Studio: international art (40.1907)

Studio-Talk

DOOR OF ALTAR TABERNACLE SOUTH GERMAN

beautiful work (probably bronze rather than
iron) was produced long before. As regards
Gothic ironwork the finest productions belonged
perhaps to the thirteenth and fourteenth century;
later it became more elaborate and less refined,
but even at much later dates exquisite work was
produced. Early Renaissance work introduces
several new methods of treatment, some no doubt
traceable to renewed oriental influence, while
others were probably the invention of individual
German craftsmen.

The Society of Miniaturists has been holding its
Exhibition in the Royal Institute gallery. Amongst
its successful exhibits we noted a miniature by Miss
Florence Cooper, whose portrait of Lady Marjorie
Manners revealed a fine quality of expression, and
some good work by Mme. Debillemont-Chardon,
to whom those may turn who do not gladly suffer
3*8

the present confusion of the aims of the miniature
art with those of the photographer, though her
work at times perhaps errs in exceeding the
miniature scale. Miss Lilian Rowney’s Spring,
portraits by Misses Edytha Goodwin, B. Ellis,
M. Power, H. Johnson, and an excellent minia-
ture by Mrs. M. Woakes after the La Source of
Ingres, were noticeable exhibits.

At the International Art Gallery last month,
Mr. Arthur G. Bell showed nearly one hundred oils
and water-colours, which displayed attractive quali-
ties, both as regards colour and treatment. In
looking at these fresh and virile landscapes, with
their breadth and freedom of execution, it was
difficult (o realise that the artist studied for some
time under J. L. Gerome, for it is impossible to
Irace in them any indication of the French artist’s
influence. At the same time it cannot be said that
Mr. Bell’s work shows a strongly-marked indivi-
duality, but he possesses an instinctive feeling for
the beauties of nature and a simplicity of expression
which are agreeable and convincing. Of the larger
water-colours, his Watchers on the Ramparts, a canal

IRON DOOR KNOCKERS AND HANDLES

GERMAN A. D. I4OO-I75O