Mr. G. P. Bankarfs Plaster Work
HHM^hhb grossly misused in the past
does not warrant the artist
in condemning it, if he
knows that it affords legiti-
' . mate scope for the produc-
tion of what is at once
useful and beautiful. It
would be difficult to name
any art which can boast an
unblemished record and
has not, at some time or
other, been perverted to
ignoble courses.
The above considerations
bid me not to conclude
without one word of caution
with regard to the process
of which the present article
treats. The material of
plaster is so facile and
portion of ceiling OF billiard-ROOM at bowden green, pangbourne adaptable that it is nOt
designed and executed by g. p. bankart •,, . t A
without its perils. In ad-
dition to keeping the relief
this instance, in others, as I know, Mr. Bankart ornament low, it is most desirable also that the
has worked for and in concert with the eminent rectangular framing bands that carry the orna
Edinburgh architect, Mr. Lorimer, a circumstance ment should be shallow; otherwise, if allowed to
which is alone sufficient to give a cachet of become prominent features, they are liable to be
distinction to his productions. misapplied in a manner strongly to be deprecated,
Mr. Bankart wishes it to be understood that all I mean for the purpose of covering, or, not to put
the decoration here illustrated consists of cast- too fine a point on it, concealing iron girders,
phster work, executed, that is, in advance and From the point of view of soundness and honesty
subsequently fixed in position; and not to be of construction, such a fraud is quite indefensible,
confounded with modelled relief carried out on however innocent and unaggressive the appearance
the spot, a method which,
in the nature of things,
has a peculiar charm and
freedom of its own, and
deserves to be more widely
used than it has hitherto
been. On the other hand,
again, the process, gener-
ally prevalent, of undercut
modelled work in plaster
of Paris, cast in gelatine
moulds, comes under a
totally different head. And
however degraded it may
have become in ordinary
practice, it is nevertheless
capable of serving purposes
of a very superior artistic
standard to those of here-
tofore. The fact of a pro- „
r hall ceiling at " averley, kelvinside, glasgow
cess having been never so designed and executed by g. p. bankart
149
HHM^hhb grossly misused in the past
does not warrant the artist
in condemning it, if he
knows that it affords legiti-
' . mate scope for the produc-
tion of what is at once
useful and beautiful. It
would be difficult to name
any art which can boast an
unblemished record and
has not, at some time or
other, been perverted to
ignoble courses.
The above considerations
bid me not to conclude
without one word of caution
with regard to the process
of which the present article
treats. The material of
plaster is so facile and
portion of ceiling OF billiard-ROOM at bowden green, pangbourne adaptable that it is nOt
designed and executed by g. p. bankart •,, . t A
without its perils. In ad-
dition to keeping the relief
this instance, in others, as I know, Mr. Bankart ornament low, it is most desirable also that the
has worked for and in concert with the eminent rectangular framing bands that carry the orna
Edinburgh architect, Mr. Lorimer, a circumstance ment should be shallow; otherwise, if allowed to
which is alone sufficient to give a cachet of become prominent features, they are liable to be
distinction to his productions. misapplied in a manner strongly to be deprecated,
Mr. Bankart wishes it to be understood that all I mean for the purpose of covering, or, not to put
the decoration here illustrated consists of cast- too fine a point on it, concealing iron girders,
phster work, executed, that is, in advance and From the point of view of soundness and honesty
subsequently fixed in position; and not to be of construction, such a fraud is quite indefensible,
confounded with modelled relief carried out on however innocent and unaggressive the appearance
the spot, a method which,
in the nature of things,
has a peculiar charm and
freedom of its own, and
deserves to be more widely
used than it has hitherto
been. On the other hand,
again, the process, gener-
ally prevalent, of undercut
modelled work in plaster
of Paris, cast in gelatine
moulds, comes under a
totally different head. And
however degraded it may
have become in ordinary
practice, it is nevertheless
capable of serving purposes
of a very superior artistic
standard to those of here-
tofore. The fact of a pro- „
r hall ceiling at " averley, kelvinside, glasgow
cess having been never so designed and executed by g. p. bankart
149