Studio: international art (38.1906)

The National Competition of Schools of Art

designed by the artist and actually made by his wife.
The style is quite simple, and the works are all full
of character. This same quality is visible in the
carpet des'gned by A. Korosfoi, executed by
L. Belmonte in the work-room of the Palace of the
Hungarian Minister of Religious and Public In-
struction. Transylvanian peasants are represented
harnessing horses, and the composition is worthy
of the fame of a master of decoration.

The dining-room has been designed by Ed.
Vigand, and the work executed by G. Mocsay,
with decorations by A. Nagy; but I might con-
tinue to write indefinitely about the Hungarian
section, which, as I have already said, gives a
complete illustration of the national activity. I
might, had I space to spare, describe to the reader
many pieces of furniture conceived in that spirit of
proportion which is the transcendent merit of all
the Hungarian decoration here. This furniture is
designed in straight lines and with rectilinear
angles and ornamented with metal. The uphol-
stered portions are, for the most part, in red cloth.
The general effect is one of grace and strength;
and, being practical in the highest degree, they
impress themselves on one’s attention. M. Faragb
is the author of much of this furniture, and beside
him I will place P. Horti, the well-known architect,
who here supplies many schemes and designs, with-
out, however, taking the prominent place he did at
Turin.

A notable characteristic of this Hungarian furni-
ture is the employment of little pillars, which are
very slender in appearance compared with the
broad scheme of the pieces themselves.

Hungary also sent a quantity of carpets and
cloths, embroideries and lace (but the Viennese
lace, with its delightful ideality, surpasses the lace
of Hungary), articles in straw and osier (Holland
excels in this department), leather and metal and
goldsmith’s work, also j e wellery (among the designers
of which it is strange to find the architect Horti),
plaquettes and vases (notable in this branch being
the pieces by Zsolnay de Pecs), ceramics and glass
and children’s toys. Some of these latter, particu-
larly those of G. Weszely, are modelled in strict
Hungarian fashion.

It may not perhaps be known, a propos of
children’s toys, that there exists a Royal Hun-
garian Governmental School of Toy making at
Hegybanya-Szelakna. Seeing the work done by
this most praiseworthy institution, the development
of good taste in this department is not surprising.

With regard to the Hungarian lace, seeing that
I have been led into making comparisons, I will

add that the specimen of which an illustration is
given is of the sort executed in needlework by the
peasantry of Halas on ancient Magyar motifs.

In quitting the reader I am conscious of having
been compelled to restrict my remarks considerably
At the same time I feel persuaded that I have
thrown a true light on the Hungarian art displayed
at our International Exhibition.

Alfredo Melani.

The national competition

OF SCHOOLS OF ART, 1906.

Whether the selected works exhibited
at South Kensington in connection with the
National Art Competition this year evidence an
improvement upon those of last and previous years

FIG. I. DESIGN FOR
STAINED GLASS

BY VIOLET B. KELL
(CAMBERWELL)

3°9