Studio: international art (40.1907)

Studio-Talk

At the Ecole des Beaux-
Arts during December were
exhibited the works of art
purchased by the State dur-
ing the past year, and the
general public were thus
able to take note of the
broad eclecticism exercised
by the Under-Secretary of
State for the Department of
Fine Arts in the selection of cup silver and translucent enamel by e. feuillatre

PARIS.—The exhibition which the Societe
des Artistes Decorateurs has just been
holding at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs
contained a number of interesting works,
and in particular some very praiseworthy experi-
ments in the restoration of furniture. This group
lacks those names which stand foremost in French
decorative art, such as those of Charpentier, Dampt
and Felix Aubert; but in spite of that the exhibi-
tion comprised works which commanded attention,
as, for instance, M. Majorele’s collection; some
remarkable vases in copper by Bonvallet; decora-
tive panels by Cesbron; a variety of decorative
works by Landry; and textiles by Dufrene. M.
Eugene Feuillatre is earning more and more renown
as a master of enamelling, his work being distin-
guished by its almost infinite variety of tones.
Especial interest attaches to the results he has
achieved, after experiments extending over two
years, in enamelling on platinum. The enormous
cost of this metal, combined with its great specific
weight and density, puts an obstacle in the way
of its use for large objects, such as vases ; but it
has been successfully employed on a smaller
scale in the dress ornament
which appears among our
illustrations of M. Feuil-
latre’s work. In the art
of wood-carving M. Henri
Hamm brings to bear his
many qualifications as a
sculptor ; his box - wood
boxes are well thought out
and executed. Nor must I
forget to name the ceramic
productions of Lachenal,
the decorative panels of
Morisset, and the excellent
bookbindings of Marin. M.

Grasset’s collective exhibi-
tion of his work proved a
source of much interest.

these acquisitions. Academicism could here be
seen in close juxtaposition to Impressionism, and
the main tendencies of the various salons were re-
presented in the collection. Certainly there were a
good many things in it of debatable interest—at
least, such is our opinion—and especially so in the
sphere of decorative art; but, on the other hand,
certain of the works are such as do signal honour
to French art.

Thus, among these acquisitions by the State are
three works by Rodin which are sure to be always
regarded with the greatest interest. These are his
bust of M. Berthelot, that of the lamented sculptor
Falguiere, and, lastly, a Bellona in bronze, a
masterly work. Another sculptural work which
should be noted is Landowski’s Fils de Cain, a
large group which met with a great and well-
deserved success at last year’s Salon. In this
vigorous presentation of primitive humanity, recall-
ing certain archaic bronzes in the Naples Museum,
this young sculptor, who has returned hither from
Rome, has attained the rank of a master at a
bound.

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