Studio: international art (34.1905)

Frank Brangwyn s Exhibition Room at Venice

FRANK BRANGWYN'S SCHEME
FOR THE DECORATION OF
THE BRITISH SECTION AT
THE VENICE EXHIBITION.

In the International Exhibition held at Venice
two years ago the manner of showing the
works, as regards the Italian section, was decidedly
unique.

Each group or school of artists was given
a room, which was arranged and decorated by
some member of the group. While the rooms
thus shown fell somewhat short of being good
decoration, yet it was a step in the right direction,
and the success of the experiment was most
gratifying to the committee.

The careful consideration of an exhibition room
is a comparatively new idea, but is happily grow-
ing more and more into favour. True, there
have been hanging committees, but with the
heterogeneous mass of works sent to the large
exhibitions the hanging committee can scarcely

serve as a decorating committee as well, and
not until the work is given over to one man—a
decorator of high order—can we hope for any
better results than are obtained when, in the pre-
parations for Eastertide or other church festival, a
dozen ladies and a hundred and one children
collect and give the church, in a very few hours,
the aspect of a greengrocer's shop.

In the matter of exhibition-room decoration
the Vienna Secession has undoubtedly taken first
honours. Each succeeding year finds their spacious
salons in new attire, and no time nor expense have
been spared to make their rooms as artistic and
attractive as possible. Some of the leading mem-
bers of the Vienna Secession, most able painters
and sculptors, have devoted months of their time
to the embellishment of these rooms, with highly
successful results.

In Munich the plans are less elaborate. The
Secessionists have a splendid building not far from
the Glaspalast. In the exhibition of last spring
their rooms presented quite an attractive aspect,

PAINTED PANEL

XXXIV. No. 146.—May, 1905.

BY FRANK BRANGWYN, A.R.A.

285