnestness which is so
characteristic of these studies does not
allow Mrs. Borough Johnson to depart
from reality to the careless technique
which so easily overtakes an artist if
the difficulties of fresh subjects are
shirked, and constant comparison with
nature avoided. X , • •, ! I' ' ' ,'iiAt .
Mr. J. Lavery's collection of pictures
and sketches on view at the Leicester
Galleries is made particularly memor-
able by the inclusion in it of the de- 'WBBj^^~~
lightful picture Spring, which was
recognised, when it was exhibited not
long ago at the New Gallery, as the mISM^"1''
greatest of all his performances.
More recently this opinion has been
fully endorsed abroad, for the canvas
has been purchased by the French " a swebtstuff stallbi mrs. borough johnson
256